The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1943-03-05
. Our Opinions
. Naches Pass


highway over the old Naehes Trail across the Cas-
cade mountains is getting toward the point of reality
Besides being the shortest route between Puget Sound
and the farm lands of Eastern Washington it is going
TO be one of the most economical highways to keep
open twelve months in the year. For that we have
the word of the state highway department engineers
who have just completed the survey.
But there is something more to the Naches high
way than just easier way to get from one side OF
the state to the other lit is something than
way by which scenic beauties of the Cascade
mountains will be discovered.
The Naches trail over which the new highway
will be built goes down to the grass roots of civil-
cation on Puget Sound.
Other white persons had settled in this area be-
fore but it the Naches trail which the first
emigrant wagon train came over the Cascade noun
tains to Puget Sound.
That was in the fall of 1853. Congress had APP
proprated some money to build strategic military
road from Fort Walla TO Fort Steilacoom, two of
the important army posts in what is the state of
Washington The Naches route was recommended.
Some work done but because of the lack of COM
munication, misunderstanding and politics. the work
stopped.
The homeseekers who had been advised that the
government was building a highway the last lap
of the trail to the Promised Land, had to break their
own road The last few weeks In which they Travelled
up the east side of the Cascades and down the west
side the hardest of the 1000 mile journey from
the Missouri river.
About a month after they left the Yakima valley
the party of weary, half-starved men, women and
children arrived at homestead Spanaway prairie
and had their first real meal in than two weeks
That the sort of endurance and moral stamina
that built the Northwest.
Besides being modern highway serving the
needs of both sides of the state the road will be
a monument to the courageous men and women who
made the first crossing. The Naches route is prop
ery part of the Oregon trail and will be included in
the routes designated by the American Trails Me-
mortal association.
Though there is no possibility of any considerable
construction until after the war; promoters of the
Naches project planning for great carnival and
pageant the week of October II, 1858, to mark the
hundredth anniversary of the arrival of the wagon
train Spanaway prairie Not the least of the OBJ
servance, it is hoped, will be the his
toric trail that will start from the headquarters of
the American Trails Memorial association in New
along the historic trails that first made by the
wagon wheels of the pioneers
In this connection it is also of interest to note
that the people of Oregon now busy preparing
for the celebration of the hundredth anniversary of
the beginning of the Oregon trail. Already plans
being made by representatives of pioneer groups
in Washington for participation in that celebration.
That is almost obligation, for the branch of the
old Oregon trail that turned north the junction
of the Cowiltz and Columbia rivers ended at Olympia.
In all the calendar of events there is single item
that will serve useful purpose do much to
give the state of Washington, and particularly the
Puget Sound country, wide and favorable publicity
as the opening of the Naches highway.
Now let's begin to get ready for 1858!