The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-05-14


az great activity. calls TO m nd
another day when interest cen
tered strongly in tho little island lying at
she entrance OF Beilingham bay.
Eisza Island contains LIS acres and IL a
circle with radius Of ten miles were
drawn with Whatcom as a center. tho
circumference line would pass directly
thfoaSh the Island. II cos, the Pacific
American Fisheries Co. S0m In rnuni
numbers. and yet Al least ten times tha.
amount has been sank on Eliza island in
former years. All that now represents
This sum may Be found In q tumble down
wharf. some weather beaten buildings ana
clearing OF several acres
Eliza kland was at one time the proper
~ OF the late Senator Eugene Canisid
and in boom days he conceived the idea
or converting II into an immense chicken
ranch. portion OF the island was
cleared ard in the harbor that faces Hales
pass and Lummi island wharf was run
out Ia deep water. The chicken house
still stands. and 1t Is really large build
ing lis exact dimensions have been for
gotten. but Il Is no doubt several hundred
feet long. The inside was divided into a
large number OF compartments, while
down through the center ran a long lane
with neor. In the Enclosures on either
side were roosts. ness. etc. for the chick.
ems, and small doors through which they
could get ca 10 The open air OF email In
closures 6ena,or Canneid's idea was 10
Keep about dozen chickens In each In
closure. thus preserving the different
breeds, preventing unsemly battles be-
TWEEN the cocks. and according with the
idea that large nocks Of fowls do not
thrive well. Ane swo-S.ory dwelling
was built. and Also number OF out
buildings, windmill and water tanks.
Chicken raising on Eliza island was a
failure from the start The biuest blood
ed hens refused TO thrive, lay or set and
Il IL said the commonest klpd OF eggs
cost the owner 81 apiece. The chickens
Sound pirates, smuggiers and water front
thieves made . point Of dropping In on the
chicken ranch every once and a while at
the dead Of night and carrying of q hum
dred or so choice fowls
Senator Canheld was noted for ho.pi-
tally which was not niarrcd by The per-
vcrsenees OF the hens A isGe portion Of
the second story OF the chicken house was
converted into a big dancing hall. a fine
floor was fssi. tire dimensions OF which far
exceeded the size OF any on the bay.
Often the music Of the orchestra. the
rhythm Of dancing feet and the sound Of
merry yoires flowed from, the windows out
over the Sound. ana disturbed the inno-
cent siunibers Of the fowls below One
notable reception WAS in May. 1871 by
day the steamer Brick carried picnIckers
to the Island and In the evening Senator
Garfield chartered the fine steamer East
ern Oregon and took $40 people 20 his
island Fully ae quests were entertained
and served with lunch. Some returned
on the Eastern Oregon that night. but
many remained and danced In the long
hal! until the morning hours when the
steamer Sehame brought the tired crowd
60 whatcom.
In fsef Mary J Schneider made loan on
~. island Of sfa"S The island as 4
chicken ranch lost money too fast for the
owner To keep up the pace and the nun
her Of chickens gradually awinalea. from
one esanse or another until one day the
overseer packed hts goods and deserted the
ranch and ief, not chick nor ~oul behind.
Then she mortgage was fareclos>~t. the
Judgment amounting 20 several thousands
more than tho original loan. The build
trrs lacked keeper and they were shame-
faIly ~andahEed by Sosini pirates. though
a number Of good people Of surrounding
Islands stepped IN and helped themselves