Desiring to open the Northern Pacific to travel and traffic a year earlier than was possible if they waited for the completion of the huge tunnel through the Cascades, a great passage blasted through the mountains ninety-eight hundred and fifty feet in length, the officers decided to construct a line over the summit on the “switchback” principle, at a cost of $300,000.00. It was completed early in the summer of 1887, having seven miles of track and an average grade of nearly three hundred feet to the mile. Huge decapod (ten drive wheels) locomotives were built for this service, the most powerful ever constructed. Two decapods are used, one at each end of the short train. The bottom line of the diagram represents the main track at the mouth of the tunnel. The train moves ahead until it passes the switch S, and then moves backward and upward until it passes the next switch, thus alternating until the summit is gained, when it descends on the opposite side in the same manner. The general principle of the “switchback” is clearly shown in the following diagram: [Illustration] Since the completion of the tunnel, early in the summer of 1888, the switchback has not been used for general traffic. The scenery of the mountains is enchanting, the view from the line of the switchback being grand beyond description. [Illustration: ACROSS THE SWITCHBACK FROM TACOMA.] BEAUTIFUL HOMES OF TACOMA. Beautiful and costly residences, occupying commanding sites and standing in the midst of green lawns ornamented with a profusion of flowers and shrubs, are one of the noticeable features of Tacoma, and they speak of the culture and refinement, as well as the material prosperity of the people. In the topography of the ground upon which the city is situated, an excellent opportunity is offered for elegant and sightly residences. Rising in a gradual ascent from the business portion, the residence area offers an unbroken view across the bay and valley to the mountains, so that the windows of nearly every house in the city command a view of the snow-crowned monarch of the Cascades, set in a landscape of wonderful beauty. Many extremely elegant and costly residences have been erected. Among these are the homes of Gen. J. W. Sprague, J. M. Buckley, Esq., J. S. Baker, Esq., Isaac W. Anderson, Esq., Geo. E. Atkinson, Esq., A. C. Smith, Esq., Allen C. Mason, Esq., and E. Pierce, Esq., engravings of which are given on the opposite and succeeding pages. For so young a city, and one whose energies have been taxed to the utmost to provide facilities for its expanding business, the number of beautiful homes is remarkable, and indicates that its people recognize the advantages nature has given them to build up here one of the most beautiful cities on the continent. They are accomplishing this very rapidly. [Illustration: FARRELL & DARMER, ARCHITECTS. ISAAC W. ANDERSON ESQ. J. S. BAKER ESQ. TACOMA’S BEAUTIFUL HOMES.] HOPS OF THE PUYALLUP VALLEY.