APPENDIX H H H. ROAD INTO MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Seattle, Wash., July 15, 1909. SIR: I have the honor to forward herewith annual report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1909, on road into Mount Rainier National Park. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. W. KUTZ, Major, Corps of Engineers. The CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. ARMY. ROAD INTO MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK. The project authorized by Congress contemplates the construction of a wagon road from the west boundary of Mount Rainier Forest Reserve to the vicinity of the Camp of the Clouds in National Park, a distance of about 25 miles. At the beginning of the fiscal year 12 miles of road were completed, 3 miles of road were partially completed, and for a distance of 9 miles no work had been done. On June 30, 1909, the status of the work was as follows: Seventeen and seven-tenths miles completed road. One and nine-tenths miles nearly completed and open to the public. Three and two-tenths miles on which no work had been done. During the early portion of the fiscal year the construction crew, consisting of 173 men and 9 teams, was in camp near Nisqually glacier and engaged in completing the roughed-out road below that point and in opening up a roadway along the left side of Nisqually Canyon. To permit work over a greater length of route a wooden tramway was laid up a 37-degree slope across a switchback pony trail used by tourists some years ago. The tramway was 825 feet long and operated by horse power at the summit; by means of it a second camp was established at "Frog Heaven," on the summit of Gap Point ridge, enabling work to be carried on at the higher level while the slower and more expensive rock work around Gap Point was being done. With the second camp established the force was increased to 225 men and 19 teams. Subsequently work was carried forward from both camps, the lower one cutting a road out of the side of Nisqually Canyon through rock ledges and the steep slope of Gap Point, a thousand feet above the bed of the Nisqually River. 9001-ENG 1909-158 2513 During the season of 1908 a 100-foot span Howe truss bridge, made of hewn timbers, was built across the Nisqually River about a thousand feet below the glacier, and a 33-foot span wooden Howe truss bridge was built across Paradise River. Work ceased for the season on September 23, owing to lack of funds. A small crew was then sent over the completed road with a road machine, crowning it for the winter and cleaning gutters and drains, and the outfit was stored in the storehouses convenient for the next year's work. In March, 1909, Congress appropriated $25,000 for completing the construction of the road. Work was resumed on April 15, 1909, from a camp at Copper Creek, and between that date and June 26 the construction force was at work on the uncompleted portion of the road below Longmire Springs. Work was carried on continuously with an average force of 32 men and 4 teams, short sections of the road being thrown open to use as fast as completed. On June 17 a crew of 5 men was started out with road grader to go over work just completed and to continue beyond Longmire Springs, removing fallen trees, bowlders, and cleaning gutters. These men were housed and fed in a camp wagon that was moved along as work progressed. They reached Nisqually glacier on June 24 and opened a way through a mass of material (trees and bowlders) that had slid into the road during the winter. The entire outfit was moved from Copper Creek camp to Glacier camp on June 27, and rock drilling and other road work on the upper section was started on June 28. There is still 3 feet of snow on the section of road not yet opened. As soon as this disappears the working force will be increased. The current appropriation is for the completion of the road, and it will suffice to push through a road to the designated terminus at the Camp of the Clouds. The available funds, however, are not sufficient to make a road as good or as safe as the portions heretofore built. Among the most necessary items of work are the widening of the road at the sharpest curves and at places where accident to vehicle, horse, or automobile might result disastrously to the tourist; the construction of railings and guard walls at dangerous points; the construction of additional retaining walls; and the provision for additional drainage. To complete this road as it should be completed will require an additional appropriation of $25,000, the estimate for which is submitted. The number of tourists who visited the park during the season of 1908, as reported by the superintendent, was 3,766, an increase of more than 80 per cent over the previous year. One hundred and twenty-eight of these tourists made a trip to the top of the mountain. Estimate of additional funds required. Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1911, for works of improvement, exclusive of the balance unexpended July 1, 1909.. $25,000 |