[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 Shore & Eastern Railway will cross
the Cascade Mountains at Cady's Pass instead of at Snoqualmie Pass 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 passing 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.
[Illustration: VIEW OF SEATTLE AND THE HARBOR, WASHINGTON TERRITORY,
SHOWING DOCKS OF THE SEATTLE, LAKE SHORE 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, passing Salal Prairie, at least as far as the iron and
marble beds on Mt. Logan. No doubt in time the road will cross
Snoqualmie Pass, 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.