Photos by Frank S. Matsura, courtesy of Okanogan County Historical Society
Fifteen good roads enthusiasts on the trek from Okanogan to Condon Ferry. They were Harry Folmsbee, Ira Freer, John W. Forsythe, Capt. C.E. Hansen, Leigh Baker, County Engineer F.A. McGuin, Geo. B. Pratt, Sam Nelson, Harry Stark, F.H. Towne, Mayor Kerr, W.C. Muldrow, Dick Everett, Frank Matsura and W.C. Brown.
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Photos by Frank S. Matsura, courtesy of Okanogan County Historical Society
Most of the adventurers had to get back to town before nightfall. Those who made it to Condon Ferry, in Harry Folmsbee's car, were Folmsbee, mayor Harry Kerr, Harry Stark, Sam Nelson and Frank Matsura.
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First automobile to go through on Wild Goose Bill Trail
Voyagers report worst piece of road encountered near home,
good road material
From the Okanogan Independent
Oct. 20, 1911
The automobile pathfinding trip along the line of the old "Wild Goose Bill" road across the "South Half" was put through last Monday as planned.
Three cars undertook the excursion. They were Ira Freer's Locomobile and the two E-M-F machines of Harry Folmsbee and John Forsythe.
Fifteen good roads enthusiasts made up the party that filled the cars. They were as follows: Harry Folmsbee, Ira Freer, John W. Forsythe, Capt. C.E. Hansen, Leigh Baker, County Engineer F.A. McGuin, Geo. B. Pratt, Sam Nelson, Harry Stark, F.H. Towne, Mayor Kerr, W.C. Muldrow, Dick Everett, Frank Matsura and W.C. Brown.
The excursionists were plentifully supplied with picks, shovels, axes, crowbars, mattocks, etc. The most serious difficulties encountered on the whole trip was just across the river from town, on the steep grade going up on the first bench from the bridge.
A few more heavy pitches were encountered but the cars climbed them all readily owing to the excellent "footing" afforded by the splendid road material found all along the Wild Goose Bill road between the Mission road and the Wild Goose Bill ferry.
The natural roadbed from the ferry for twenty miles this way was found to be excellent as far as material is concerned. At some places it is a heavy clay loam and at others the clay is mixed with gravel - no sand whatever.
At a few points the road encounters bed rock to some extent but this offered no serious impediment. The main trouble from rock is boulders and loose stone scattered along the way, but a small crew of men in a few days could take them all out.
As it was the pathfinders on Monday took out a lot of rock. The most serious difficulty from the roadway was the high centers. These had to be cut down and shoveled off in many places to allow the cars to pass.
Cold Springs was reached about half-past one o'clock. Here a camp dinner with coffee was served.
This point proved to be further from Okanogan than had generally been estimated. The gauges showed 18 1/2 miles.
Some of the party had to get back to Okanogan by evening and as it was now apparent that the autos would not be able to get to Wild Goose Bill's ferry and back before dark the party divided and two of the machines with ten of the crowd came back, arriving in Okanogan at about 5:30 o'clock.
The third car, Mr. Folmsbee's, proceeded on from Cold Springs to the Columbia arriving at the ferry at four o'clock, being the first automobile to go through over the old Wild Goose Bill road.
This car carried besides Mr. Folmsbee the following: Mayor Kerr, Harry Stark, Sam Nelson and Frank Matsura.
They started back at about 4:30 and came across the bridge into town at 9:30 p.m. Considering the condition of the road and the darkness this was a run hard to beat.
The gauges showed the distance from Okanogan to Wild Goose Bill's ferry on the Columbia to be twenty-six miles, one mile further than commonly was estimated.
Frank Matsura was along with his camera and took many excellent views of the trip. It is estimated that the development of that road will cut off at least forty miles for an auto between here and Spokane.
If the reservation officials can be induced to permit it, an attempt will be made to put a road grader on it this fall to cut out the centers and take out the rock.
It would take not to exceed three or four hundred dollars to make it a very passable road indeed for an automobile clear through.
