The Iron Horse Reaches Snohomish
After years of reliance on slow steamboats, the town of Snohomish gains a permanent link to the outside world via the Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern Railway.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The most important event of the moment to be noted is the opening of the West Coast road to Snohomish. The Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern today issues its time card for the running of trains on that branch of its system, and at last, after years of patient waiting, the people of Snohomish will have railway communication with the outside world. After experiencing for years the discomforts and delays of steamboat travel, the opening of an all-rail passenger, freight and mail route to the Snohomish river will be hailed with great satisfaction not only by the residents of the thriving city on the banks of that stream, but by every citizen of Seattle and every traveler on the Sound who has business dealings with the territory of country traversed by the new road. The opening of the line is of great significance to the two cities which it connects by steel bands. It will greatly facilitate trade, and, while benefiting the local merchants of Snohomish most, of course, result advantageously to our own tradesmen, from whom the supplies of merchandise are drawn. A great saving of time and expense in the receipt and dispatch of freight will be one of the most important results.
“After experiencing for years the discomforts and delays of steamboat travel, the opening of an all-rail passenger, freight and mail route... will be hailed with great satisfaction.”
In 1888, the 'steel bands' of the railroad promised a new era of growth and connection for Snohomish and Seattle. Today, the debate over regional connectivity has shifted from steam engines to Light Rail and high-speed transit, yet the fundamental promise remains the same: that infrastructure defines the economic and social destiny of our growing cities.
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