The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1921-07-28
DAN CLOUD PRAISES
LYNDEN'S ADVANCE
Former Publisher Writes Article
About Towns Progress In Past
Ten Years

VINO mace MS 1lrSt VlSlt mere tnlS
month since 1911, declared that he
was delighted with the progress that
Lynden had made in the decade.
On his return home to Montesano,
where he edits the Vidette, he pub
lished the following interesting ac-
count of his visit to his old home:
While away last week the editor
/. had days visit at Lynden, in What
,rom county, where for over three
years nearly ten years ago he edited
the Lynden Tribune. Friends took us
for a drive to see the progress that
had been made in town and county,
and that showing is one that should
bring encouragement to this and 9TH
er counties in Western Washington.
In 1907 when we first went to Lyn-
den there was one road in. 1t was
from Bellingham and the trip of 16
miles was q tortuous ride lasting
about two hours in what was consid-
cred a fast stage over what was
most discouragingly rough road. The
trip from Bellingham now is over
paved highway and is made in 30
minutes or less. Lynden was pros
porous community even then for it
had good farms around it as Mon
tesano has now. But now:
In every direction leading out of
town-connecting with every other
town and city in the county-are paw
ed roads. In addition there are par
allel roads and feeder roads leading
off the main roads-all cement paved.
The so-called feeder roads are often
narrow, but they are paved frequent
ly, and where not paved are all
smooth gravel roads.
We had heard so much about high
taxes that we expected to hear more
there. We heard enough. Every tax
paying old friend found it live
: topic. They called officials thieves;
: they told stories of alleged graft;
they insisted half the money had
been wasted. But
There was not one, merchant,
banker or farmer, but always wound
up by saying or admitting that the
road system had done and was doing
more to open up the county; more to-
ward clearing off the land and more
toward bringing in country homes
and farms than it had cost dozen |
times over. The greatest tax kicker
of them all-and he is one of our |
best friends-said he didn't begrudge
a dollar he had to pay for roads.
Here is what happened All along
these paved ways, everywhere, there
are more homes: bigger and better
farm buildings than there were ten
wears ago. 1t is especially surpris- |
ing the number of small places that
have been cleared up: chicken farms,
berry FARMS. garden patches.
Our friends tell us that as fast as
a road is paved or improved, buyers |
come in and get hold OF the unim-
proved places. Some of them were
city men but many of them are sons
of the men who made the bigger
farms, and, most of these people are
making good.
Much of this improvement OF roads
has been done under what they call
the Hannegan road law. The Hanne-
gan road law originated IN Whatcom
4. county. We remember the road well. !
When we were there that road was
mostly a mud trail in winter and
rutty, dusty roadway in summer.
Now it is a highway with wonderful
farms alongside.
And. as the change the roads have
made in the country is wonderful so
has the effect been on the towns we
only visited Bellingham and Lynden
But. Lynden eight years ago, though
smaller, looked much like Montesano
looks now in stores and business
houses. There were only one or TWO
brick or cement buildings and at that
time no paved streets. Now all OF
the buildings, nearly, are brick or ce-
ment: paved streets have been puilt
to connect with paved roads, and Lyh-
den actually competes with Belling-
ham for the trade of the whole coun-
ty. When it is a paved road, ana
when he drives car instead Oh
team of horses, it matters little to the
farmer-an extra mile or two OF ira
vel.
The milk powder plant, owned by
the dairymen's association, and the
poultry products plant, owned by the
poultry association, and the cannery
plant, owned by a private corpora
t;on. all tend to bring the country
trade to this farmers community
I town, and the merchants have been
alive to the opportunity, too. There
are two big department stores, either
of which will compare favorably with
.h. biggest stores in Aberdeen. one