Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-01-14
TmE WASHINGTON COLONY.
Tr1enn1al Report or the President OF
the Washtnxt0n Colony for the years
lxs0. lSai md lsss

the Washtnxtsn Colony for the years
1850. 1881 and Iss2.
To ne Stockholders ard Creditors Of the
Washington Colony and all coEcsrned::
LADIES AND GExTLEAEN:
On December 8sh, 1879, the following
persons. namely: II. A. Mcpherson,
j. Fl. Nesselrods, l.. J. Brown. l.. p. Es-
tier. and w. MiIy, met at the residence
of II. A. Mcpherson for the purpose of
organizing a colony to emigrate to
Washington Territory to lay out city,
build mills dc.
At subsequent meeting charter
was drawn. and January 2lst, 1880. was
placed On Gle in the Office of the Score
tary of State at Topeka, Kansas, and by
laws we're enacted in accordance With
the charter.
The organization was extensively adj
yertised, and numerous letters were re-
ceived from persons wishing to become
members. Many meetings we're held In
Topeka and other places in the interior
of the State. Stocks were prepared and
sold, and the organization grew with
astonishing rapidity until its numbers
were swelled TO over six hundred per
sons, men, women and children. May
18th, 1880, the overland division, num-
beripp 81 persons, moved out of Cliff
ton, Kansas. Subsequently other small
trains were started. Those trains met
with many losses and reverses, and be-
came divided and demoralized, reach
ing Walla Walla in small squads, some
of them having been left by the vayside
in Idaho and Oregon, a sad lookout for
the brave ones. Meantime members
were going by rail. August 10th, 1850,
a portion of the committee to select
location left Topeka, and August 18th
followed and joined them IN San Fran
cisco. thence taking passage August
30th, on the steamer Idaho for wash
ington Territory, arriving at Seattle
September 18th, 1880. The committee
briefly examined the Puget Sound
country. and on September 2lst l, IN
company with DR.. Adams of Cameron,
Missouri, Ia most brotherly and enter
prising mani with my pack on my back
and $21 in my pocket. started for
Walla Walla on foot via Snoqualmie
Pass, arriving there in October. l col
lected thirteen families, in all less than
sixty persons, and with their wagons
and teams took up our march to Olym-
pia, reaching that place November 18th,
1880, where many of us through the
kindness of Mr.. Barnes and others, took
up winter quarters in the Fair grounds.
A permanent location was then sought,
and September 2lst, 1881, the present
location at. Whatcom was made and de-
cided upon. This, however, was not
satisfactory to many, and consequently
the largest proportion of that little
band at the Fair grounds scattered
in different directions, finding locations
for themselves, and today very few
OF that little company are to bs found
among you. Other members have come
from Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska and other
States, while many have become MEM
bers of your organization, until you now
number near $50 persons.
On January 9th, 1882, five men COM
menced the erection of your mill, by
getting out the timbers. This was slow
work, and to induce more men to take
hold the timber was contracted for by
the foot. Then the work progressed
satisfactorily, and by April 9th tho tim
Der was on the ground and the framing
commenced. Under the superintend-
ence of myself, the mill was planned,
framed and raised, and on August 4th
l.. d. Frank was appointed Superintend-
emit. The work under his management
has gone on as rapidly as could be ex-
pected under the circumstances, and
now your single machine and sawmill
are in operation. Considerable stuff
has been manufactured, and over $1,000
worth of shingles sold.
The completion of the mill, including
sash and door factory. is being pushed
forward as rapidly as possible, and your
logging camp ON the NoOksack under
the management of Manning Cudworth,
is in az good condition as can be ex-
pected-66. 600 feet of logs having been
sent out; and / am informed that 1OO,-
600 feet more are ready in the boom.
Timbers are ready in the river to finish
the shear boom at the mouth of the
river, and by good management the col
ony will be able to furnish their own
logs, and should do so. 1t may be ad-
visible to establish other camps. | am
now of the opinion that by perseverance
you viii be able to complete your part
Of the contract with parties at Whatcom
by June next, and every reasonable
effort should be made to do this as early
as possible.
Now az to the financial condition of
your company. wish only to say that
/ consider it good; and more than this,
/ will undertake TO say that no company
on Puget Sound, or even on the Pacific
Coast, has ever achieved such victory
as you have. Commencing as you did
on the 9th of January last, without one
cent in the treasury, You have today a
mill of large capacity, and In many re-
spects unsurpassed on the Pacific Coast.
Hence, consider it wonderful success;
and l cannot refrain from abiding to
the generosity of kind friends in Seat
tie and elsewhere, coming to your help
in the matter of supplies, machinery
and money; and more than this, with
kind words of sympathy and encour
agement.
Now, as am about to retire from the
Presidency of your Company, after
the third term, ! have only to re-
commend that your policy be to
select for your future officers the
very best men Tor women, if you
please in your Company, regardless of
anything except genuine fitness for the;
position, you may desire them to fill
which l trust yon will do. Perhaps it
would be we'll for me to urge upon you
the matter of education and the erec-
ton of school houses, churches, ETC.,
and further, will call your attention
to matter more important than any
thing mentioned in this report, and that
ID iutemperance around and about you,
which if left unnoticsd will become de-
structive to yourselves and your institu-
ton.
In conclusion, allow me to exhort You
to be forbearing and forgiving to each
other, remembering that all things have
two sides, and above all recommend to
be united in all things. Last, bat not
least, would suggest that you do no un-
necessary work on the Lords day, COM
monty known rs Sunday. recommend
further, that you do not change the
resolution now on record paying the Of
fcers for labor done only where physi-
cal labor is combined with mental, as
your present officers have been paid, as
shown by the report of your Finance
Committee, all of which is respectfully
submitted to the officers and stockhold-
ers Of the Washington Colony.
The following Is a report Of the Fl
nance Committee of the Washington
Colony in account with NJ. A. McPher-
son:
We, the Finance COMMITTEES of the
Washington Colony, having carefully
examined III. A. McPherson's account
with said Colony. and finding that, in
our judgment. his charges are raaspn