_TACOMA HAS THE MOST EXTENSIVE RAILWAY TERMINAL FACILITIES AND HANDLES
MORE FREIGHT THAN ANY OTHER CITY IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST._ The Northern
Pacific railway has expended many millions in improvements on the TACOMA
waterfront. The official figures furnished by the railroads showing the
number of cars of pay freight consigned to each of the three leading
cities of the Pacific Northwest during the year 1903 are as follows:
Cars of freight received at—
Railway System. Tacoma. Seattle. Portland.
Northern Pacific 58,779 47,219 8,463
Tacoma Eastern 10,074
Commercial Dock 155
Great Northern 9,837
Pacific Coast Co. 11,020
O. R. & N 35,815
Southern Pacific 17,281
Astoria & Columbia River 896
O. W. P. & R. Co. 193
------ ------ ------
Totals 69,008 68,070 62,648
The Northern Pacific railway operates several distinct lines which
radiate from and converge at TACOMA. The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
operates through trains to and from Missouri River points and TACOMA,
over the N. P. tracks from Billings, Montana. The Harriman system is
to be extended to TACOMA from Portland. The Tacoma Eastern railroad is
now in operation from TACOMA to Ashford, with a branch to Electron,
57.5 miles of track being now in operation. This railroad taps the rich
timber, coal and agricultural lands on the southerly and westerly slopes
of Mount Tacoma. The company owns and is developing extensive coal mines.
It is about to extend into the “Big Bottom” country, as the rich and
fertile valley of the Upper Cowlitz River is called, from three to twelve
miles wide and sixty miles in length, one of the most desirable sections
for settlement in the State. The Tacoma Eastern railroad is the gateway
to Mount Tacoma and the National Park. The federal government is now
constructing a wagon road to Paradise Valley and the Camp of the Clouds,
which will connect with the railroad. Paradise Valley and Mount Tacoma
are destined to become a great resort for tourists.
[Illustration: A City of Beautiful Homes.
1—Residences of Col. C. W. Griggs and Henry Hewitt.
2—Residences of L. D. Campbell and L. R. Manning.
3—Nelson Bennett’s Residence.
4—Residences of Stuart Rice and Chester Thorne.
5—S. R. Balkwill’s Residence.
]