Seattle's 1877 Plea: Build a Wagon Road Over the Cascades Before Portland Steals the Inland Empire

YAKIMA WANTS AN OUTLET TO THE SEA. COMMERCIAL IMPORTANCE OF SEATTLE.

Persons who have given the subject careful consideration have foresight enough to see that unless something is done to open up to Seattle the vast resources of the extensive region east of the Cascade mountains, she can never become a city of any extraordinary size or commercial importance. For inasmuch as our principal interests at the present time (i.e., the shipment of coal and lumber) are not of themselves sufficient to maintain a large population at this point—unless, of course, we exert ourselves a little more actively in the direction of manufactures—we will necessarily be compelled to rely wholly on the two interests above mentioned. As an agricultural center we can never hope to have much prominence, simply because we have but a very limited extent of farming country about us, and are not liable to have much for many years to come.

Well, then, knowing these facts, it behooves us to look around us and see how we can better our condition. The inhabitants of the vast region of country east of the mountains want an outlet to tide-water and Seattle is the nearest point—a distance in an air line of probably not more than 150 miles from the heart of that section. As it will probably be some years before they can expect to have railroad communication, it is absolutely necessary for our future welfare that we should speedily get control of the trade of that section by some other means, and the only available method that suggests itself at present is by means of a wagon road over the mountains from this city.

The present road is in a frightful condition, and is impassable for man or beast. It certainly seems to us, from what we know of the general topography of the country through which the road must necessarily pass, that the cost of construction of such a thoroughfare would be so very insignificant when compared with the direct benefit to accrue that it would hardly be worth considering. See what an inexhaustible abundance of the finest timber for road and bridge building the route is lined with; see the enormous quantities of sand, gravel and rock which could be readily used for filling-in purposes. Why would it not be feasible to send out gangs of men from each end of the proposed road, provided with all the necessary implements and furnished with a small portable saw-mill for the purpose of sawing the huge timbers along the route? The amount of grading necessary is comparatively slight; and the worst portion of the road is on this side of the summit, and is getting worse each year on account of the large droves of cattle being driven into this city by that route.

If no other plan could be devised, it might be profitable to organize a joint-stock toll road company for the purpose of constructing different sections of the road and keeping it in repair, and in a short time we have no doubt but that the increased travel would amply repay the stockholders for their outlay. Besides being of immediate benefit to the people at each terminus of the road, it would be a great accommodation to the inhabitants of the country lying between Kittitas Valley and Walla Walla, who in order to take the steamer for San Francisco, or to transact any kind of business with the people on this side, would much prefer coming here by such a direct route than the more roundabout one by way of Portland and Tacoma.

Moreover, aside from the advantages enumerated above it is easy to see what a great benefit this road would be in giving tourists and pleasure parties easy access to the grand and majestic beauties of Snoqualmie Falls, undeniably one of the most magnificent scenes in the whole Northwest country; while further on, the sublime and rugged grandeur of the white-tipped Cascades, with their dense growth of fir and maple, give to the thoughtful tourist ample food for reflection. The beautiful Lake Kitch'elac will also be a favorite haunt of the tourist before long. Although the lake is not of very great extent, it is most picturesquely situated, and its smooth, glassy surface is scarce disturbed by a ripple, giving it the appearance of a miniature Dead Sea in the midst of that mighty and solemn forest.

We have mentioned but a few of the possibilities of the opening of this road, but much more might be said. Surely the undertaking is worthy of an effort on the part of those who have the welfare of Seattle at heart, and take an interest in her future prosperity. What say ye, capitalists of Seattle? Will you build this road and open up your future greatness on the other side of the mountains? or will you sit down and mope over it, until the wide-awake men of Portland open up the navigation of the Columbia and its tributaries, or build a branch road from Wallula to Yakima, whereby they will control the trade of that rich section, and forever bar out the metropolis of Puget Sound.

This is a matter of commercial importance, and one worthy of deliberate consideration. We eagerly look forward to the day when this 'consummation so devoutly to be wished' is carried out, when in Seattle and Yakima an increasing population and speedy development of the country will henceforth give no occasion for the unwelcome cry of 'No Thoroughfare.'

F. M. W.