Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-12-12
THE ELIZA ISLAND POULTRY
FARM.
Where Chickens are Hatched by
Steam and Thousands are Raised.

FARM.
Where Chickens are Hatched by
Steam and Thousands are Raised.
At the mouth of Bellingham bay,
eight miles distant from Whatcom and
within Whatcom county, is situated
Eliza island, one of the eastern-most of
the Archipelago, extending from Belli-
ingham bay past Rosario straits to the
canal DeIIaro and beyond. 1t is not a
large island, having only about lGO
acres of land, but it is undoubtedly the
most highly improved farm in the state.
100000 have been expended on inn
provemcnts and stock, not counting
what was grown upon the place.
Originally there were about thirty
acres not covered by timber, OF the
character known as the tide marsh
land. This was dyked and drained,
and adjoining moderate uplands were
cleared and grubbed, so that now there
are something over one hundred acres
OF land under cultivation upon the
place. When it is understood that
this land is within easy reach, and
upon the direct routes between What
com and Seattle and Whatcom and
Port Townsend; that the island has
excellent, although small harbors, its
advantages can be readily appreciated.
The Improvements upon it are very
excellent. A large orchard has been
planted and will bear in another year
The wharf runs to twenty-four feet OF
water at low tide. Large and ample
warehouses have been built for the
storage Of grain and such other COM
modities as are handled there. The
largest warehouse is 30xS0 feet. Be-
sides this there are thirty-six other
buildings upon the place, the most
noticeable being the iarm house.
This contains fourteen large rooms,
thoroughly finished and furnished,
with a magnificent cellar underneath.
The poultry house is the second largest
in the world, being $40 feet long,
heated by steam which is furnished by
a boiler-house fifty feet away. This
| - ,x-.N 10 20
three hundred head of poultry and
keep a spring atmosphere by steam
pipes in the coolest months in the
year.
There are now about nine thousand
fowls on the place. The blooded or
standard fowls are kept by themselves
in separate yards. There are twenty
nine varieties on the place, and eleven
Others have been bought by Mr.. Can
field and are now on the way there.
The great yards of Fetch, at Nan
tucket, Massachusetts, are said to be
the largest in the world, but it is
doubtful if they are larger than these
At all events with the extension that
will be made next year, practically
doubling what has already been built
the poultry yards of Eliza island will
rank first.
The new house will contain one
hundred pens, and twelve thousand
hens will be put in next year. 1t will
require two thousand yards of tarred
paper and wire mesh partitions will be
put inside to separate the fowls. Oh
this it will require two thousand yards
nine feet wide. There will be twenty
thousand yards of wire partitions on
the outside. This structure will be
nine hundred feet long and one story
high.
That there exists demand for such
a place is evidenced by the car loads
OF eggs and poultry that are brought
here from Iowa, Wisconsin, Kansas
and Nebraska and other Western
States almost weekly, and the enor.
mously high prices OF the western
market. 1t is safe to say that if the
farm was twenty times as large it
would find a market for all its products.
1t is to be hoped that this style OF
farm will have many limitations.