Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1890-08-21
A RAPID TRIP TO SEDRO
Scenery Along the Track of the
Fairhaven & Southern
Railway
Millions of Feet of Timber
Standing Alongside the
Track
Sedro the Converging Point of
Three Important Rail-
way Systems

BY invitation Of Mr.. E. L. Cowgill,
general manager Of the Fairhaven Land
Company, party Of nine gentlemen
boarded special train last Tuesday
morning at 1880 for a trip to Sedro and
the Bennett coal mines.
The following gentlemen were in the
party: Messrs. W. +. Nesbitt, w. d.
Gilbert and Thomas Newman. of Iowa;
Cecil X. Holcomb, of Portland; J. /.
Palmer, of Whatcom: ii. Y. Thompson.
attorney for the Fairhayen & Southern
and Land Company; Chief Engineer J. J.
Donovan: Manager Z. l.. Cowgirl. and a
HERALD representative. The train con-
sisted of an engine and one caboose, in
charge Of Conductor II. ". Jones. while
Engineer Mckibben was at the throttle.
AT exactly 7:45 the train pulled out of
the station ON Harris and Ninth streets.
and began its journey towards Happy
Valley. A thick fog Obscured the view.
but enough could be- seen of the pictnr-
esque scenery along the route to bring
forth many expressions of admiration and
delight.
Leaving Happy Valley. with its grassy
surface. the road winds its way through a
deep ravine at the base of Chuckanut
mountain. but almost before il could be
realized the train was out of the ravine
and was climbing the side of a mountain.
The view from the ear window as one
looked down into the valley below was in
spring.
The quarry of the Fairhaven Sandstone
company was soon in sight and a number
of men were seen taking out the stone and
loading IL on cars for shipment.
About five miles out the siding for Hill
Il Ill u
track going to the mill Is on three Der
cent grade, while the mill itself is located
$50 feet below the main track. The cluster
OF houses, the mill working,is plainly visi-
BILE from the car window and presents a
pretty scene. When the first water tank
was reached short stop was made to
allow Master Mechanic McLane and an
assistant TO alight to make some repairs
10 the tank. The stop was only a short
one and the train was soon speeding on
its way at the rate Of thirty miles an
hour. Samish Lake was soon passed and
that beautiful sheet Of water without
rifle never presented a more pleasing
picture than on that chilly morning.
The Wardner coal mine located at this
point Is being prospected and few days
since ledge OF coal four and half feet
thick was struck. The coal is Of a good
quality and the strike Is an important
one. The mine Is located within three
hundred feet of the track and a coal
bunker has been constructed alongside of
the road from which coal can be dumped
into cars without difficulty or trouble.
The road from this point passes through |
a dense forest of timber none Of which |
has hardly been touched by fire. The |
great giants OF the forest stand like sem |
finals ON each side of the track. but will |
soon fall victims 10 the woodman's axe |
While the party was discussing the i'm
mense amount of timber standing close TO /
the road. German Prairie with its green |
fields. hop farms and vegetable gardens
burst into view. The transformation was
50 sudden and pleasing that an involun-
tary "ah" came from the lips Of the |
strangers present. Again the train
plunged into the forest of timber and at
s:ij the tracks Of the Seattle. Lakd ShOre
X Eastern and Of the Seattle n Northern
which crosses the Fairhaven Il southern
about mile and "A half above Sedro were
crossed, and shortly after the special
pulled up at the handsome station at
Sedro. The depot Is one-story struct-
ure and presents a handsome appearance.
SedrO j. splendidly located on the banks
Df the Skagit river. and its position Is
such as to warrant the assertion that ii
IS bound to become great railroad CEN
ter In addition TO the Fairhaven
4 southern running into IL
SedrO already has the Seattle Il Northern
aud the Seattle, Lake Shore X Eastern.
all three roads forming a junction about
Jne mile and half above the city.
The town itself gives evidence Of being
and prosperous, a number OF
new buildings are being erected. and ere
many weeks have passed, Sedro will take
4 new lease of life and advance with a
rapidity which will astoni-h even the
Of that lively little city.
A description of the coal mines aud the
work going ON there will be published In
the next issue of the HERALD.