MOUNT RAINIER 



the travelers linger to see it, or, passing regretfully on 

 their way, know that they have missed the finest view 

 of their trip. 



When a railroad is built up the Nisqually or Cowlitz 

 Valley to the park and connection by stages is assured 

 northward to the Cascade branch of the Northern 

 Pacific Railroad and eastward to Yakima, the flood 

 of travel will be diverted through the park. 



The point which combines accessibility with sur- 

 roundings of great beauty, and which is therefore most 

 appropriate as a hotel site, is southeast of Mount 

 Rainier, on one of the spurs of the Tatoosh Moun- 

 tains, near the Cowlitz Valley. To open this region to 

 travel it would be sufficient to establish the hotel and 

 its connections down the Nisqually or Cowlitz Valley, 

 together with trails to points of interest within the park. 

 From the hotel a principal trail would extend north to 

 the Emmons and White River glaciers, which would 

 thus be easily accessible, and thence the railroad at 

 Wilkeson could readily be reached on horseback over 

 the old Northern Pacific trail. In the future, stage 

 roads, or possibly a railroad, would be extended over the 

 Cowlitz Pass to the eastern slope, North Yakima would 

 be reached via the Tieton or Tannum Valley, and Tan- 

 num Lake would become a favorite resort. 



But the highway which would challenge the world 

 for its equal in grand scenery would extend from the 

 Cowlitz Pass northward along the crest of the range to 

 the Cascade branch. The distance is 50 miles, 31 in 

 the park and 19 beyond it to the railroad. Within the 

 reserve the summit is open and park-like. On the east 

 is a sea of mountains ; on the west is a bold descent 

 of 3,000 feet to the valleys of Cowlitz and White rivers, 

 beyond which Tacoma rises in overpowering grandeur, 

 8,000 feet above the road and only 12 miles distant. 



A committee of your memorialists has carefully 

 examined the existing maps of the State of Washington 

 with special reference to the position of this reserve, 



2Q4 



