Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1890-03-23
JUST HEAR HER SCREAM
Nelson Bennett, Esq, Presents
Fairhaven a First Class
Steam Fire Engine
The Chamber of Commerce
Raises Sufficient Money for
Hose and a House
A Splendid Meeting in which
Mr.. Bennett Delivers an
Enthusing Speech

Enthusing Speech
The Fairhaven Chamber of Commerce
held called meeting last Friday evening
which turned out to be one of the most
important and interesting gatherings
which that enterprising body has held
for many weeks. The occasion was re-
ception to Nelson Bennett. Esq. presi-
dent of the Fairhaven Land company and
strong and staunch friend and promoter
of the eity's general interests. There
was large attendance Of the member
ship and many invited friends and the
rooms We're well filled
At an early hour the meeting was called
to order by Col. u. W. Christopher. first
vice president. who stated the object of
the meeting and introduced MIR. Bennett
The last named gentleman arose and in
his plain and straightforwardvay he adj
dressed the audience at some length. lie
said in substance:
Mr.. President and gentlemen of the
Chamber of Commerce. had not under
stood that | was expected To make a
speech on this occasion. but
rather that we were To have a
little informal talk together. Since
have been called ON. however. ID affords
me much pleasure To say TO you that to be-
/ honored IN this way is ilattering and am
delighted that il is possible in So young a
city to be allowed 10 address a chamber Of
commerce. That you have organized such
a BODY composed of such cntcrpriSing
men as | now see before me. the majority
OF whom. take IL. are members ~ the
organization. exhibits the fact that You
are alive to the best means for form
ulating and conducting the general bust
ness OF your city on business principles.
II was perhaps year or more ago that
myself and Others visited numerous places
l along the lower sound for the purpose Of
discovering the most available point 90
/ establish place where il would be- most
convenient and feasible to gather for
shipment such OF the vast resources Of the
/ Whatcom and Skagit regions a. we might
/ be able 10 handle. We visited UtSalady.
! thuckanut, ship llarhOr. Samish. What
com and numerous other points and rpcpiy-
I ed valuable and reliable reports from
other places a we'll a. from the regions
which NE proposed To draw upou. a. To
the resources. One day in November
year ago. myself aud some companions
secured a small boat at Nhate0u aud
skirted along these shores until We
reached the prumontory. or point. which
lies al what is now the foot of Harris
street. There We clamhercd up the bank
aud found il very difficult 10 make head
way through the vines underground aud
fallen timber which covered the land.
but decided after some mvrstiga-
ton that this was satisfactory
place 10 begin the Improvements pro-
iected. Indeed. We believed. that il was
the very best place we could find for
many reasons which need no explanation
To you at this time. and we have never
had cause to doubt for moment that the
judgment then formed was good. ON the
contrary the more We see of il the more
We are pleased with it. And now. is il
strange that should be- delighted 10 stand
here in what little over a year ago
was wilderness. before an entcrpris-
ing chamber Of commerce IN
rapidly growing and promising city2 /
have no heSitancy in saving to you that
| fully and sincerely believe that inside of
live years you will have city Of a5.0l0 or
$4,000 population. Indeed there i no es-
tlmating how large and p0puious your
city will be. but ! am certain that north
OF san Francisco there will De no greater
city, IN a few years than this city Of Fair
haven.
You have in your Chamber of Com
meree the nucleus of a body which will
have much to do with the control of re-
sources in iron and coal greater
than that OF Pennsylvania. Alabama
or any other coal and iron producing re-
gion. In timber, agricultural area aud
numerous other of the elements which
will help to build up your city your re-
sources are unequalled anywhere aud
with the iron. galeua and silver urN,s
which Will he brought close Ia You by the
railroads now building. what must bee
FairhaNen's prospects for smelterS. refiu-
ing works. blast furnaces and other es-
Adjustments OF kindred character? By
the route which any railroad must come
70 Puget Sound from east of
the Cascades. north of stampede
tunnel. you will be brought nearer
by 100 miles 10 spokane and the
wheat growing region of the country
tributary to that city than any other city
ON the sound. and all the advantages
10 falrhaNen thus to be derived NAV
easily be- computed by figures and facts.
You well know that railroads all
through this state. wherever built or
projected. calculate much on the freight
ing OF wheat. and it is computed that the
hauling by rail in this region of all
freight must be at an at:.aI
cost 10 the railroad Of one
hall cent per mile per ton. As ! said
before any railroad which comes to the
sound north of stampede pass must come
through Skagit pass. There j. no other
feasible way for such a road To come and
then it must come to Scdro. twentv-fnur
ready have road running. before IL can
turn To any other direction north or south. f.
10 90 to Seattle 1t must build seventy
i've miles further. and then il j. inv .
miles further away from the exit Co the /
Pacific ocean than Fairhaycn is. Til, ia .
the shipment of wheat would cause an
additional expense to the railroad of al
least twenty live cents per ton ON the
hauling Of freight. and l. ii probable f
that any railroad company is going to
make this extra expenditure for he pur- I
pose OF securing or mourning extra cX- +
pcnss?
MIR. Bennett then complaining of a /
trouble with his throat. said he would I
pursue the subject no further but would I
save his voice for the purpose of making .
proposition to tho Chamber Of Com
merce IN which he hoped il would be in I
terested. said he: "Of course in the set
tlement OF new place like his. the first
thlng men do IS To provide shelter. aud /
per consequence some of the buildings
must be OF a very fral and tcmpor-
airy character. Such are some of the /
buildings you have now. but | observe
permanent and even handsome aud OK
pensivc structures are going up. and
TINS VIII OF course continue to
increase. The temporary buildings. how
ever, are a menace To the better ones.
and you should do something to protect
W ndb Abu hdN' dlu 10 encourage those
VINO propose to build. BY providing pro-
lection you give those who propose 10
erect costly buildings the security which
they SO much deserve. Now | propose
that II you will raise a volunteer fire
company, with one paid man TO take care
Oh the engine, ! will donate to the city
one first-class steam fire engine. oniy
asking that you will provide place to
house 1t and the necessary hose and hose
carts.
Mr.. Benefits Characteristic proposition :
was received with shouts of applause. and ,
Mr.. Wardner moved that Mr. Bennett's
noble and generous offer be accented by
ne chamber ofcommerce. aud the price Of \
he hose would be forthcoming. Mr. !
v ardner's motion was seconded by Mr.. {
4adne and being put was unanimously {
arried.
Mr.. WaldrOn moved that subscriptions
e taken at once to pay for the hose.
fhich was seconded hy Mr. Iadup with d..