A Report On Washington Territory Part 20

[Sidenote: Arguments for the Polouse branch.]

To my mind, the chief arguments for building this branch are, first, that it would be a start for the transcontinental road across Wyoming and Nebraska, and then, so to speak, it would be stretching out one wing of the bat with a view to catching the Manitoba bug.

The other wing of the bat would be the Colville branch. The eccentric bug would inevitably hit one or other of these wings, and when once caught, would be held.

[Sidenote: Manitoba railroad.]

Concerning these Manitoba people, we may a.s.sume that they will think with regard to the routes according to the facts of nature. The direct line across the Kootenai country would strike the Colville branch, but in the opinion of able engineers the difficulties are so nearly insurmountable, that this is least likely to be chosen of all the routes. The cut-off from Missoula to Spokane Falls by way of Lake Coeur d'Alene, seems manifestly the best route for this road, that is, if it be not already pre-empted by the Northern Pacific; but strong reasons are given to show that the Northern Pacific will not, and cannot, make this cross line; in which case, we might almost conclude that the Manitoba will cross here, and inevitably join the Seattle road.

The only other crossing left would be the Lolo Pa.s.s, which would be still more out of their direction, and would give them no better chance for an independent line to tide-water than the more northern routes. The fact is, that the late strategic movement of the Seattle railway in seizing upon the key to the Great Bend country made it master of the situation.

SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER, GIVING LATEST INFORMATION.

[Sidenote: Rapid growth of Seattle and Spokane Falls.]

It is now just one year since I left Washington Territory, and I am glad to be able to report, on the best authority, that the great interests heretofore described have progressed, some of them with accelerating speed. The city of Seattle has added 10,000 to her population, and Spokane Falls 5,000 to hers.

Mining has spread its area, multiplied its diggings, and gone forward at every point amazingly. Agriculture during the past year has not advanced with equal rapidity. This is easily accounted for by the influences of the mines and cities. The crops were fair, but not as large as in some former years; but no fears need be entertained with regard to this great interest.

[Sidenote: Change in the location of the railroad.]

The trunk line of the Seattle, Lake Sh.o.r.e & Eastern Railway will cross the Cascade Mountains at Cady's Pa.s.s instead of at Snoqualmie Pa.s.s as originally designed, and reach the Columbia River by the Wenatchie Valley. Crossing the great river near the mouth of the Wenatchie, where it is thought that a city will be developed, and pa.s.sing along the northern limb of the Great Bend country, it will connect with the other end of the road which is now under construction to Wheatland.

[Ill.u.s.tration: VIEW OF SEATTLE AND THE HARBOR, WASHINGTON TERRITORY, SHOWING DOCKS OF THE SEATTLE, LAKE Sh.o.r.e AND EASTERN RAILWAY.]

A report from Paul F. Mohr, chief engineer, in regard to this new line, is embraced in this chapter. Something is said about the Wenatchie Valley, also, by Mr. Whitworth.

But the original line is by no means abandoned. It has probably reached Hop Ranch before this time, and will be continued through the great timber belt, pa.s.sing Salal Prairie, at least as far as the iron and marble beds on Mt. Logan. No doubt in time the road will cross Snoqualmie Pa.s.s, and continue to the mineral beds on the Cle-ellum and elsewhere.

I have obtained the following interesting and valuable reports from Mr.

Whitworth, who has been frequently mentioned in this report, Mr. Routhe, president of the Board of Trade of the city of Spokane Falls, and Paul F. Mohr, Esq., chief engineer.

REPORT FROM F. H. WHITWORTH, ESQ., CIVIL AND MINING ENGINEER ON SEATTLE, ETC.

SEATTLE, W. T., Oct. 2, 1888.

I now proceed to answer your questions.

1. Present population of Seattle, and commercial growth?

[Sidenote: Population of Seattle.]

[Sidenote: New manufacturing establishments.]

A census was taken in June of this year, and the total enrolled was 19,700. I presume it was safe to say that the population then was 20,000, and that now it is from 22,000 to 25,000, for although houses have been built very rapidly, there is not a house, or a room hardly, that is not occupied. There are now seven brick-yards in operation, each manufacturing from 10,000 to 50,000 per day. Two boiler-works have been added to the manufacturing interests since you were here. Three saw-mills, besides four on the line of the Seattle, Lake Sh.o.r.e & Eastern Railway between here and Gilman, have been built, and all have more than they can do.

A new fish-canning establishment has been started, and is in successful operation. A pile-creosoting works, an extensive shipyard works, a shingle mill, and a timber-preserving works and saw-mill are all under way on the north side of Salmon Bay.

[Sidenote: New steamers.]

The _Alaskan_ and the _T. J. Potter_, two magnificent steel steamers, and the _Harry Bailey_ and _Ha.s.salo_, good-sized pa.s.senger steamers, besides three or four tugs, and an extra steamer on the Alaska route, as well as an extra steamer every second or third week for freight from San Francisco, have been added to the Seattle fleet since you were here.

2. The Moss Bay Company.

[Sidenote: The iron company at work.]

There seems to be no question but that the location on the eastern sh.o.r.e of Lake Washington is definite. A contract has been made with Denny, and with those holding with Guy, but not with Guy himself. I understand that no contract has been made with, or for, any other one, although Mr. Kirk has been and is still examining all other places.

Mr. Kirk, and Mr. Williams, another of the firm, are living on the grounds at Kirkland, and have a force of men preparing the grounds, the position of the different buildings having all been located. Brick and other material is being placed on the ground.

They have entered into contract to roll for the Seattle, Lake Sh.o.r.e & Eastern Railway 30,000 tons steel at Kirkland, to be delivered within the next twelve months. They, however, will bring the blooms from Moss Bay for this.

[Sidenote: c.o.king coals.]

c.o.ke is the fuel Mr. Kirk wants, and thinks he will have. But I do not think that the question of c.o.ke supply is settled yet. Mr. Kirk's property that we visited (Section 2) is, so far, not developing as they had hoped. Mr. Kirk has disposed of his interest there. The Smith c.o.king ovens that we visited at Wilkeson are still producing a small amount of c.o.ke. One or two other veins have been opened at Wilkeson recently, and the company opening are proposing to put up ovens, and work and c.o.ke their coal. It probably will make about the same quality of c.o.ke as the Smith mine. The only coal that has been a.n.a.lyzed and stands that test for c.o.ke, is Section 34, near Kirk's Section 2. We got some samples of it, you remember.

The Snoqualmie coal has been taken possession of by a Mr. Niblock, who talks now of going to work to open. That, you know, c.o.kes well in the open air.

The following is the cross-section of our best veins at Ruffner, or Raging River, Section 16. Roof, sandstone:

FT. INS.

Mixed Coal and Slate 1 2 Coal (clean) 3 1 Rock 3 Coal 6 Rock 6 Coal 1 3

Total, coal, 4 ft. 10 in., rock, 9 in.; which seems to be very strong c.o.king coal. This bench can be worked to advantage, I think.

We have another, also, of about three feet of coal, clean, and it is underlaid with three feet of fire-clay, which probably will be as valuable as coal. I have burned some of the brick, and sent some away to be tested.

No further discovery has been made in the neighborhood of the Denny or Guy mines. At the "Chair Peak" Iron Mines, owned by Mr. Wilson, Kelly, _et al._, as they have examined further, the deposit has shown itself much larger than at first supposed. It is about two and a half miles from the Guy lode, on Mt. Logan.

[Sidenote: New discoveries of iron ore.]

Some quite extensive iron deposits have been discovered on the west side of the Sound, nearly due west from Seattle. They have not yet been a.n.a.lyzed.

What is thought to be a very rich deposit of iron has just recently been found on one of the islands in the San Juan group, within the territory of the United States, said to equal the Texada deposit in British Columbia, which the iron works at Irondale, near Point Townsend, use.

The Irondale furnace commenced work again about a month since.

In regard to the precious metals: there have been no developments of importance on this side of the mountain.

The Okanogan, Salmon River, Coeur d'Alene and Colville mines promise richer and richer as they are more developed.

[Sidenote: Lumber business growing.]