REPORT AND ESTIMATE. 345 
Spokane to the crossing of the Columbia 1,598 fect in 151% miles, or an aggregate gradient of 104 
feet to the mile. But there will be several summits in this distance, and a maximum summit 
of about 2,600 feet above the sea. It is not probable that gradients exceeding forty or fifty feet 
to the mile will be required along this distance. 
CROSSING OF THE COLUMBIA TO SEATTLE, ON PUGET SOUND—DISTANCE 220 MILES. 
The Columbia river, for fifteen miles above the mouth of the Yakima, is 400 yards wide, 
with sand and gravel banks thirty feet high. 
The railroad line passes up the valley of the main Yakima to the Snoqualmoo Pass, where 
there are two routes for tunnelling through the divide—one being by a route south, and the 
other by a route north of Lake Kitchelus. The first brings the line to the valley of the 
Nooknoo or Cedar creek, which can be followed down to its junction with the stream flowing 
from the Dwamish lake to the Dwamish river, near the outlet of the lake. The line then runs 
in nearly a straight course to Seattle; or, following down the Nooknoo twenty-nine miles and 
a half, the line may take the summit and northern slope of the low ridge separating Lake 
Mowee from the valley of the Snoqualmoo, and from that, taking a spur running from the 
Nooknoo falls to those of the Snoqualmoo, reach the latter falls at a distance of forty-five miles 
from the tunnel. Thence the distance to Seattle is thirty miles, and the grades do not exceed 
twenty feet. The route north of Lake Kitchelus comes immediately upon the waters of 
Snoqualmoo; and although no observations have been taken for altitude, intelligent gentlemen 
who have been over both routes state that it is lower, and involves less tunnelling than the 
route south of Lake Kitchelus. There are two modes of piercing the mountain south of Lake 
Kitchelus: first, by means of a tunnel four thousand yards in length from the level of Lake 
Willailootzas, two thousand nine hundred and ninety-three feet above Vancouver; second, by 
a tunnel eleven thousand eight hundred and forty yards long, from the level of Lake Kitchelus, 
two thousand three hundred and eighty-eight feet above Vancouver. The average grade to 
the Snoqualmoo falls, with the use of the long tunnel. will be forty-six and three-tenths feet 
per mile, and with the use of the short tunnel, fifty-nine and eight-tenths feet per mile. 
The ascent up the valley of the Yakima is as follows : 
From the crossing of the Columbia to the commencement of the pine timber 
ninety-six miles. The general character of the valley to this point is wide, open, and terraced; 
the ground of sand, gravel, or loose stones; but little clay or vegetable mould; curves easy; 
long stretches of straight road perfectly practicable. Іп this distance there are five points 
where the hills come close to the river, making, at most, ten miles of side-cutting necessary. 
This cutting is generally in earth, loose stone, or trap rock, easily broken’ into blocks. T 
addition to these five points, the last eight miles of the ninety-six will be principally side-catting 
in earth, gravel, and sand; the work light, and no very high slopes. Р In the rst eighty ae 
from the Columbia the grade will be 123 feet to the mile; in the last sixteen miles б will be 81 
feet to the mile. By keeping thus far the north bank of the Yakima, the only bridges of any 
consequence will be two, over streams each about seventy-five feet in width. i 
At some place in this vicinity it would be advisable to cross to the south — of the Yakima, 
which is here about forty yards wide; good crossing easily found; plenty of timber on the spot; 
The road now keeps to the valley 
passing through an open pine woods; 
grade eight feet to the mile. 
is a distance of 
stone for masonry within twenty-five miles by water. 
twenty-one miles further on, four miles beyond Ksitkas, 
soil light, sometimes gravelly; about two miles side cutting; 
448 
