Riding the Rails to Newcastle: A Journey Through Seattle's Future

In company with a party of Californians, we boarded the Seattle and Puget Sound train on Monday for a trip to its terminal. Though this section of King county has been well favored by the press, still there is always something that new eyes may discover that may attract closer observation from those who view it again.

As our train left the depot at Seattle at 3 p.m., and wound around the edge of Elliott Bay in a southerly direction, the tide was out and the flats were visible. The members of our party discussed the future use of them and judging from the rapid growth of Seattle, the idea itself that the time was not far off when these would be filled in, and on them the future business portion of the city built. And, indeed, we can almost picture in our imagination wharves stretching northward into the bay, and back of them rows of fine blocks of buildings and beautiful residences, lines of street cars, shops, factories, warehouses, etc., and the bustle attending the meeting of commerce from the Orient and Occident, all on this present waste tract.

On entering the belt of woods to the south, our vision of the future was dispelled by our admiration of nature as we found it. The symmetrical pines and firs towering heavenward with their outspreading branches seemed beckoning to the underbrush and ferns to imitate them.

Pretty cottages appear here and there through the clearings. The race course with its buildings and whitewashed fences; then neat and comfortable farm houses, fields and well stocked pasture lands are seen as the train winds around a curve or dashes across some marshy tract. For a while we skirt the river, and then we hug the ridge, our view constantly changing; and then, before arriving at Bear River station, we pass a party of surveyors at work. Their stakes, cutting a nice potato field in two, were on a piece of ground that must have taken a great deal of time and labor to clear. The river is again approached, and a large camp of Chinamen and the completed piling of the Tacoma and Seattle extension are seen.

Leaving Bear River station our route is nearly due east. The valley seems to broaden, is higher and under cultivation. And the coal shutes of the Renton mine are seen to the south of us, across the valley, just before the whistle is blown for Renton, which we reach about 4 p.m.

Renton has a very pretty location on a level tract of timbered land, on the south side of Cedar river. It has four hotels, five or six saloons, three stores carrying large stocks of general merchandise, a church, a school house and butcher-shop, etc., and has a population of two or three hundred. Renton is noted for the beautiful residence and grounds of Mr. Smith, a pioneer of this section. His residence is about a quarter of a mile northwest of the station, across Cedar river. Rev. Mr. Fair and a party of friends preceded our arrival at Mr. Smith's, and after a brief sojourn returned to Seattle. Not so, however, with our party; having found so delightful a retreat, away from the hurry and bustle of city life, we resolved to pass the night here.

There are many people in Seattle, especially new arrivals, who are tired of milk that's "got the blues," of eating butter "made in a lard can," or even of mouldy bread. We can sympathize with them. A change of horses makes a long journey short. Now, if you are tired and weary, and are longing for home comforts, rest and quietude, we know of no place more acceptable to you than Mr. Smith's, at Renton. Those rich and juicy cherries, raspberries, fresh butter and cream, will captivate hearts of the bravest.

Taking the up bound train for Newcastle at 9:45, we roll up a steep grade that in some places, we are told, is 110 feet to the mile, across several high bridges (one of which is 125 feet from the bed of the ravine to the track), along the side of a heavily-timbered ridge, obtaining now and then a beautiful view of the southern end of Lake Washington; and we reach Newcastle, six miles above Renton, at 10:30.

Newcastle is located partly in a gulch and side hill at the mouth of the tunnels to the mines, which are a mile and a half under ground. There about 500 men employed in and about the mines, and there is considerable stir in and on the ground. The company has a large store, coal-chutes, saw mill and boarding-houses. There is also a church, butcher shop, and three saloons, and a hundred or more cottages scattered here and there. Considerable trade from neighboring settlements centers here.

Well paid for our trip we boarded the Seattle train at 11:15 for a return trip.

H. F. M.