[Sidenote: Progress in building the road.]
On this side of the mountains no work except surveys has been done on
this line. At Spokane Falls the bridge across the river, and about forty
miles of track is finished, and they are now operating, I believe, with
very encouraging prospects. On the Snoqualmie line they are pushing on.
The trains now run regularly to Raging River. The bridge across that
stream is not yet completed, but will probably be by the 1st of
November, and it is expected that the trains will be running to the Hop
Ranch by December 1st.
The branch or spur up Raging River to the Ruffner mine, on Section 16,
is located, and some little work has been done, but it is not being
prosecuted at present, so I do not expect we will be able to get out any
coal from there before next spring or early summer.
[Sidenote: Cable Railway in Seattle.]
Another item showing the prosperity of Seattle, is the opening of a
five-mile circuit of cable road to Lake Washington, which occurred last
Saturday. I will send you some papers giving some items that may be of
interest.
[Sidenote: Southern Pacific Railroad supposed to be coming to Seattle
Harbor.]
A syndicate of men prominent in the Southern Pacific Railroad management
purchased Milton Point, the land directly west, across Seattle Bay, from
the town, and are clearing it off, and say they will make extensive
improvements over there in the near future. They are building a large
ferry steamer, and have a franchise to run a ferry hourly between town
and the front. It is to be on the route by December 1st. Report says
that the Southern Pacific is coming in there.
At Smith Cove quite a little town is building up, and property is
advancing all around there.