The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1898-08-18
EDWARDS ON LOPEZ.
An Interesting and Descriptive Letter
From "X."

EDITOR IsLANDER:-
WELL" said neighbor this morning
times are booming at Whatcom. Fair.
haven and AnacOrteS. Ex-Sheriff Thorn.
as, who. now lives at the latter town, told
me yesterday that there is not an inhab-
liable house to rent in that place. The
same is true, I beleave, of the towns or
Bellingham bay"
DO you think good times at thse places
nave come to stay, or is it only prosperity
in the salmon catching and canning bust
ness?" / asked.
mo doubt, the prosperity in the salmon
catching and canning business has had
much to do in making things lively there
but not everything. The fact that the big
Fairhaven hotel has reopened looks as
though its owners consider that so far az
returned to stay"
"Yes," remarked, sit does really look
like we are going to have much better
times in all the Pacific northwest as well
as in the country throughout. This year
the crops are abundant and prices seem
to keep up. Good crops and good prices
will set the farmers on their feet again
and lead on to prosperity in all lines OF
business"
II am glad" said my neighbor, 'sthat
the outlook is bright here on the islands,
as was beginning 10 get discouraged.
Now is the time for all of the settlers to
put their shoulders to the wheel and push
onward the chariot of progress in our own
island and neighborhood."
II agree with you. What general inn
provements do you suggest here ut south
Lopez"
swell, first and foremost, we need q
steamer landing at Edwards bay. We
have a postoffice, but to have our mail
come and go via of Richardson takes away
half the efficiency of the office. By all
means let us have our mail carried by the
steamer Buckeye. Then the Edwards
Office would be the nearest one in the
county to the mainland at the railroad
steamboat and telegraph town of Ana
cortes. Besides being a benefit to all set
tiers in south Lopez, q mailbOat landing
at Edwards would be a help to more thar
half the population of Lopez. 1t would
then be possible to go up-Sound direct
six days in the week; whereas now, by
steamer Thompson, Tuesdays, Thursdays
go direct to Seattle. It would also be
possible then TO go to Friday Harbor, OF
WhatcOm any week day. The increased
advantage of getting off and OH the island
either to the north or south, any day, and
of shipping freight in all kinds of weather
would be no small help to our settlers"
What other general improvements
1--WE should have better roads. True
our roads have been much improved
within the last few years, but there are
still some portions of the main road
through the island that are almost i'm.
passible in winter and spring and are .
disgrace to the people, to the road SUI
pervisors and to our commissioners
Above all others, let the oldest and nlair
road be a sample of what all other roads
should be.''
"Mr.--, see you have some splen
did ideas as to what are invaluable aids
in the development of new community
like ours"
The people of south Lopez, living quit.
q distance from the nearest preaching
place, have never been noted for their re
figious zeal. It now looks as though thu
Gospel is to be brought to them. Rev. A
B. Cort has been in our midst twice tt
proclaim the glad tidings of salvation
The services were held in the Edward.
school house. Once each month he ha'
promised to preach for u.s., The two ser
especially, when every seat was taken
Some few are Indifferent to preaching ant
perhaps one or two opposed, but 1t L
hoped we will keep up at least the appear
ance of being q religious community
The Protestant church is a sign of pro
gress wherever it is found.
In these beautiful islands are found
very many picturesque spots, but foI
charming scenery there is no place in 81
San Juan county that exccls certain por
tions of the rock -girt coast of south Lopez
Seen from the water, the rugged gra.
rocks, capped by scattering bushes, O
larger stunted evergreens, with big tree
well to the rear, make pleasing picture
| The outlook from shore is grand. AT IN
foot of the steep rocky bluffs thunder
the billowy deep and the surging, roaring
tide OF to the south, across the woe
blue expanse, are seen the snoW.crownes
Olympics fringed shoreward with greel
forests. To the east the outlook is across
Rosario Straits to the high shores 9
WILDLY and Fidalgo islands. smith
| island stands well up out Of the water AM
At eyentide, it is real delight to watch 1t
bright pickering light. Usually man,
vessels are to be seen, some Alaska Douno
but most going north or south, headln
for nearer ports. The Seattle Whatcon
steamers are seen, hugging the Fldalg
shore. At the prettiest of the many place
along the shore, lives Mr.. 8. G. Chad
wick. an early settler, and Of whom an
| his charming location we may have some
thing to say ct another time. 4.