The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-26
FLOUR $50 PER BARREL.
Tho Primitive Pioneer Grist Mills on
Puget sound.

The Primitive Pioneer Grist Mills on
Puget sound.
A suggestion that the early history of the
state of Washington, the laws and deeds of
pioneer settlers be compiled is made by E.
X. Butterworth, of 1427 Second street. this
city, in the following letter ON early
Times in Washington:
The people who Of late years have come to our
state, reveling in the luxury of . railway car
rage. can hardly believe some of the stories told
by the earlier settlers in this wonderful land Of
ours. had not the honor of being pioneer of
Washington, but was among the cary settlers
of Minnesota and know that many Of the stories
now discreditsd by the later corners are true.
In speaking OF the times now long since past
into history, the Hon. Clanrick Crosby, who is
we'll known throughout Western Washington
and who is one of my most cherished friends.
tells me Of his early experience in milling on
the sound.
Some time in 1850 or 1851, Capt. Clanrick
Crosby. father Of the narrator, purchased a
sQuatters right to a donation claim OF GAO acres
located where now 10 the city of Olympia. and
including the falls at Tumwater. There was q
two-story house, a primitive sawmill with an
upright saw, and q still more primitive grst
mill on the premises. The price paid for this
property was $4,000, round figure for an equity
or rather the privileges Of pertecting the title to
the land. OF ehis sum $25, 600 was paid in gold
coin and the balance was to be paid in one year.
The grist mill would in these days be a curios-
ity Then, it was Il necessity. The burrs were
partly made of native stone, and the mill was
not capable of turning out either All immense
quantity or fine quality OF hour. The hopper
would hold about five bushels of wheat, and one
of the men would go to the mill in the morning.
fill the hopper, turn the water onto the small
wheel, which was the motive power, and
60 to the sawmill. where he would labor
until noon. Returning after the noon
hour to look again after his charge, he would
find the industrious little mill had not been idle
during his absence, but had converted the five
bushels Of wheat into kind OF chop hand
sieve was now brought into service to take out
the coarsest OF this product. and the remainder
was then put into sacks or barrels and was
ready for market Again the hopper was
charged, and this by night was ground into the
same kind of -four. While this was a slow it
was not an Improbable process, as tine -four
thus made readily commanded $50 per barrel.
Now we growl at - for the very choicest.
Meantime the sawmill was not idle, but was
turning out lumber, which, in its rough state
Uhere were no planners here in those days)
brought $l2 per 1000 ordinarily, but just alter
the great fire in San Francisco, about 1858, there
was a sudden demand for lumber, and the cap
tain sold all the lumber in the yard at $50 per
l.000 running his mill day and night TO supply
the demand at that figure. Money was plenty
in those days, but the comforts OF life were
scarce and security was only purchased by
eternal vigilance
Capt Crosby has long been gathered to his
fathers, as have so many of the brave pioneers
who have opened the way for those of later
days and have laid the foundation of one Of
the uobest states that has ever been created
The deeds the manners, the customs and the
primitive p easures of those who have preceded
US should be recorded before it is too late, and
in after years what is Cow easily gathered
will be of value.