A Land Company’s Plea to the War Department Killed a King County Bridge

About three years ago the King County commissioners had it in contemplation to erect a bridge across the Snoqualmie River, near Tolt. The river is only navigable for small steamers, and Tolt is the head of navigation for steamers of the very lightest draught. Some of the good people of King County wanted the bridge built at Tolt, and others wanted it built a mile away from the city. The Everett Land Company took a hand in the fight and opposed the erection of the bridge under the plea that it intended to put a line of whaleback steamers on the river and that the bridge contemplated by the county commissioners would constitute a menace to navigation. By an appeal to the Secretary of War and the use of this plea the building of the bridge was indefinitely postponed, and now that conditions are changed it is probable that the bridge will never be built. The place where it was to be constructed was not above Snoqualmie Falls, as has been erroneously stated.

The matter was recalled by the receipt of a letter by Auditor Beman a few days since from Daniel Lamont, Secretary of War. Lamont says:

“Referring to previous communications in the proposed construction of a bridge over Snoqualmie River by the commissioners of King County, Wash., I have the honor to inform you that objections to construction of the proposed bridge were filed with this department and final action in the matter was delayed to allow the parties objecting to prepare their evidence. The said parties have this day been requested to furnish the department at an early day such evidence as they desire to submit.”