The 10-Cent Ferry That Tried to Shrink Lake Washington

Articles of incorporation for the Kirkland & Seattle Ferryboat Company, with a capital stock of $35,000, have been taken out by Peter Kirk, Charles Palmer and Oran Kiteley, and active work will be begun at once. The company proposes to build a ferryboat to run across Lake Washington direct between Madison Street and Kirkland and make hourly round trips. The fare will be 10 cents each way and monthly tickets will be placed at $3, or 5 cents each way. Freight will be hauled for $2 a ton, and loaded teams will be charged 75 cents one way or $1.50 round trip.

The farmers east of the lake are all heartily in favor of the enterprise and are willing and anxious to give all their assistance. At present their produce rots on the ground because of their inability to get it to market cheaply by rail; but with the ferry in operation they can haul their products all the way to this city from Cherry Valley and all points as far as Snoqualmie Pass. All teams and stock coming through the pass will then come here instead of going to Snohomish, as only 25 cents will be charged for ferrying each animal instead of $1, as at present. The farmers around Cherry Valley and Tolt are desirous of doing their trading in this city, but are compelled to trade in Snohomish and market their goods there on account of there being no bridge across the Snoqualmie River at those towns. Bridges are needed at both those towns, and the commissioners are now preparing to build them.

The company will build a steamer twenty-six feet wide and 120 feet long, with one wide passage way in the center. The boat will be propelled by compound engines and will have a comfortable cabin with first-class accommodations and a large hurricane deck.

The present time between Madison Street and Kirkland is from 45 minutes to an hour one way, and the new company expects to make it in 20 minutes one way, or a round trip every hour, which will give it sufficient time to handle freight.