The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-04-29
CITY OF SNOHOMISH.
Neighboring Farmers Thriving
and Progressive.
THE RAILROAD EXTENSION.


SxcHoNIeH. Wash. April ca-During the
year 1888 the railroad connecting this
place with Seattle vas the most important
item or factor Of its growth. During 1889
the development OF its local manufactures
was. perhaps. the most noticeable feature
OF its development. In the list of new
manufacturing enterprises given last De-
cenber and published in the New Years
edition of the Posr-IxTELLIsKscER, the
total value OF such improvements for 1859
was given as $i44.00o. This large sum was
about neutraiized by the loss of Biackman
Bros sawmin by FIRE few months pre-
viously. Of that total many of the esti-
mated Improvements were not fully COM
ple,ed until after the first of last January
E. d. Smiths mill. at Lowell. was only
just commenced. Little more than . be-
ginning was made at that time on Black
man Bros new mill at Snohomish Both
mills are now running, but Blackman's
mill viii not be fully completed for several
months to come. Since January they
have expended over 500, 900 on this new
mill Probably on these two mills and
machinery since January l fully $4,000
have been expended.
Andrews & Anderson's Pillchock saw
mill began work last February. This cost
about 5000.
At the msuth of Bats slough, just
above Snohomish, and not far
from Blackman's mill, is new
shingle mill and wooden ware
mandatory in process of construction
that is expected to saw $50, 0e0 shingles per
day. The Star Shingle Company is another
new shingie mill put up since January l.
Morgan Bros. and others have expended
considerable sums recently in improve
ments and repairs. 1t would be . con-
sentative estimate to say that during the
first quarter of 1880 over a quarter of q
million dollars has been spent IN improve
ments OF this character. Probably during
1880 one million of dollars will be expended
in building and equipping manufacturing
establishments, business houses and resi-
dence property.
Generally contractors and builders begin
their spring work by the LIST of March; but
this year the season was so late, lumber
scarce and business unsettled that little
building was done in town between Janu-
airy and APRIL. Finally, when BIackman's
~~o~~A~ 80 WsA6s osN cSseAS4 WSOsa4SA
came, work sprang up suddenly all around.
Perhaps $4,000 would be an outside esti-
mate for all such work since January 1.
Now, one carpenter and contractor is
pushed to put up right away buildings
worth $4,000; another has nearly as much
more to do. There is great need for more
buildings. Lumber viii be cheap and plen-
tifui this summer, and the number Of
buildings to be put up will be very great
The new courthouse win probably be COM
menced soon, and the number of men
required to carry on all the different kinds
of work viii be great This will still further
increase the building beom."
New town plats. additions to Snoho-
mish," continue to be made, and many
town lots are being sold in each of these
additions" Still. as the town spreads
and the demand for cheap residence lots
increases, there are SO many who desire to
buy in what, few years ago. was called
way ont in the woods" that these extern
sions cannot be said to he in excess OF the
popular demand. The town, as plated,
row covers q wide area. From the north
ernmost to the most southern part it is
nearly three miles. 1t Is also over two
miles east and west. Not all the land with
in this area is actually plated, but
much it not plated is being
sub-divided, and sold in small tracts, and
most of the lots and other tracts sold are
being build upon as rapidly as means will
permit.
The usual amount of logging is being
done. but the large quantity cut into lum-
Der at home will prevent any great increase
in the export of logs from the river over
that of former years. Logging has ceased
to be the one industry of snohomish. Man.
ufactures and farming are now at least
equally ii not more important.
The building of the Seattle, Lake Shore
d Eastern railroad. from Seattle TO Snoho-
mish, and its non-extension beyond for so
long time, was of great value in starting
manufactures, and concentrating popn!a-
ton and business here. Before il ceased
being terminal point this work Was so
well done that the recent exten sion of the
road northward 10 the SssllsguamiSh eoun-
try has not lessened the rate of progress
here.
Most towns having a rapid growth are
built BY outside capital. New men usually
come In, with push aud money" and set
things agoIng. Here all business enter
pIises. manufactures. etc, are in the hands
of odd settlers" who are developing the
country and resping the harvest Of pros
periiy AZ the same time. Every local
manufacturing enterprise, except one or
two shing,e miis. here is owned and con-
Died By men who have long made sno-
homish their homes. This indicates a
steady, permanent growth.
There has been an excellent market for
al kinds OF farm produce for several years
pest This. with the Increase oil poruls-
ton, spread Of the town, and general pros
speri;y o. this whole region, has caused an
immense amount of clearing and improve
ment II be made among the farms and
farmers Thus, to illustrate. the Steven
son marsh, just south OF town, extending
from Lowell 10 FlSdleT's bluff. Is sbou,
eight miles long and from one TO two miles
vide N lost ali Of this tract has very re-
Gently been rcc'aimsd and is now in high
state OF cultivation. Farms within ave
miles OF snohcnisa are uow valued several
times higher than they we're only Two years
ago. The area IN enluvation ard iae value
of farm produces on this river, has more
than doubled Ia that time
The loaaiag OF money by the parties re-
presenting Eastern capital on improved
farms has hssped many farmers To make q
start and com a.ete their Improvements. IL
has reduced The rate al interest aud been
10 slle advantage Of all The odd farmers"
srs nearly ali on. of debt. Most of them
are away ahead" The preseat profits OF
farming are 80 great thAs 10 working farm
or here has been ''piaehe4, caraesed. broken
IN. o. lost isis farm by lSorgoxins Eastern