Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1900-04-12
ADVANTAGES AS A SEA
PORT.
Manufacturing and Commercial Gen.
tes-Place Where Ships and
Railroads Meet.

two large and important rivers, the
/ Chehalis and the Wishkah, empty into
it, and only three miles distant from
the mouth of the Hoquiam river. All Of
these rivers come from different direc'
tions away back in the interior of the
country, through forests of fir, pine,
spruce and cedar, through coal and min
eral regions, and traverse valleys as rich
and productive as the gardens of the
Nile. All are navigable for river steam
ers, and regular lines are operated on
them and do large business in carrying
to Aberdeen the products OF the valleys,
and taking back wares and merchandise.
Aberdeen was originally founded as a
mill town eight or nine years ago, and
was at that time recognized as having
so advantageous location and possess
ing such natural advantages as would in
time make it great city. The first
corners were engaged in the manufac-
turing and shipping Of lumber, and their
markets, whether coastwise or foreign,
had to be butt up, which was slow.
tedious process, very different from what
it would be now since our lumber is
sought for in nearly all of the markets
Of the world.
There was then no rail connection and
the population of the state was very
limited, and no attention was given to
commerce or anything not connected
with numbering.
Within the last few years this has
been changed. The important factors
of favorable location and natural
shipping facilities have brought other
industries, until now it has larger pay
roll than any other place Of its size in
either Washington or Oregon. 1t has
been reaching out for business until it
now occupies place Of commercial i'm
portance. Great developments are going
on in its tributary country, and splendid
farms and fine orchards gladden. the eye
lis one goes along the rivers or through
the valleys.
The lay Of the land is we'll adapted to
the building of a great city; level along
the water front and extending back for
short distance, then merging into
gradually rolling hills sloping toward
the bay, which are especially attractive
for residences. From these hills there
is most beautiful view and the scene
that is spread out before US is truly en-.
chanting. Far to the east across the
boundless forests and fields Of waving
grain, looms up old Mt. Rainier; and as
the eye wanders to the north, one be.
holds away in the distance the grand
old Olympic Mountains, with their
peaks clad in perpetual snow as if to
make, by way OF contrast, the bright
colored forests and interlacing valleys
with their warm sunshine and mellow
atmosphere seem more congenial; to
the west, eighteen miles away, is seen
the grand old Pacific, on whose peaceful
waters are borne our ships to every part
OF the world, and spread out directly
before us are the Wishkah and Chehalis
rivers and the bay and harbor on which
the ships with their white wings spread
are either coming in or speeding on
their way to other chimes; and the
whistles of the numerous steamers as
they hurry here and there, tell to the
world the greatness of our commerce.
With this beautiful panorama spread
out before us and the knowledge of what
it all means, one cannot help but see in
this location the magnet that will draw
to it and make it great city.
Cities, like poets, are born, not made.
There must be the essential elements
that 20 to make necessity for city at
a certain place. or there can be no city
there. Nature is the builder of these
elements, and unless they exist, no
matter how much money is expended,
it is always an uphill pull and never
gets very far along. When they do ex-
list, as at Aberdeen, there is necessity
and demand for city and it grows
spontaneously, for all OF the elements
conspire to its growth and contribute
to it.
uray's Harbor, its rivers, valleys,
timber, iron, coal, fisheries, in short the
location with all its wealth of natural
resources has existed TO" centuries, and
only needed the factors, transportation
and markets, to make the combination
of essential elements necessary to the
building OF city. Three or four years
ago these elements were partially united
but not fully, for Aberdeen had practi-
cally no rail connection until February
20, 1895; but at the time they were
partially united the city had its real
inception, and from that time it has
gone steadily ahead, with the exception
OF short time that it was held in check
by the great panic that spread al! over
the country.
A the warm sunshine 9uinSens vrce-
t ,tion into renew ed Growth, 50 returning
prosperity quicAens Aberdeen into re-
n.wa life: the railroad that was needed