The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-23
RAPID GROWTH OF sEDno.
Fifty People Year Ago, Now Nearl,
1,OOO-A Railroad Center.
THE sSoouALxIE,

SEDRo, Jan. 21.-Few people are aware
of any material advances in the develop.
ment of Western Washington, save on the
shores of Puget sound, where Seattle, Ia
coma, Olympia, Port Townsend, Fairhaven
and Anacortes are situated and to which
the attention of capitalists and business
men has mostly been directed. The un-
precedented growth of the Sound cities has
blinded peoples eyes to the rapid advance
of interior points. One of the most prom
Using of these is Sedro. Sedro is situated
near the center of Skagit county, and oc-
cupies level site upon the north bank Of
Skagit river, the largest stream that emp.
ties into Puget sound, in q valley which
averages five miles in width for distance
of sixty miles. With Sedro as a center, q
circle of twenty-five miles will com.
prise Bellingham bay with its
towns of Whatcom and Fairhaven,
Fidalgo island and Anacortes. The rich
valleys of the Sanish and Stillaguamish,
the delta lands of the Skagit and nearly
the whole of the valley Of this last named
river, consisting of over 100000 acres, OF
which 10000 are the Swinomish fats, and
the Olympic and Beaver marsh lands, ara
close to Sedro. These lands are free from
timber, and produce on an average 100
bushels of oats to the acre. -Four tons Of
hay and 400 bushels of potatoes TO the acre
are average crops in this valley.
From the timber lands adjacent to Sedro
are obtained red cedar, the Douglas FIR and
hemlock, and average over $4,000 feet TO
the acre. The place takes its name from
the fact that on the townsite stood origin-
ally an exceptionally fine body of cedars.
Many of the trees measure from ten to
sixteen feet in diameter. There are over
a dozen timber claims within ten miles Of
this place that will average $1,000 feet to
the acre. Along the river valley there are
alder, maple, ash, cottonwood and white
cedar.
Within the circle above described are to
be found large deposits of coal and iron.
limestone and marble. In the same town
ship are the Bennett coal mines, and ten
miles east are the Cumberland mines. The
coal from these two mines is Of very
superior quality, having a very low per.
centage of ash and almost free from suls
phur. Iron is found in enormous quaint.
ties adjacent to the coal. 1t contains 3
large proportion of metallic iron, wlthout
sulphur, and with but trace OF phos-
phorus. Copper is found near by and pot
ter's and brick clay: Among recent dis
coveries are two asbestos mines. Fifty
miles east are gold, silver and galena ores
with the same characteristics and extent
as the 0kanogan groups.
The Fairhayen Il Southern railroad, pur.
chased some months ago by the Great
Northern, Is in operation between 6eur0
and Blaine, via Fairbaven, and Is being
extended to junction with the Canadian
Pacific at New Westminster. This road
has its present terminus at Sedro, and ID
building from there northeast TO the coal
mines, and viii make its main line TO the
East through the Skagit valley TO Spokane
Falls, which line is shorter than any other
line to Puget sound by LII miles. The Sc.
attic 81 Northern railroad, In operation
from Anacortes, is building from the east
10 the Cumberland coal mines ten miles up
the river. The Seattle, Lake Shore d
Eastern railroad has extensive depot
grounds here 1900 feet long by 400 feet
wide. This road is in operation from Sc
attic to Sedro, and has through connec.
tions with Portland and the South and
with Chicago and the East. Ii Is also
building north 20 a junction with the
Canadian Pacific. At present there are
seven trains daily each way from Sedro,
while a year ago there was not railroad
in Skagit county.
The population Of sedro year ago was
fifty, and now there are nearly 200 people
there. A hotel costing over $4,000 has
lust been completed, and two large bush
ness blocks costing $4,000 are nearly fin-
ished. Sedro has also bank, tive
churches, school, several general stores.
hardware and drug stores, newspaper
and i've mills.