Year: 1876

They will probably get $1,000 worth Of
logs out of the JAM thus making them.
selves even upon this noble enterprise ;
for our part wc feel like aiding such
public spirited men by all means in our
power.


To those who have never witnessed
such sight the jam is well worthy Of a
visit to the river The river here is
probably from 400 to 600 feet wide, and
very deep. A great part of the jam is
composed of timber that scarcely ever
rots. 1t is tie accumulation OfugcS. we
have no means of estimating how long.
1t looks as permanent as the forests he.
side it. 1t was probably caused by big
trees and other drift wood lodging in n
bend or upper end OF shool or island,
gradually, or perhaps in single season
closing the whole channel. After this
was once accomplished, all the drift in
the rive, would necessarily be lodged at
its upper end. The division between
the two jams was probably caused by
extreme high water at some time caus.
ing the lower portion of the jam to move
down a short distance, while the rest
remained fixed.


In the jam are found trees of all sizes
from the fir, cedar and spruce ten feet in
diameter and three hundred feet long,
down TO the merest brush wood. These
are wedged and jammed together in
every conceivable form. The parts pro-
jecting out of the water are usually cOv-
cred with long pendant mess, while from
the rotten wood or earth attached TO
roots or logs may be seen bushes or
alder trees alive and growing as well as
if they were upon solid land, in place of
over twenty five feet of water flowing
beneath them. 1t is a sight once seen
not soon to be forgotten.


The first store on the river was started
hy Mr.. Campbell some five years ago mt
Skagit City. About one year ago he
sold out to the energetic and enterprls
ing gentleman Mr.. Daniel Z. Gage, who
now owns the store there.


The father of Mr.. Gage settled on the
river some five years ago. He had quite
large family, most all of whom still
reside on the river. Mr.. Cages rancho
adjoins the skagit City town plat
Since Mr.. d. f. Gage bought out the
store, he has nearly or quite doubled
the business formerly done there. iIe
now is crampcd for room, will build a
new and more commodious store build
ing this season. The most immediate
and pressing want of the river is regular
steam communication with Seattle and
other points on the Sound. The steam.
er Zephyr has been up this river, and
tied up to the jam. A steamer like the
Zephyr or Fanny Lake could from the
start have full trcights monthly from
Seattle, stopping at Mukilteo, Tulalip,
HATS Landing, on Hatts slough, Cen
treville near the mouth of the Stilla.
guamish, thence passing eastward of
Camano Island, and up the South fork
of the Skagit to Skagit City, they would
have nearly direct route, would sup
ply about a dozen logging camps and
furnish direct steam communication to
over six hundred persons, who now are
wholly without any. As soon as bar.
vest time, If not before, there would he
full freights on this route tor semi.
monthly if rot weekly trips. After the
first year or two it would be as paying
route as the SnohOmish river trade,
which now employs three steamers per
week. We understand that the new
prOprietors Of the Centreville store will
he laying in large stock OF goods with
in couple of months. Mr.. Gage will
be largely increasing bis stock about the
first Of May, Provided q steamer will
run on no other terms, he alone offers to
pay full freight for the first trip, to in
duce them to adopt the route. We
should think the self interest of steam-
boat men would induce them to try this
route without delay. For instance the
Fanny Lake runs up White river and
Snohomish each once week. She has
ample time, and would undoubtedly find
it profitable To start with trips once a