[After some remarks respecting grades, etc., Mr. Whitworth proceeds as
follows:]
On this [west] side of the mountain [Cascade] the timber reaches right
up nearly to the summit, as in the Snoqualmie, and the reports are this
region is rich in coal, and probably also in iron, with some indications
of precious metals. Soon after crossing the divide the line will reach
the very rich agricultural valley of the Wenatchie, which is called "the
garden of Eastern Washington," and traverse its entire length. And it
will pass within a comparatively short distance of the mineral districts
on the northern slope of that range called Mt. Stuart.
I have heard that there were numerous indications of coal near the mouth
of the Wenatchie on both sides of the Columbia. This, too, will be the
nearest main line to the rich mineral district of Salmon River, or
Okanogan, as well as all that northern mineral belt which extends to the
Rockies, and will strike the heart of the Big Bend wheat-fields. It will
also be eighty miles shorter than the other line. True, Ellensburg and
the Cle-ellum district will be missed, but I think this will be more
than compensated for by those I have spoken of.