Mukilteo, Washington - The City Of "Firsts" - Scene Of Indian Treaty - M. H (part 11 of 14)

Land Litigation

As soon as it became apparent that Everett was to become a real city and that lands were valuable, all those who had sold cheaply regretted their bargain and there began a series of litigation which lasted for many years and which involved much expense to the promoters. The Kromer heirs, the Ezra Hatch heirs, the heirs of the Sines estate, each tried to nullify former sales. The first of these suits was brought by the Hatch heirs in January, 1892. E. C. Hinman, whose claim of 174 acres on Ebey Slough had been sold on a judgment, contested the title held by E. L. Chesney who won the final verdict. The homestead entry of William H. Hewitt on forty acres within the city limits was cancelled by the U. S. land office and the state land commissioner at once filed on it for the state as it was valued at $200,000. Litigation as to tide lands began in March, when the first application of Henry Hewitt, Jr., to buy them was denied by the state tide land commission. The tide lands litigation ended when the Everett Land Co. was permitted to buy them at the price fixed by the appraisers and the Kromer case was decided against the plaintiff, the sale to the Rucker brothers and the Everett Land Co. being confirmed. Two of the Hatch cases were decided in favor of the Land Company, but the infant heirs won in the third suit. The commissioner of the general land office confirmed the title of the heirs of G. W. Sines.to a portion of the Everett townsite, dismissing the contest of Viola G. Hanscom and holding the heirs entitled to patent. All of these decisions were rendered during the course of the year 1893. After two years' litigation the U. S. commissioner ordered the return of forty acres of the townsite to the public lands, with preference right of filing to John A. Cameron.

First Fire Companies

The volunteer fire department organized in March, 1891, began with three companies: Everett Volunteer Fire Engine Co., No. 1, with W. J. Gillespie, president, and forty members; Fire Company A, James Hamble, president, thirty-nine members; Everett Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1, Dr. O. N. Murdock, president.

There was little equipment of any kind, but the organization furnished the nucleus of the present paid department, and was very useful at the time in protecting the city. Everett's first business men's association was formed April 27, 1892, when a number of the leaders, more particularly of the Riverside section, met at the Swalwell office. J. R. Hawley was elected president, and the directors were James Hamble, N. M. Neeld, J. P. Murphy, George J. Sherry, W. M. Ross, G. L. Hutchins, R. M. Mitchell, C. D. Sweeney, Captain Hayden and C. B. Stackpole. This association was influential in founding Everett's first provisional government, but in a short time it was thought best to rechristen the organization and make it stronger by incorporation. On June 8, the name of the Chamber of Commerce was adopted and articles of incorporation were filed by J. R. Hawley, Schuyler Duryee, W. G. Swalwell, A. H. Gamel, and S. H. Nichols.

Before the close of the year, 1892, Everett had seven banks: the Bank of Everett, Hewitt-Lombard Bank, Rucker Bank, First National, Everett National, Fidelity Trust & Savings Bank and the Puget Sound National, with a combined capital stock of $475,000. The united payroll of the city's industries totalled $72,100 per month, employing nearly one thousand men, and this did not include the equally large number employed in construction and street work.

Chestnut Street, Everett, 1892

Through the courtesy of Mrs. C. C. Brown, of Everett, access has been given to one of the rare copies of the Everett News, printed November 12, 1892. This is an interesting souvenir of the pioneer days of the city and throws many sidelights upon its history. Printed just after the presidential election, it is full of pollitical news and election returns. Quite a paragraph is devoted to the enterpriseof A. A. Brodeck, of the U. S. Clothing Co., who received election returns over a private wire and "broadcasted" them by means of a stereopticon, interspersing the election news with store publicity. The fatal election row at Sultan is reported ; Dick Regan, a rancher, stabbing Ed Guthrie, a saloon keeper who refused to sell him a drink on election day. Big headlines announce that the Everett Terminal Company, of which Rucker Bros. and Grosscup were the founders, had arranged with the Detrick Steamship Co. for sailings from San Francisco to Everett, beginning November 17, 600 tons of freight in three months being guaranteed.

The church notices include Baptist services at Gamel's hall, by Rev. A. B. 3anks; Presbyterian services at the Maple Street Church; the announcement of Trinity Episcopal Church, Rev. Daniel G. MacKinnon, rector, and the statement that a mission Sunday school has been established on Riverside; and Methodist services at Wesley hall, on Maple Street, with preaching by the pastor, Rev. H. Williston and by the presiding elder, Rev. D. G. LeSourd. The Bayside Mission Sunday school at the Rucker Avenue school room is included in this announcement and mention is made of Mrs. Blalock as leader of the Epworth League. Among the news items are ones to the effect that W. C. Butler, general manager of the smelter, has rented one of the Tuttle houses on 23rd Street and moved his family from Tacoma; that Brodeck has introduced the "cash railroad," the first in Everett ; that Charles L. Colby and wife are expected for an Everett visit; that the banks are organizing a clearing house; that the paper mill is about ready to resume operation; and that the Swalwell Company has moved from the Tower block to the new Swalwell block and has the hondsomest offices in the city.

Early Advertisers

The list of real estate transfers showed that business to be very brisk; the largest item being the sale of two lots in block 698 by the Swalwell Land Co. to John B. McCabe, for $19,000. The advertisements, as usual, indicated the live merchants and business men. The U. S. Clothing Co., A. A. Brodeck, manager, occupied preferred position, top column, page one. Other firms represented were the Hotel Summit by C. E. Flanery, Swalwell Land, Loan and Trust Co., Caruthers & Kilham, hardware, Mohawk building, Bayside; B. E. Aldrich, grocer, on Pacific Avenue, east side; E. D. Smith, general merchandise, Lowell; J. T. McCarther, in- 'yestment agent; New York Land Co., C. D. Sweeny, president, J. L. Bowen, secretary; Parker Lumber Co., T. F. Mahan, resident manager; Port Gardner Trading Co. on Merchants Wharf; C. W. Siglar, mining broker; Call & Gunn, insurance; Quinton E. Friars, insurance, Lowell; John T. Rogers, funeral director ; Hyams, Pauson & Co., clothing; Swalwell & Swalwell, office supplies; Turrell & Co., boots and shoes; Jas. Hartley & Co., shoes; O. B. Williams, paints; Kemmerer, "the Scorcher," clothing, Tower block; H. S. Baker, stationery; Mitchell Land & Improvement Co.; the Fidelity, Everett National, Hewitt-Lombard, Bank of

Panic Days Approach

Grover Cleveland, W. J. Bryan and William McKinley were never able to agree as to the causes of the prolonged industrial panic which fell upon the country in 1893, so it is quite useless to attempt to explain them here. Suffice it to say that Everett was in nowise to blame for them and that while the effects were particularly bitter in this community which was at that time so dependent upon outside capital, the citizens strove manfully against great odds, underwent many privations, resorted to many makeshifts, but stood together shoulder to shoulder, helping each other, until the good times came. Mercifully, at the opening of this third year of Everett's history they were spared the knowledge of what was to come and they began the year bravely and confidently, and justly proud of their city's great accomplishments. The city's population was estimated, perhaps generously, at 5,452, but it was known that the three wharves had handled 30,188 tons of freight in 1892, and that the city improvements totalled $3,486,500. They could think of no other city that had done as well.

Hill Buys School Lands

One of the first events of great importance to Everett was the sale of school lands in section 16, township 29-4, lying along the banks of the Snohomish River, between Everett and Lowell and now partly included in Everett. The land, with improvements, was valued at $53,000, and J. J. Hill, represented by Attorney Wood, was the heaviest buyer. He bought ninety-five acres, without competition, at $88 per acre, this tract lying on the east bank, opposite the barge works. There was hot bidding on another tract, between Hewitt and Cushing and the price went to $410 per acre. This sale was important in that it marked the purchase of terminal grounds for the Great Northern and gave Everett much reason to hope that it was to be the great terminus of that railroad. Hull bought a total of 214.61 acres, paying $16,243.68. Other purchasers were: Everett Land Company, sixtyfive acres, $15,939; W. J. Rucker, forty-seven acres, $4,149; J. M. Davis, eightyone acres, $5,177; E. A. Strong, twenty-four acres, $2,826; R. H. Smith, forty acres, $6,400. 7

Everett Incorporates

The chief events for Everett as a city, had to do with its incorporation, the inauguration of its first administration and the upbuilding of its street system. The petition for incorporation was filed with the county commissioners, February 17, the Town of Lowell and the site of the nail works not being included. The city election was held April 27, after a lively campaign with many candidates for the different offices, along party lines. The number of voters registered was 972. Incorporation carried by 670 to 99, and the "City of Everett" was born. Thomas Dwyer, a democrat, was the first mayor, defeating J. C. Mitchell, populist, by three votes. The first council meeting was held in the Wigwam, as the Clark building was called and police and fire departments and the other branches of city government were soon organized.

Transportation Projects

The contract for the construction of seven miles of street railway was let early in January, and 1893 was a year of great activity along this line. The Everett & Snohomish Electric Railway was incorporated by Thomas Dwyer, R. M. Mitchell, John C. McManus and W. F. Edwards, and stock to the amount of $47,000 was subscribed for in Everett. The road was to be built within a year and to cross the Snohomish River on the Everett Avenue bridge. By March 150 men were at work on this line and many others were busied on the lines to Lowell and to the barge works. The hard times came quickly, however, and the line to Snohomish did not get beyond the city limits of Everett, but the Everett & Monte Cristo ran five trains daily between the two cities.

Transportation by sea was also a matter which interested the people. In January arrangements were completed for a line of boats between Everett and San Francisco, and twice a month service began in April. In February the Pacific Navigation put on a daily boat from Tacoma. This was the State of Washington, Captain Parker. The Henry Bailey also made the Tacoma-Everett run three times a week, carrying freight. Following a storm in February which caused numerous landslides on the Great Northern, the steamer City of Aberdeen was used to carry Great Northern freight from this city to Seattle. Everett was made a port of entry the latter part of March and A. Y. Tuttle was the first deputy collector for this port.

Harbor Improvement Begins

The builders of Everett had early turned their attention to the matter of harbor improvement and had secured the detailing of a government officer to view the harbor and make recommendations. Unfortunately this man, Lieutenant Symons, could see Everett only as it was, a new, raw town, and could not vision the Everett that was to be. His report was adverse, on the ground that the traffic did not warrant government expenditure and that it must be handled by local interests. This was a great disappointment, but Everett was delayed and hampered, not stopped, in its harbor development. The Everett Land Company undertook the work and by November two dredgers arrived, and the first harbor improvement was started. In December the Secretary of War approved the harbor lines as submitted by Everett and this provided for the construction of a channel from the Bayside, around the Point and up the old channel of the Snohomish.

First Ore Smelted

Seattle offered a bonus of $300,000 to secure the Reduction Company, which, instead came to Everett when eighty acres of land were donated to it, in East

Law Office, Everett, 1892 King Hotel

Everett. The smelter was linked in ownership with the "Three S" Railroad, the Everett & Monte Cristo line and the mining operations in the Monte Cristo district and was essentially a Rockefeller enterprise. This huge concern was in operation in the spring and by October had arranged for a continuous supply of ore from Idaho and Montana until shipments could be made over the Everett & Monte Cristo. The first car from the Kootenai country arrived October 25. This smelter proved a paying proposition and was in operation until 1909, when it was absorbed by the Guggenheimer interests and its business transferred to the Tacoma plant. The smelter not only gave employment to Everett labor, but its proximity made possible the profitable production of low-grade ores, and its removal was a distinct blow to the mining interests of the county.

Industries Hard Hit

The nail works began the year with good prospects. The ship East Lothian brought a cargo of 1,000 tons of steel rods from Antwerp, and in March the concern began the manufacture of a triangular nail which proved quite popular. The general business depression affected the building trades very seriously, and in July it was reported that the nail factory, the barge works and the paper mill would close down on account of the hard times. This report was denied but it was stated that wages would be reduced. The nail plant kept in operation until October, when it closed and did not resume work the remainder of the year. The history of the paper mill was much more satisfactory. It began the year with improvements which added three tons to the daily capacity of the plant, and its product was in good demand. It made a special order of forty tons of paper for the Washington souvenirs at the World's Fair and by the end of March was making a fine grade of writing paper. A carload of new machinery was received in April and this was followed by two additional carloads, so that the mill was placed in splendid condition. However, it was subject to orders from Eastern owners and was closed in August. It did not resume until December, but when it did it had orders on hand for 500,000 pounds and was forced to work double shifts and it started the year 1894 with flying colors.

The Everett plant of the American Barge Company had not reached the production stage during 1892 and had been a source of expense only, but the company as a whole had made money, declaring a dividend of ten per cent and its statement issued showed a profit of twenty-two per cent for the year, so that the local plant was in good condition and filled with hope for the future. The contract for the engines for the new ship Everett, was let in February and work was begun in real earnest at the Everett works. The keel was laid in March, the plans calling for a ship 361 feet long with a forty-two foot beam. It was said that it would have finer lines than the ill-fated Wetmore, with sharp prow and_ double the strength of the Wetmore. Nine hundred tons of steel were to be used and it was to be equipped with four Scotch boilers and triple expansion engine. Its speed was to be sixteen knots as against the twelve knots of the Wetmore. Captain McDougall came in April to superintend the construction and ten cars brought the new engines from Detroit in July. It was expected to launch the new ship the latter part of August, but before that time orders were received by Superintendent Calderwood to lay off all the men except himself, the cashier and the watchman. This threw 135 laborers and mechanics out of work. In August,

Henry Hewitt, Jr., while denying that he was disposing of his stock in the Everett Land Company asserted that it was not desirable to complete the new whaleback as it would have to be run at a loss. The ship was chartered by Charles Deterick, to run between Puget Sound and San Francisco, as soon as it was completed, but no more work was done on it in 1893, and from the industrial standpoint the smelter and the paper mill were the only bright spots in the city that had fairly pulsed with activity but twelve months before.

City Progress In 1893

The new site for the post office, on the corner of Hewitt and Lombard, was secured in May and the office moved to its new location in the fall. The postal receipts for the last quarter of 1892 were $1,723.25, showing a high rate of gain, which was hardly maintained during 1893. The Everett Hospital was established in 1893, chiefly through the activity of the good women of the city. This was recognized by the appointment of a board of lady managers, headed by Mrs. Augusta Plummer Foster. Mrs. Friday was the efficient head of this institution and on account of the nature of a part of her duties she was appointed a deputy sheriff; the first woman to serve in this capacity in Snohomish County. In February, $35,000 was voted for the erection of a school building on Bayside and the contract for this was let in May to W. J. Gillespie, for $23,425. The March enrollment was 437, and the new building was badly needed.

Progress was made along social lines. Everett Lodge No. 98, Knights of Pythias, was instituted January 14 with fifty-three members. The new Everett theater, erected by John F. Sheridan, was opened April 14. Russell A. Alger Camp of the Sons of Veterans, of which J. R. Chambers was captain, was organized in May. In June Everett's first real baseball team was organized, with the defeat of Snohomish as its chief object in life. The new Masonic Hall was dedicated in July and this was quickly followed by the instituting of the Everett chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. In the meantime there was roller skating for all. The sensation of the year was created when the Abbe de la Croix de Castries, a nephew of an ex-president of France was arrested at his hotel and his room searched for smuggled goods. This became an international affair, the French Government presenting a claim of $100,000 against the United States. The affair was finally settled through diplomatic channels with due apologies to the offended Frenchman. Everett was also thrilled by its first homicide in May, 1893, when the notorious "Kid Clark" killed Herbin Paris by a blow on the head with a beer glass. Clark made his escape and was never captured. While there were twenty-three cases of smallpox in the city and it proved very virulent in other parts of the county, but one death was reported from this disease in Everett.

Land Company In Difficulties

The most portentious business event of the year 1893 was the loan of $1,500,000 made by the Everett Land Company, the bonds being secured by a mortgage on all its holdings given to the Farmers Loan & Trust Company of New York. These bonds matured in twenty years and bore eight per cent interest. In December came the momentous news that Henry Hewitt, Jr., had resigned as president of the Everett Land Company, and that Charles L. Colby had been elected to succeed him. The affairs of Everett had not prospered as its people had hoped, and there was a general feeling that the change would be beneficial to Everett's interests.

_ The year 1894 is one which the old-timers speak of with a sigh, for in many respects it was one of hardships and disappointments, and yet for Everett it witnessed many triumphs. It was the year of the successful campaign to win the county seat; it was the year of the launching of the whaleback, the City of Everett; it was the year which saw the establishment of the free public library.

The story of the county seat contest is told in another chapter and need not be mentioned here save to remind that while Everett carried on its business and earned its daily bread as best it could, the "paramount issue" with every business man was to win the county seat. Everything else was subordinated to this one purpose, for with industries struggling simply to exist it was doubtless felt that the whole future of the city depended upon the outcome. One thing the contest did for Everett was to cement its business men into a solid bloc of fellow workers. Men might be bitter business rivals, but they were comrades at arms when it came to the county seat fight. The effect of this close cooperation, which lasted through the nearly three years of the courthouse campaign, left a permanent impress and fostered an Everett spirit which has never quite died and which manifested itself in the fight for good roads and in many other civic enterprises. The county seat fight runs like the motif of an opera through all the history of the city from 1894 until the question was finally settled by the removal of the county offices to Everett.

Hewitt Out Of Land Company

With the Everett Land Company the successful floating of its large bond issue gave it a new lease of life and enabled it to resume its projects for improving the city. The mortgage, which was filed in March, was by far the largest ever filed in the county up to that time and included practically all the property of the concern. The final terms were for bonds running for five years and bearing eight per cent interest. It was, perhaps, the short time until the maturity of these obligations which caused the company's downfall, for they became due just as the country was entering upon an era of better times, and before business had fully recovered from the effects of the panic.

The renewed confidence which this loan gave the concern is shown by its activities in negotiating for the establishment of a large flouring mill and elevator ; the opening of a new addition adjoining the smelter and the barge works; the harbor improvements and the fact that whereas in the previous fall it had been anxious to sell the waterworks to the city, it threw its influence to defeat the proposition when it was voted upon in the spring. At the annual meeting held on May 26, the following board of trustees was elected: Colgate Hoyt, E. S. Lyon, A. R. Whitney, Jr, J. T. McBride, F. H. Brownell, Schuyler Duryee, George S. Brown, E. B. Bartlett, and Gardner Colby. The name of Henry Hewitt, Jr., was conspicuous by its absence. In his authorized biography, published in 1906, Mr. Hewitt approved the following statement as to his differences with the Everett Land Company and it is given here as his presentation of the controversy. After dwelling upon the fine accomplishments of the first years of his

"Then came the panic of 1893 which almost wrecked the enterprise. As a natural result of the depression disputes arose among the members of the company, who disagreed as to the best means of stemming the adverse financial tide. The eastern partners wanted to bond the town for $1,500,000 with which to proceed with the work, and did go so far as to print the bonds and have them signed by the vice president, but Mr. Hewitt would not agree to this; his plan was to quit spending money and simply hold onto what they had until the hard times were over. The disputes eventuated in threats on the part of the eastern men of law suits, bankruptcy proceedings, etc., and even accusations against Mr. Hewitt as having used funds of the company for his own benefit. He had invested $48,000, together with all his salary, and he was still indebted to the company in the sum of $150,000, so they had a chance to do him serious damage, if they wished, by closing down on him. He was, however, fully equal to the occasion. Ultimately they called him to New York for a conference. Before responding to their invitation, he organized the Hewitt Land Company, deeded most of his land holdings to it, and gave stock in the corporation to his creditors, of whom he had many in 'Tacoma and elsewhere at this time; then he went to the conference. After a two weeks' stay in New York he returned west with the charges against him withdrawn and armed with still greater powers of management than ever before. He had had a long conference with Mr. Rockefeller which resulted at length in the assumption on the part of that financier and his associates of all of Mr. Hewitt's outstanding obligations in exchange for his paper mill and factory stock. They also gave him in this deal, some land and mortgages, and about fourteen thousand dollars in cash, stipulating that he should remain in Everett and should continue his two banks. He maintained his mills and banks in Everett all through the hard times and did what he could for the up-building and progress of the town, but since the return of prosperity has closed out many of his interests there, not on account of any lack of faith in its future, but because of the insistent demands of his other undertakings."' |

Whatever may have been the inside facts of the matter, the Rockefeller interests asserted themselves and it was stated, in November, that J. C. Crooker, acting for Rockefeller, had caused the resignation of both Hoyt and Colby from the boards of the large corporations. J. T. McBride was elected president of the Everett & Monte Cristo Railroad and a new superintendent was appointed. Thus after less than five years the destinies of Everett were out of the hands of its founders.

Panic Affects Industries

While it was reported in January that the paper mill had just received the largest single order it had had, it was forced to close down in February, and it seems to have led a rather hand-to-mouth existence during these days of financial stress. An Australian order for 100 tons of book paper started the fires again in March and in that month the mill turned out its first lot of blotting paper. E. B. Bartlett, first vice president of the land company as well as of the paper company, died in New York on May 25, and his death caused a rearrangement of the directorate. Foreign orders increased, one shipment of 219,472 pounds of paper being made to Australia and New Zealand in November, and the mill became one of the few prosperous institutions on the Pacific coast.

The Everett Reduction Company, usually spoken of as the smelter, resumed operation February 2, 1894. It was a large institution, capitalized at $900,000 and its huge buildings were the pride of the city. It operated but a few weeks and then closed until the melting of the snow should open the road from Monte Cristo and it was in operation "off and on" throughout the year.

The barge works again occupied the limelight. Work was resumed April 1, but hard luck seemed to follow the institution, for the United States Naval Board reported that the whaleback type could not be converted into auxiliary cruisers because of the impossibility of mounting them with heavy ordnance, and in July a deed from the Pacific Steel Barge Co. to the American Steel Barge Co. was filed at Snohomish, covering the Everett plant and the partially completed whaleback, and a mortgage by the latter company to a New York trust concern for $4,000,000, covering all the property both at Everett and at West Superior, as well as all patent rights. Another mortgage filed at this time was one given by the Everett & Monte Cristo Railroad for $1,222,000, covering all its holdings.

City Of Everett Launched

In spite of these discouragements work proceeded on the new whaleback and it was launched October 24, 1894, the occasion being one of the greatest gala days in Everett's history. Although the county seat fight was then at its height the people of Snohomish laid it aside for the day and joined Everett in rejoicing. There is no bitterness shown in the following account of the launching as it appeared in the Snohomish Eye, showing that "blood is thicker than water" and that even in those days of struggle Snohomish County had a pride of its own which extended beyond city limits. The account read:

"An event occurred at Everett yesterday that should mark an epoch in the history of that city as well as of the state. It was the launching of the first whaleback steamer ever built on this coast. Fully 10,000 people were present, of which number at least 1,000 were from Snohomish. The procession, headed by carriages containing the speakers of the day, consisted of thirty floats, descriptive of Everett's industries, together with citizens, members of secret societies, the fire department and two bands. Mayor A. D. Walling, president of the day, made the introductory address, presenting Judge A. K. Delaney, who delivered an eloquent address of welcome. Governor McGraw followed with an appropriate response, alluding to the enterprise and thrift characterizing the citizens of Everett. Afterwards the crowd proceeded to the barge works to witness the launching of the whaleback. It required just four seconds for the mammoth vessel to slide from the ways to the water. To little Miss Katrice Lentzy was delegated the honor of christening the City of Everett.

New business ventures were of necessity few in the face of the hard times. The Rudabeck Land Co., the new building of the Everett Realty Co., on the corner of Hewitt and Colby, the letting of the tunnel contract, the platting of Hilton's first addition, the improvement of the harbor, the extension of steamship lines, by the purchase of the Cricket and the building of a companion boat to the Grey- hound, the shipment of fresh fish by refrigerator cars, inaugurated by Hackett, were some of the new ventures, but the general depression at Everett was shown by the falling off of 187 in the school census within a year. The election of Cleveland gave the local federal patronage to the democrats and Oscar E. Rea was made postmaster and W. S. Caruthers was appointed chief assistant surveyor general for Washington. The Woman's Book Club, which was Everett's first women's club, inaugurated the campaign which led to the establishment of the free public library, at a meeting held in November, 1894.

Panic Worse In 1895

The grip of the hard times tightened upon Everett in 1895. The land company found it impossible to meet interest charges and it was proposed to deed the property to the Rockefeller interests, but this was not done. The settlement spoken of in Mr. Hewitt's biography was made in February, the report being that Hewitt turned over his stock upon his notes being cancelled and that he also cancelled a claim of $8,000 which he had presented. The chief industries showed varying degrees of prosperity. The nail works were busy the greater part of the year. The employees formed'a band, which proved a good advertising feature. In June the plant was running night and day and the price of nails had gone up 10 cents, affording a wider margin of profit. In December, 1894, the smelter shipped bullion to the amount of $107,000, including 3,000 ounces of gold and 60,000 ounces of silver, and it employed sixty men. The envious Tacoma Ledger announced in January that the Everett smelter had closed down after operating six weeks and that this was its third attempt in two years. This seems to have been largely envy for the September report showed that two stacks were in operation, that the output for the first six months of the year was $500,000 and that ore shipments were coming in from all sections, especially from Monte Cristo. A furnace for copper ore was installed in October. Supplementary articles of incorporation were filed in April, 1895, changing the name of the paper mill organization to the Everett Pulp & Paper Co., by which name it is still known. A pulp mill was added and also a new sulphite plant, the first paper by that process being manufactured in August, giving employment to twelve additional men. It was in March that L. B. Steward, general manager of the paper mill, was appointed to fill a vacancy on the city council of Everett.

A big dredger came from Tacoma in February, 1895, to dig a channel by which the City of Everett might reach deep water. The whaleback's first voyage was to Comox, B. C., where it loaded coal for San Francisco. She next carried a cargo of wheat to famine-stricken India and was then chartered for the San Francisco-Panama trade, and Everett saw her no more. Captain McDougall returned to New York to confer as to building another whaleback, and it was reported that Rockefeller and Hill had joined forces, would make Everett a great terminal and build four large steamers at Everett for the Oriental trade, but the barge works remained inactive during 1895.

Everett Pay Roll In 1895

Mr. Crooker, summarizing the industrial development of Everett at the close of 1895, gave the following figures as to monthly pay rolls: Nail works, capacity

1,000 kegs daily, $6,000; smelter, 100 bars of bullion per day, $6,000; shingle mills, 800,000 per day, $8,000; paper mill, 30,000 pounds per day, $10,000; Sumner Iron Works, $2,000; two sawmills, 100,000 feet per day, $1,800. The assessor's figures published in August gave the capital and the number of employees of the chief industries as follows: Smelter, capital $300,000, employees 135; barge works, $175,000, 130 men; paper mill, $650,000, 125 men and 30 women; nail works, $225,000, 150 men; two iron works, $52,000, 30 men; concentrator, $135,000, 75 men. The total employed in manufactures was given as 863, including clerical force, and the number otherwise employed in common labor as 914. Sixty dollars per month was a maximum wage, except for the best, skilled labor, and the ten-hour day was universal.

City Grows Despite Hard Times

New businesses were attracted to the city, but without the rush of former years. Hackman Bros. opened a store on Hewitt, between Hoyt and Colby, employing four clerks, thus establishing the Grand Leader, now one of Everett's chief emporiums. The new electric brick plant began work in May. Hayes & Ailes moved their box factory from San Diego and began operations in August, being located at the Miller wharf on Riverside. The Western Union built a line from Everett to Seattle. Cross-town cars were put on a twenty-minute schedule, the Lowell and smelter cars running every forty minutes. The fish industry flourished, Shaw & Co. shipping 1,000 pounds daily to the East. Captain Hooper, of the United States Navy, made official inspection of the barge works and marveled at their completeness, saying there was nothing to compete with them north of San Francisco. It was prominently announced by the Herald, March 5, 1896, that John D. Rockefeller was no longer connected with the barge works, which was almost the only mention made of that plant throughout the year. The smelter, on the contrary, was reported as busy and flourishing. In January the Sumner Iron Works were given an order for a fourteen-ton crusher, and in February it was reported that President Butler had been authorized to spend $300,000 for improvements which should make the Everett plant equal in size to the San Francisco smelter. These additions were made during the year. The nail works were also reported in presperous condition and it was said that every steamer for the Orient carried consignments of Everett nails manufactured especially for the Japanese trade.

Howarth And Jordan Come

The paper mill advertised for a year's supply of wood to include 20,000 cords of fir, 5,000 cords of cottonwood and 1,500 cords of spruce. The capital stock of this concern was increased from $500,000 to $672,000 and an addition was made to the sulphate mill to be used for the supercalendar process. Best of all there came to the paper mill, in 1896, two men who have proven themselves not only great business men but most valuable citizens in every other respect. These men were William Howarth, who came in February, as manager, and Alvah H. B. Jordan, who came in October, as superintendent. The business knew no reverses after their coming. Both had special training and experience in the paper industry and both were men of vision, honesty and capacity. They were destined to become two of the leading citizens of Snohomish County. In 1902 they, together with Leonard

Howarth, bought the Rockefeller interest in the mill and became the sole owners. The shingle industry flourished during the panic years and provided almost the only cash income to hundreds of people throughout the county. But at this time it appears strange that the lumber industry developed so slowly at Everett, which is now one of the greatest lumber manufacturing centers in the world. The new era in the lumber industry may be said to have begun in 1896, when the Bell Lumber Co. arranged for the construction of a large mill to be ready in March. The big Smith mill at Lowell burned and the Uphus mill at Everett cut timbers for the new and larger mill which was erected by Friars & Co., who had been operating the Smith plant. The new box factory reported the receipt of orders which would keep it busy day and night, but in a short time the concern was in the hands of a receiver and was leased to Maughlin & Ailes. During the first forty-four days of 1896 exports from the Port of Everett amounted to $18,885, of which merchandise $13,000 was nails and $5,000 paper. The sum of $30,000 was voted by Congress for harbor improvement and this work began in October, and in July the street car line was extended to the old Monte Cristo Hotel. Another development of the year was the success of the women in securing the first 1,000 volumes for the public library. These were presented to the city by the Woman's Book Club, Miss Alice McFarland was appointed librarian, and the first trustees were S. M. Kennedy, W. G. Swalwell, F. H. Brownell. Three rooms in the city hall were used.

Everett Land Company Fails

The next three years of Everett's history are drab ones. The barge works became but a dreary reminder of past glories; the nail works prospered so greatly that they attracted the steel trust, in 1899, and vanished into thin air. The smelter grew in volume of business until it was absorbed by the Guggenheimer interests and Everett knew it no more. Of all the great industries established with such a flourish of trumpets by the Everett Land Co. and the men associated with it, there soon remained but the paper mill. One great difficulty was the clash of interests between John D. Rockefeller and J. J. Hill. With Mr. Rockefeller the Everett investment was evidently a side issue and not a serious investment. The great business mind which made the Standard Oil Company the richest institution in the world failed to function as applied to Everett. This was undoubtedly not because he could not have carried the projects through to success with his tremendous resources, but because he did not care to. With $1,500,000 in bonds outstanding at 8 per cent, due in five years, the Everett Land Co. was foredoomed to failure in those years of grinding poverty for all. Even the genius of F. H. Brownell, who became manager in 1897, failed to save it. The great flood of 1897, which put the Everett & Monte Cristo out of business for several years and which forced the mines to close on account of lack of transportation, hastened the downfall. The Rockefeller interests threw the company into the hands of a receiver. It was announced that a price of 50 cents on the dollar would be accepted.

Hill Buys Rockefeller Interests

was entered against the company for $1,032,696.96 and on December 9, 1899, on the steps of the courthouse which it had built, the assets of the Everett Land Com- pany were sold by Eben Smith, special master in chancery, to Wyatt J. Rucker, representing the Hill interests, for $750,000; $1,500 cash, the balance in bonds of the dying company. On December 25, 1899, the board of trustees of the Everett Land Company met at Everett for the last time. The resolution adopted stated that inasmuch as the company "could see no way to pay the deficiency, and there being no other creditors of said company, and said company not contemplating active business in future, and desiring to reduce the judgment as much as possible,' authorized the sale of all of its property of every description to Wyatt J. Rucker. Just nine years before, on Christmas Day, W. J. Rucker made Everett a Christmas present when he imposed such conditions upon the Everett Land Company as compelled the building of Everett along broad lines. On this second Christmas Day he made Everett another gift by placing its destinies in new and stronger hands.

Everett Improvement Co. Organized

The Everett Improvement Co., backed by J. J. Hill and with J. T. McChesney as president, had already been formed, its articles of incorporation were filed January 2, 1900, and four days later the property bought by Rucker was transferred to it. Thus with the dawn of the new century a new era dawned for Everett.

Other events of greatest importance to Everett were the beginning of earnest work on the railroad tunnel, a force of 400 men being put on in January, 1899; and the appropriation by Congress of $342,000 for harbor improvement. Of this sum $50,000 was available in 1899 and the work of building the magnificent harbor Everett now enjoys was fairly started.

The New Century

REGIME OF EVERETT IMPROVEMENT COMPANY BEGINS - SEWER BONDS CARRY - ANECDOTE OF JOHN T. McCHESNEY - HILL INTERESTS REVIVE HOPES - TUNNEL WORK PUSHED - REAL ESTATE VALUES RISE - NEW INDUSTRIES COME - PUBLIC UTILITIES - WEYERHAEUSER MILL COMES - SEATTLE AND INTERNATIONAL RAILWAY - EVERETT SPIRIT MANIFEST - ACTIVITIES OF 1901 - GREAT NORTHERN IMPROVEMENTS - WORK ON WEYERHAEUSER MILL BEGINS - LABOR TROUBLES - STREET RAILWAY IMPROVEMENTS - GAS PLANT ERECTED - PUBLIC LIBRARY - EFFORT TO SECURE STATE CAPITOL - SCENES OF 1891 REENACTED - BOOM DAYS RECALLED - EVERETT THEATRE OPENED--CAPT. HARRY RAMWELL - FAMOUS HOTEL LOOP - INTERURBAN- LINES - LUMBER_ ACTIVITIES - BUSY TIMES IN 1906 - CURRENT EVENTS OF 1906 - BUSINESS CHANGES IN 1907 - HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS - ELECTRIC SERVICE HISTORY - CANNERY INDUSTRIES GROW - EVENTS OF 1909 - INDUSTRIAL REVIEW FOR 1910 - NEW FEDERAL BUILDING - WALTON LUMBER COMPANY - AUTO INDUSTRY GROWS - SUMNER IRON WORKS FIRE - WEYERHAEUSER MILL "B' - MISCELLANEOUS - I. W. W. TRAGEDY.

The city election in the fall of 1899, at a time when the people of Everett were much depressed through the long continuance of hard times following the financial panic of 1893, brought forward a new element of hope and encouragement. This was in the form of an open letter to the public, announcing that the Everett Improvement Co. had been capitalized and organized to take over the holdings of the old Everett Land Co., including the water system, and that the new company was formulating elaborate plans for the upbuilding of the city. This published statement appeared over the names of John T. McChesney and Wyatt J. Rucker, promoters and principals of the projected new corporation, who took this means of opposing the proposition before the voters at this election to bond the city for $60,000 to install a modern sewer system. But while the startling announcement was applauded and discussed at every street corner and place of pleasure or business, and while it in great measure revived drooping spirits from Riverside to Bayside, it did not effect the purpose its signatories had mainly in view - the defeat of the bonding proposition, on the ground that in view of their own city-building plans it would be unwise at that time for the city to shoulder such a debt for such a system - for the bonds were authorized by a sufficient majority. The occasion, however, served for the first time to bring to public attention the name of a newcomer who was to be the outstanding personality and constructive force in Everett during the next more than two decades - John T. McChesney, who had arrived only a few weeks before the city campaign opened. Indeed, he was so little known in the city, even to the press of that time, that the public letter referred to, signed jointly by McChesney and Rucker, was given prominent space in the Everett Independent, but drew from Editor H. W. Patton the laconic editorial comment and query:

Anecdote Of John T. M Chesney

"Everybody knows Rucker - but who the h- - - is McChesney?" Major Patton later became a close friend and admirer of Mr. McChesney, for whose keen business judgment he often admitted cherishing deep respect. So one time when Patton was in great perplexity over a critical problem in his own or the city's business affairs, he wired to Mr. McChesney, then in New York, for advice. .\lmost immediately came back the telegraphed reply from A[cChesney: "Everybody knows Rucker - but who the h is McChesney !" - and that's all the advice Patton got.

Hill Interests Revive Hopes

On the very first legal business day of the new century, January 2, 1900, two important developments marked the records - legal confirmation of the sale of the Everett Land Co. properties by special master in chancery December 9, 1899, to W. J. Rucker for $750,000, and the incorporation of the Everett Improvement Co., capital $1,000,000, whose articles were presented for filing January 2 and certificate of incorporation issued January 4, 1900, and to which concern Rucker on January 6, 1900, transferred all the Everett Land Co. properties, including the city waterworks, consideration $1. The original officers .of the Everett Improvement Co. were: J. T. McChesney, president and general manager; J. D. Farrell, assistant to the president of the Great Northern Railway Co., and L. Schuyler Duryea, vice presidents; W. J. Rucker, treasurer; and I¢dward C. Mooney, secretary, the latter also becoming treasurer beginning in 1905. Myr. McChesney had come to Everett in the summer of 1899 at the request of President James |. Hill of the Great Northern Railway, the famous empire builder recognizing the genius for organization demonstrated by Mr. McChesney in other parts of the country, especially in Chattanooga, Tenn. When this became known it proved a great factor in the success of the new company as well as of the reviving city itself, for it was accepted as positive evidence that the Great Northern system intended to develop a great establishment of its railroad service at ['verett. "Chis popular deduction was almost at once strengthened by one of the first acts of the railroad company in 1900, when the work of completing the big main line tunnel under the city was for the first time vigorously prosecuted, with a large torce of men and effective tunneling machinery, so that the tunnel work was practically completed by the following year, 1901, and was opened tor traffic in 1902.

When the Great Northern was first built into [Everett the line was routed around the peninsula at the mouth of the Snohomish River and along the waterfront. To shorten the route and avoid the congestion and delay to passenger traffic caused by the waterfront industries and their service tracks, an agreement was made with the Everett Land Co., represented by Henry Hewitt, and President James J. Hill, enabling the company to build the tunnel through the higher land in the city, from Norton Avenue to Oakes Avenue, between Hewitt and California avenues. No time was stipulated as to the date of its completion, but work was to be conimmenced in 1892 and continued without cessation until finished. The railroad company started work on the tunnel in 1892, but seemed in no hurry to finish it, and for about eight years only technically complied with the terms of the agreement, the force employed most of this time consisting of M. J. McGinnis, now of Snohomish, and two laborers with a wheelbarrow. This situation continuing year after year, and making little progress, became a pet joke among the people of other towns at the expense of [verett, so that when work was finally rushed for the final completion of the huge bore there was much relief and some rejoicing in the City of Smokestacks, and as this development almost immediately followed the birth of the Everett Improvement Co., one of whose officers was also an official of the Great Northern, the new land company was popularly given credit for persuading the railroad company to put it through.

Real Estate Values Rise

The dynamic energy of McChesney and his associates in the new company had a wonderful effect upon the spirit of the city, and early in that epochal January the equity value of the tax-encumbered lots of the old company, which had gone begging in 1899 at $10 each, were already in active demand at $125, while the more central and desirable town lots and sites uniformly advanced in value in like proportions. The original Everett Land Co. frame office building at the corner of Oakes and Pacific avenues had been removed to a lot midway between Wetmore and Rockefeller avenues on the north side of Hewitt, now occupied by a theater, and this became the home of the new company. The general office occupied the front of the ground floor, the water department at the rear and the engineering offices on the second floor. This remained headquarters of the Everett Improvement Co. until President McChesney had completed organization of the American National Bank and erected the American Bank building, now the First National Bank building, in 1904, when the company took possession of the corner ground floor apartments, remaining there until the spring of 1924, since which time offices have been maintained at 2814 Colby Avenue, with Secretary-Treasurer E. C. Mooney in charge. Mr. Mooney has been officially identified with both companies since his arrival in Everett in 1892, when he became associated with the company law firm of Brown & Brownell. In 1897 he became assistant secretary of the land company and in 1899 vice president and manager, in which capacity he signed the deed of conveyance to Rucker. He was the original secretary of the Everett Improvement Co., and later secretary-treasurer and trustee.

New Industries Come

General Manager McChesney proved from the beginning of his career at the head of the company that he was a broad-gauge and resourceful city builder, and one of the first acts of the corporation was to enter into a contract with the Hall- Hill Mill Co., January 19, 1900, donating to that concern a tract of six acres, situated immediately south of the present Weyerhaeuser Mill A, on condition that the Hall-Hill company erect and operate thereon a large shingle mill, which it did, beginning construction at once.

About the same time the Robinson Manufacturing Co., Thomas Robinson president and E. R. Nickerson secretary-treasurer, was given a site for a sash and door factory at a point now occupied by the great Clark-Nickerson lumber mills. Early in the following month the Clark-Nickerson Co. entered the field and had to be provided with a suitable site for a much more extensive plant. Mr. McChesney with his usual skill and expedition quickly adjusted matters so that the Robinson Manufacturing Co. was persuaded to remove to a new location northward, where the Improvement company donated a 414-acre site and where that commendable concern has ever since operated and expanded its lumber finishing factory. The old Robinson site became a part of the forty-six-acre area donated to the Clark- Nickerson Co. by the Everett Improvement Co. under contract dated February 24, 1900, and where this active institution remains, an important element of the city's life and prosperity. The Clark-Nickerson Lumber Co. was originally organized by M. J. Clark, E. A. Nickerson and former Governor D. M. Clough of Minnesota. M. J. Clark was the first president and remained at the head of the company until removed by death in 1905. Governor Clough was president of the company from that time until August 27, 1924, when he was succeeded by his nephew, H. J. Clough, born in Washington in 1881, the son of the governor's brother, O. E. Clough, who was manager of the Clough-Hartley Co. from 1900 until his death in 1919. Other officers of the Clark-Nickerson Lumber Co. were: H. M. Robbins, vice president; Harry D. Jewel, Grand Rapids, Mich., secretary ; A. E. MacIntosh, treasurer. Subsidiary corporations of this company included the Clough Lumber Co., operating the mill at Stanwood, daily capacity 125,000 feet, employing 100 men, and the Clough Shingle Co., with a shingle mill at the Fourteenth Street dock, cutting 275,000 shingles daily. In accordance with its forty-sixacre site donation contract, the Clark-Nickerson Lumber Co. at once proceeded to erect its great lumber-production plant on the waterfront, designed for an initial ten-hour capacity of 150,000 feet daily, employing 150 men; since then the site has been extended to sixty acres and the daily capacity of the plant to 300,000 feet in eight hours, employing 300 men. I. A. Nickerson remained with the company until 1904, when he became one of the founders of the Mukilteo Lumber Co.

Mr. McChesney maintained a continuous stream of inquiries in his determination to interest new industrial projects toward the upbuilding of the city, whether the projects were small or large. In July, 1900, he succeeded in facilitating the organization of the Everett Flour Mill Co., to which concern the Everett Improvement Co. in that month contracted to donate a suitable site of 334 acres on condition that a mill of 600 barrels daily be established and maintained. The company fulfilled its mill contract, and "Best Ever-Ett" flour proved a very popular brand throughout the Northwest for many years. Eventually the mill was sold to other parties who continued until 1921, when the property was sold to the Sperry Flour Co., which dismantled the plant and disposed of the site. The latter is now occupied by the Associated Oil Co. dock and other buildings, and early in 1926 the old flour mill structure was torn down and removed.

September, 1900, seems to have been set apart by Mr. McChesney for the creation and filling of "schooners," for in that month he sold a half-acre site for a modest sum to the newly-organized Washington Brewing Co. The result before the close of the year was the establishment of a complete brewery; it was a comparatively small brewery, but its product found favor and a ready demand in the Everett saloons and those of neighboring towns for many years. In the same month the Everett Improvement Co. donated to the Everett Shipbuilding Co. a strip of shore frontage 250 feet wide and extending out to deep water, at a point immediately south of the Bell-Nelson Mill Co. plant, which had been by this time extensively developed from the original Everett Land Co. mill property.

This constructive policy of the Everett Improvement Co., so marked and fruitful in its first year of activity, 1900, continued to be the policy in the succeeding years, and so long as desirable industries and suitable sites in control of the company remained available. Lvery land contract of the company relating to a site for an industry or other essential enterprise carried a clause specifying constructive and active use of the property. In January, 1901, the company entered into such a contract with the Wheelahan-Weidauer Co., donating to the latter thirteen acres of shore front and tide land in front of section 19, immediately south of the Robinson Manufacturing Co.'s plant. The Wheelahan-Weidauer Co. promptly built a considerable sash and door factory on the location, operating that factory successfully for two years, when it was destroyed by fire, and was never rebuilt. Also in January, 1901, the company donated a site at Thirty-third and Payne streets, Riverside, to Aalbu & Furness, who built a large creamery, operating it for a number of years, and is now the site of a more extensive creamery operated by the Coast Ice & Cold Storage Co., H. Menzel proprietor.

Public Utilities

In February, 1901, Mr. McChesney bought the controlling stock of the Everett Railway & Light Co., completely reorganized the company and placed R. P. Stevens, now a resident of New York, in charge as superintendent. The purchase of the Everett Land Co. properties in 1899 had included the city water system, superintended during its first seven years by A. C. Patterson, who died in California in 1924. In 1905 the water, light and street railway departments were consolidated in the Everett Railway, Light & Water Co., with R. P. Stevens as general superintendent and J. F. Reardon as superintendent of the street railway. In 1907 the Everett Railway, Light & Water Co. properties were leased for a term of 999 years to the Puget Sound International Railway & Power Co. (Stone & Webster) and were operated under this lease until 1917, when the Stone & Webster interests absorbed all the stock of the old Everett company, grantor. Mr. McChesney early gave his attention to improvement of the water and light service, going to New York in 1901 and buying up all available stock of the old Everett Railway & Light Co. 'Then he had all the old strap-iron street railway rails replaced with T rails and built the new power house on Bond Street for the electric lighting system.

Weyerhaeuser Mill Comes

On January 6, 1900, a press dispatch from St. Paul bore epochal news that was to mean much to Everett in the years to come. This was the announcement that on that date, after prolonged negotiations for the purchase of 1,000,000 acres of virgin timber lands in Washington, the great Weyerhaeuser Syndicate had paid over to the Northern Pacific Railroad Co. $6,500,000, representing the largest single timber deal ever made in the West, the same company having gained ownership giving it control of the remaining timber in Minnesota and Wisconsin during the preceding year, and also obtained an option upon large tracts of pine timber in other sections of Washington at $6.50 per acre, which it later purchased. Headed by Frederick Weyerhaeuser, the syndicate was composed of the leading and wealthiest lumbermen of the West, and the lands purchased from the Northern Pacific at that time were tributary to the Seattle & Northern line of the Northern Pacific, in northern Snohomish and in Skagit County.

Seattle & International Railway

March 3, 1900, the Seattle & International Railway entered Everett, signaling its inauguration by announcing passenger fare of six trips for $4. By this time Everett was again attracting attention far and near as perhaps the most active industrial community on Puget Sound, and its waterfront was bristling with new industries. The Everett Shipbuilding Co. was building the well-known Puget Sound Navigation Co. passenger steamer Whatcom, completed and launched before the end of the year, this with the steamer Garden City built at Snohomish, and of which Captain Bergman became master, constituting the principal new tonnage contributed to the American merchant marine by Snohomish County in 1900. The Everett company also at that time completed the barkentine Aurora, E. A. Heath being the master carpenter in charge of construction at this shipyard. Offcials of the Improvement company had plenty of occasion at this time to fully appreciate the great value of the two waterways, each 200 feet wide and extending from the foot of Hewitt Avenue to deep water, donated by the state largely through the persistent efforts of such enthusiasts as the late John J. Clark, who built the Clark block, now the home of the Citizens Bank, corner of Hewitt and Wetmore, in 1891-92. The city had bought the Hewitt Avenue center, including Pier 2, as a location for its main sewer outlet, paying W. J. Rucker $17,000 for the property which was 150 feet in width and extended to deep water, so that this area now boasted a waterway 200 feet wide on either side, the present Oriental dock being on the north side of the north waterway. There was plenty of the best known timber for shipbuilding ; in March, 1900, for instance, ten ship spars, each 100 feet long, were shipped from Machias to Detroit, Mich., occupying three flat cars, the freight charge being $110 per spar.

However, the timber industries began to feel the effects of a declining market and early in May, 1900, the Puget Sound Lumbermen's Association ordered the closing of all logging camps affiliated from June 1 to July 15, explaining that there was a large surplus of available logs. A week later the staple shingle known as Star A Star dropped in price from $1.20 to $1.10, the latter being an unprofitable price, and many shingle mills closed, it being stated that 90 per cent of Puget Sound shingle mills, employing 5,000 men, would remain closed until June 4. During the summer A. L. Blair employed three men cutting cottonwood timber on the bottom lands above Haller City for the paper mill at Lowell, shipping a carload about every other day. On September 1 it was announced that the capacity of the paper mill would be largely increased and the employes provided with a large modern boarding house, including baths and a well-selected library.

The activities of the city builders during 1900 served to keep Everett busy, despite the idleness and depression felt in neighboring cities and communities because of the diminished lumber market. The Snohomish Eye commented editorially: "If our county seat continues to know a good thing when it sees it, and to take tides of fortune at their flood, as she has recently been doing, we will have to recognize an 'Everett spirit? as well as a 'Seattle spirit." The Times says Everett has lately raised $7,000 for the improvement of the fair grounds, $1,200 for a baseball park and over $5,000 for a Y. M. C. A. building." This was in the issue of June 23, 1900. During this year Joseph Irving of the logging firm of Irving & Brown operated one fully equipped camp, including a road "donkey" hauling 5,000 feet per trip, a yarding engine and eight horses; the crew consisted of thirty-five men and the log output averaged 65,000 feet per day. Billy Payne was head faller. In 1926 Mr. Irving is president or director of several Snohomish County logging companies, including the Monroe Logging Co., of which he is president, J. A. Theurer vice president, E. M. Stevens secretary and W. C. Butler treasurer, and which operates seventeen miles of logging railway and employs 260 men.

Probably the greatest building activity in the history of the city marked the entire year 1901, which was also a period of great industrial expansion and harbor development. Roland H. Hartley formed the Hartley & Lovejoy Lumber Co. and engaged in logging operations. In February James Barrett announced plans for the reopening of the brick and tile plant that had been shut down because of the panic of 1893, and at the same time the city engineer began surveys of the Merchants dock area to determine rights of the two railway companies there, while in the following month Everett was made a port for the inspection of export grain, with Inspector James Cunningham in charge. The cargo lumber market improved rapidly, and by April the Bell-Nelson mill was running day and night, one of its orders being 4,000,000 feet to be shipped to South Africa in July, and on April 14 the White shipyard launched the four-mast schooner Otelia Pederson, built for Pederson & Garms, San Francisco, completed a little over four months from the day the keel was laid, November 1. White next built a sister ship of the Otelia Pederson, which constituted the eightieth vessel produced by that plant, and in July the yard was improved by a compressed air plant. In June Capt. P. F. Dundon started establishing a timber-creosoting plant opposite the Sumner Iron Works, and A. C. Foss opened an emery wheel factory on Pacific Avenue. In July the survey of water shipping for the Port of Everett was completed and sent to the Washington delegation in Congress. It covered the calendar year 1901 by estimating the last six months on a basis of the first six months, and showed volume and valuation of exports in tons and dollars as follows: Lumber, 36,000,000 feet, $325,000; flour, 6,240 tons, $187,200; lead, 1,332, $133,200; ore, 205, $20,500; paper, 5,175, $414,000; machinery, 30, $15,000; hides, 80, $8,000; hay, grain, feed, 50, $1,000 ; general merchandise, 2,200, $154,000; total value of exports, $1,257,900. Total value of all imports was $886,280, the principal items being general merchandise, 12,014 tons, $840,980; soda ash, 600, $20,000; china clay, 920, $18,400; and lime rock, 2,600 tons, $3,900. The report also mentioned nine lumber mills cutting 1,250,000 feet per day and thirteen shingle mills with a daily output of 1,500,000.

Everett Schooner Launched

In June, 1901, the Towle-Thurston Tugboat Co., capital $22,000, was incorporated by Capts. A. M. Towle and 'A. R. Thurston, H. E. Williams and A. G. Collins, the concern owning two steam tugs, the Grace Thurston and Tempest. Plans were also announced for a daily boat service from Everett to Whidby Island ports. In October Jarvis & Son, shipbuilders of Stockton, Calif., bought lots adjoining the Thomas Robinson mill as a site for a ship and dredge building yard, and on November 1 Chief Engineer Gillespie of the War Department recommended $117,000 for the improvement of Everett Harbor. November 16, between 5,000 and 7,000 people witnessed the launching at White's shipyard of the 300-foot, four-mast schooner William F. Garm, which was christened by Miss Nina Austin, following which there was a banquet with Capt. C. G. White presiding and Capt. H. Pederson and his bride, who enjoyed their wedding trip aboard when the big schooner sailed for the South with 1,400,000 feet of Everett lumber for her home port. San Francisco.

Tndustrially 1901 was a record year up to this time in [verett, despite the fact that organized strikes for the first time seriously hindered operation of several concerns. In May the Clark-Muller Sheet Tron Works of Seattle announced that it would establish a branch plant in part of the nail works building, making a specialty of manufacturing dust collectors and mill supplies. In June the Great Northern removed its freight depot to Pacific Avenue, with Bayside station for overland and coast-line passengers only. About the same time Captain Dundon of San Francisco negotiated with the Swalwell company for a ten-acre site on the river opposite Sumner Tron Works for a pile and timber creosoting plant to cost $70,000, and two weeks later announced the obtaining of the E. D. Smith mill site at Lowell for his plant. July 12 the Everett civic and industrial survey sent to Congress gave the population as 14,000, the industries including a smelter and refinery, paper mill, creamery, nine lumber, six planing, two sash and door and thirteen shingle mills, 800-barrel flour mill, electric light and street railway systems. Great Northern has 300 men at work on terminal facilities, U. S. dredger working on harbor improvement, approximate cost $392,000, Great Northern repair shops and roundhouse under construction, twelve miles new sewers, will have best fresh water harbor on Pacific coast, two foundries, two transcontinental railways, 8,009,- CO0.000 feet standing timber in county, one high and three grade schools, 1,800 pupils enrolled, 40 teachers, 1,975 registered voters, free mail delivery, U. S. assay office, building $50,000 theater, built 500 homes within a year, brewery and bottling plant, three new sawnulls coming within next six months, port of call for twentyfour Sound and ocean steamships, terminal I¢verett & Monte Cristo Railway, electric brickyard, mattress and furniture factory, hospital, four shipyards; population 4,500 in 1892, now 14,000.

Great Northern Improvements

The second week in July, 1901, the new plant of the Northern Lumber Co., on Deadwater Slough, began operating with sixty men to supply contracts with the Northern Pacific Railway; it was a complete lumber, planing and shingle plant, capacity 100,000 feet of lumber and 125,000 shingles daily, and on July 20 Geo. MecKinzie got the contract at $75,000 to build a fifteen-stall roundhouse for the Great Northern, including engine room, turntable, transfer table, cinder pit and twenty-pocket coal chute. In August E. A. Nickerson sold his stock in the Clark- Nickerson Lumber Co. to D. M. Robbins of St. Paul at 95 per cent of face value, and then joined Thomas Robinson, incorporating the Robinson Manufacturing Co., sash and doors, later cedar mill, capital $50,000.

Work On Weyerhaeuser Mill Begins

September 14, 1901, John T. McChesney, president of the Everett Improvement Co., wired the news from Wenatchee, en route from the East, that the Weyerhaeuser Mill Co. expert would leave St. Paul that day for Everett to lay out the work of converting the old Everett barge works into a great cedar mill to employ 150 men. Also that, unless found impracticable, the railway bridge to Smith's Island was to be a combination wagon and railway bridge, which insured another sawmill for Everett larger than any then there. Superintendent Geo. 5S. Long and Engineering Expert John D. Mills of the Weyerhaeuser Syndicate arrived October 19 to plan what they are quoted as intimating would he the largest lumber plant in the world and would require many months to build. Early in November all mills were running full capacity, and the Northern Lumber Co.'s plant was running day and night, cutting 100,000 feet of lumber and 100,000 shingles daily, twenty-two hours, while the Clark-Nickerson company was running its eight planing machines day and night also.

Labor Troubles

April, 1901, was a notable period in organized efforts of labor to better conditions of pay and hours in the industries. Early in the month the blacksmiths and horseshoers of Everett, Snohomish and Marysville organized a union, with O. B. Allen president, the plasterers formed a union with Geo. Haskell president, and the painters and paperhangers united with J. H. Lloyd at the head of their union. Then the shingle weavers' union effected a general union at a mass meeting of weavers held at Riverside, 100 signing the roll; they immediately demanded a raise to 9 and 10 cents per thousand. Shingle null owners met at Snohomish and replied to the weavers by deciding on a shutdown. The Everett Central Trades Council, which had been formed the preceding December with six local unions represented, by April 27, 1901, boasted twenty-seven trades and eight unions with 518 members; J. W. Meece was president, IX. D. Hardison vice president, Eli Krestwick secretary and W. D. Clark treasurer; the unions included were the carpenters, shingle weavers, plumbers, clerks, lathers, blacksmiths, painters, longshoremen and the Western Labor Union. At this time the shingle weavers reported twenty-five mills agreeing to the advance demanded, but this was denied by the proprietors, who met at Snohomish and decided to close their mills, although three Everett mills met the advance demand, amounting to about 50 cents per day raise per man, and continued operation. On May 3 Painters' Union No. 339 elected its first permanent officers - J. H. Lloyd, president; William Kilpatrick, vice president; E. D. Larson, financial secretary, and C. E. Henry, treasurer - while the Machinists' Union joined the Trades Council and on May 10 declared a strike at the Sumner Iron Works, closing that plant. In June the Hall-Hill (popularly called the "Hoo-Hoo'') mill was sold to E. J. McNeeley & Co., and on June 22 the O. K. Shingle Co. mill at Riverside closed for repairs, resumed operation, cutting 200,000 shingles daily, employing thirty men, and superintended by W. J. Kent. The Machinists' Union threatened to boycott the steamer City of Everett if repaired by non-union men at the Sumner Iron Works, while machinists at the Everett Iron Works were working nine-hour shifts, although the molders walked out because Sumner patterns were used. In July the union declared a boycott on the City of Everett and Greyhound, while Sumner offered to resume union operation on a ten-hour basis till November 1 and to consider nine hours thenceforth, and the trouble was settled amicably late in August, the Sumner plant resuming union operation September 1. All but three shingle mills in Everett and most of the mills in the county remained idle by agreement all summer. Everett's first Labor Day celebration, the first Monday in September, 1901, started with a parade of 900 union men representing fourteen local unions, followed by a mass meeting addressed by Mayor Greene and a noteworthy tournament of field sports; Sign Painters' Union No. 190, Cigarmakers, Brickmakers and Typographical unions were new ones in line as separate units of the parade. On November 1 the molders accepted the ten-hour day and returned to work, the Everett Iron Works, which had run on a nine-hour day since the beginning of the molders' strike in May, going back to the ten-hour program.

Street Railway Improvements

In March, 1901, President McChesney announced that the street railway would have a new power plant of 1,400 horsepower and sixty-pound rails instead of strap iron; by May 1 the loop along Rucker to Pacific and past the Monte Cristo Hotel to the Great Northern station was about finished, and sixty-four are lights illuminated the business streets. In July the first car ran over the East Side extension on Everett Avenue to Harrison Street. On July 20 United States District Judge Hanford finally settled the prolonged land contest case of Emma K. Kroner vs. Everett Improvement Co. and Rucker Bros., Mrs. Kroner transferring all her interests to the Everett Improvement Co., the judge dismissing the case by such stipulation. Geo. McKenzie, in August, contracted to build the new electric power house on Bond Street for $25,000, the company meantime using the old nail works as a temporary power house, although new engines were not to be had, on account of the machinists' strike. On August 16 J. T. Frater of Brainerd, Minn., asked for a city franchise for an interurban electric railway from Everett to Seattle, and in the following week James Barron and associates were contemplating a bus line between Everett and Snohomish, certain that the run could be made regularly in thirty minutes; they were studying the new bus line serving Aberdeen and Hoquiam as a guide. November 16, 1901, mortgage of the Everett street railway, light and power system to the Manhattan Trust Co., New York, to secure $1,000,000 for extensions, betterments and operation was filed.

Gas Plant Erected

In June, 1901, the foundation for the new Everett Gas Co. plant on Riverside was completed, the largest tank to be 37 by 75 feet, H. W. Burkhart of Sacramento, the new superintendent, being in charge of construction, and on November 2 Mayor Greene turned on the first supply of gas at a ceremonial dedication meeting, at which Superintendent Burkhart was host and served punch and cigars to his guests, who included the mayor, W. R. Stockbridge, A. Patterson, B. E. Padgett, C. J. Marshall, C. F. Tinlin, A. S. Taylor, Chas. Manning, W. M. Ross, E. D. Ward, Thos. Garrigues, R. P. Stevens and J. T. McChesney. Late in the same month the Sunset Telephone & Telegraph Co. announced immediate beginning of construction of a two-story brick central building on Wetmore Avenue.

Agitation for a special public library building began early in 1901. The first library had been inspired by the persistent efforts of the Woman's Columbian Book Club in 1894, Mrs. Alice C. Baird first suggesting the project. Most of the first volumes were contributions from 450 federated women's clubs solicited by letter, the club's library committee being composed of Mrs. Baird, chairman, and Mesdames Edward Mills, C. C. Brown and S. A. Sears. The first library was opened in the home of Mrs. Robert McFarland, and Mrs. E. L. Bailey was the librarian, in 1896. April 21, 1898, the first free public library was opened in three rooms provided by the city government in a building on Rockefeller, between California and Hewitt avenues, with Miss Alice McFarland as librarian at $15 a month, paid by the club, and later was conducted in rooms in the city hall. In 1901 the city erected a one-story building for the library, but it was not till 1905 that the present Carnegie Library building was ready, and was opened July 3, 1905. In March, 1901, Mrs. M. J. Durfee had to close her free reading room in the Congregational Church, Riverside, the building being moved, but on April 27 she reopened in new, electrically lighted quarters at 3108 Riverside. The city council now created a library fund of $1,000. At this time the city library board consisted of three directors, F. H. Brownell, W. G. Swalwell and D. M. Kennedy, but the new 1901 state law required a board of five members, so Mrs. J. A. Coleman and Mrs. L. E. Thayer were added to the board, of which W. G. Swalwell was a member over sixteen years. Late in September, 1901, the board formally applied to the Carnegie Foundation for a donation for a library building, the Herald, however, urging that the name Everett Public Library be retained, instead of designating it as the Carnegie Library.

Moral forces were quite active in 1901, the ladies of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union in February petitioning the city council not to license gambling and prostitution, and in May A. D. ("Silver Dick'') Warner in a public lecture on temperance declared that $365,000 a year was spent in the thirty-three saloons doing business between Bay and Riverside.

Effort To Secure State Capital

The year started off with Everett making a formidable showing 1n the attempt to have the state capital location again submitted to the people, and the Snohomish County legislative delegation worked hard for the measure, headed by State Senator T. B. Sumner. On February 23 Senator Sumner stated that Everett's chances to be named as the state capital city seemed very good and that the contest lay between Everett and Tacoma. An active delegation of Everett men was in Olympia lobbying in support of the change, including F. H. Brownell, Judge Denney, H. W. Patton, J. A. Coleman and John T. McChesney. Any unplatted forty-acre tract in the city was offered as a donation to the state for capitol purposes. A large number of senators and representatives spent a day in the city and were pleasingly entertained and bountifully banqueted at an expense of $1,917.50, and this was covered by sales of cigars, etc., $2,072.50, refreshments $436 and banquet tickets $473 to others than the guests of honor. But on March 9, 1901, the Ruth bill, providing for the purchase of the Thurston County courthouse at

It was early in May of this year, 1901, that President McKinley made his famous final tour of the West, being entertained in San Francisco May 18 when word came from Washington that Mrs. McKinley was critically ill. Everett had made elaborate preparations to welcome and entertain the President here on May 2+: excursions from other towns were arranged for; there were to be horse races and field sports and baseball, although the presidential party planned to stop only half an hour; the city was to be lavishly decorated, the Everett Improvement Co. voting $500 toward these expenses, the committee in charge of arrangements being Mayor Greene, Judge J. C. Denney and F. H. Brownell. The presidential party was to be escorted from the train to the scene of the public meeting and reception by the Uniform Rank, Knights of Pythias. The continued alarming condition of Mrs. McKinley, however, caused the cancellation of the entire Puget Sound itinerary, and the President left San Francisco for his stricken home in Washington on May 25.

Scenes Of 1891 Reenacted

Washington Knights of Pythias held their annual convention in Everett the last week in May, and it was a brilliant success. The new Gardner brick block on Hewitt Avenue near Broadway was completed in May and dedicated as a Masonic hall by Peninsular Lodge No. 95, A. F. & A. M., late in June. In March the Sunset Telephone Company completed extensions throughout the city, and Manager H. H. Voilans stated there were 500 local subscribers. On March 16 the Idonoe Club, social and literary, was organized by sixteen ladies, holding meetings in the lecture room of the Congregational Church. March 23 the Everett Improvement Co. announced awarding contract for the erection of a modern theatre building on Colby Avenue, directly adjoining the new Rucker bank building. On April 8 the new Everett Creamery was opened, procuring most of its cream from Stillaguamish Valley. Commenting on the unsteadiness of electric lights at that time, the Everett Herald commended the old reliable kerosene lamps, saying in an editorial of May 11, 1901: "'There's no light equal to that given by a well-cared-for lamp." But the Herald building today comes near rivaling the show room of the electric light company itself. Ground was broken May 18 for the Everett Colby three-story brick building at the corner of Colby and Hewitt, "destined to be the finest office home in the city, thoroughly modern in every detail, and all offices spoken for before a shovel was turned," said the Herald, which added that the greatest improvements under way at that time included the $200,000 betterments and extensions of the Everett Railway, Light & Power Co. and the water system; the new power house and machinery would cost $175,000, besides miles of extensions and substitution of sixty-pound steel rails - five pounds heavier than Everett & Monte Cristo Railway trackage; the water extensions proceeded far into the woods, and a new pumping station was to be built; many new homes were being erected, yet many house hunters hunted houses for rent in vain.

All the city schools were overcrowded and the district was paying $2,100 rent for twelve overflow rooms, while the high school building was much too small. At a special meeting of electors held June 15 and a later adjourned meeting it was decided to erect a temporary high school building, two small grade school buildings and to provide a site for a school in the Smelter neighborhood, at a total cost of

$7,000. Census of school children June 30, 1901, showed a total of 2,923 children, an increase of 815 for the year, nearly 39 per cent. Another meeting of the electors, October 9, authorized an eight-room addition to the Jefferson building and the purchase of a block in St. Nicholas addition. The Everett Commercial College, leasing the entire top floor of the Hewitt building, opened on November 1, 1901, with A. E. Flowers in charge as principal. At this time the governor appointed Elmer E, Johnston of Everett as Washington State executive commissioner at the Buffalo (N. Y.) Exposition, vice O. M. Moore, removed. Early in June the Everett Rifles Company was organized, with fifty men on the roll, many of them military veterans, and on June 22 the company held its first drill in public at the fair grounds, and by petition of its members the company later became a unit of the National Guard of Washington.

Boom Days Recalled

F. P. Collins of Merced, Calif., one of the Everett pioneers who left here in 1893, visited the city late in June, 1901. "The only industries here when I left," he said, "were the barge and nail works; now both are gone, but numerous other industries have sprung up, and instead of a few straggling houses along Riverside, Everett is now a prosperous young city." G. W. Swalwell, who joined his son, W. G. Swalwell here in 1890 and helped substantially to found the city, died on June 29. He was born in Ottawa, Canada, August 21, 1834. In 1888 he was a manufacturer of furniture in Tacoma, one of the first in the Pacific Northwest. In July Mitchell Bros. of London announced plans for the erection of a six-story brick building at the corner of Hewitt and Lombard, for stores and hotel use. In August Henry Hewitt, Jr., bought all the Climax Land Co. properties and combined them with Hewitt Heights addition. In July cyclists held a meeting in the office of J. F. Jerread, secretary of the old Everett Bicycle Club, for the purpose of reviving and reorganizing, one objective being to promote the construction of a bicycle path to Snohomish; it was stated that the cycle club at Monroe was about the most active in the county. The Everett post office showed an increase of 30 per cent in receipts - $12,113 in 1900, $16,750 in 1901, increase $4,637. C. A. Kennedy arrived from Oshkosh, Wis., with H. Awe of Minneapolis, with a view to establishing a wholesale grocery house in the city. In September it was reported that Manager W. C. Butler of the Puget Sound Reduction Co. had decided to resign that position in order to become president of the First National Bank, in which he was the heaviest stockholder. On September 28 the Swalwell block (Great Northern Hotel) at the corner of Hewitt Avenue and Pine Street, wis sold to Mrs. B. L. Hopkins of Cut Bank, Mont., who announced she would conduct the hotel; the sale price was $25,000.

Smith & Boeshar opened a new furniture store at the corner of Hewitt and Broadway on October 12, and the same day a contract was let for the construction of the Fobes building, Hewitt Avenue near Rockefeller, 48 by 80 feet, two stories, plans under way far-the construction of fifteen more new dwelling houses on Nob Hill. Every month of this year was full of rumors of new projects of development and new industries, one of the most persistent of these rumors being a quite plausible story that the big rolling mills and steel works at Irondale, near Port Townsend, were to be removed to Everett, which afforded direct transcontinental railroad service, together with a fine deep sea harbor.

Everett Tiieatre Opened

The year 1901 was by far the most inspiring and constructive in Everett's colorful life up to that time, and the most brilliant social and entertainment event, as well as a joyous community celebration near the close of a fruitful twelvemonth, was the elaborate opening of the fine new Everett Theatre, up-to-date in every detail, erected by the Everett Improvement Co. on the east side of Colby Avenue adjoining the present First National Bank building. November 3, 1901, was the date of this stirring function and the New York production of the then much acclaimed musical comedy, "The Casino Girl," was admirably presented and greatly enjoyed by a mighty audience that filled every available space in the theatre, practically all who attended appearing in evening dress. A special steamboat was chartered to bring the honored guests from other cities, among whom were Governor John R. Rogers, United States Senator John L. Wilson and President J. D. Farrell of the Pacific Steamship Co. At the conclusion of the stage performance there was a delightful social dance in honor of the visitors, held in Fraternal hall, where the happy sounds of music and revelry continued for several hours. The Christmas and New Year's holidays were likewise happy ones, and many oldtimers now wistfully look back in memory to that historic year as one of the most gratifying and bounteous in all the annals of the youngest of Washington's firstclass cities.

Capt. Harry Ramwell

Capt. Harry Ramwell, who later became the Nestor and reigning spirit of Everett harbor, was one of the distinguished accessions of 1902, when he located here with his steamer Elmore, bought two other small steamers and formed the American Tug Boat Co., and made Everett his home port, and in the years that have elapsed since that time Captain Ramwell has proved the mightiest stimulus to the business and expansion of Everett harbor. This year, however, will be most remembered in that it brought the establishment of the first great Weyerhaeuser mill in Everett, this greatest of lumber companies purchasing the old Bell-Nelson Mill Co. plant on the Everett waterfront, placing KE. M. Warren in charge as superintendent and completely remodeling and extending the original establishment. An entire new planing mill department was added, and the sawmill was reconstructed on lines of greater production and efficiency, one of the first band saws installed on Puget Sound being a notable feature. When completed the reconstructed plant gave employment to 200 men and its capacity was increased to 12,500 feet of lumber per hour, 125,000 in a ten-hour run.

There were several changes in mill ownership in 1902, among them being the purchase of an idle shingle mill at Snohomish by R. H. Lamson, who used his new property as a basis for establishing the town of Fordson. M. J. Lehmann, the Everett feed mill man, joined with C. R. J. Wallersdorf and E. P. Nelson in the incorporation of the State Milling Co. A dozen years later, 1914, this concern became the Riverside Milling Co. It continued to prosper and produce, and by 1919 the plant was again taken over as the Riverside Milling Co. under the management of Lehmann Bros., as it is today, at 2916 State Street.

On August 23, 1902, the Everett Central Labor Council celebrated the completion of the new Labor Temple, erected at a cost of $3,300 upon a lot on Lombard Street that cost $1,200. Monday, September 1, 1902, was consequently featured with a more than usual participation of union laborites in the big parade at 10 a. m., headed by Marshal W. D. Clarke and Sibbett's Elks Band. Mayor W. E. Terrill and State Labor Commissioner William Blackman were the principal speakers at the mass meeting that followed, at the county fair grounds; in the afternoon there was the usual tournament of athletic sports at the fair grounds, the celebration concluding with a grand ball in the assembly room of the new temple that night.

Famous Hotel Loop

Early in 1902 President and General Manager McChesney of the Everett Railway, Light & Water Co. continued to improve these public utilities. The steam power plant, equipped to develop 1,700 kilowatts, was completed and placed in service early in the year, and it still remains the auxiliary power plant of the system in 1926. At this time the service was confined to the district between 19th Street and Lowell, so a substation was established at Lowell to centralize the service in that busy suburb and extend service to the growing Martha Lake district. When the street railway loop was opened in May, 1901, swinging off the main line on Hewitt south on Rucker to Pacific and thence west to the Great Northern station at Kromer Avenue, past the old Monte Cristo Hotel, service desired at the Pacific Avenue end of the line was subject to the signal chime of a large gong, and when it sounded the motorman passing up or down Hewitt Avenue would loop the loop down Rucker and Pacific to pick up prospective passengers, a system that was sometimes quite amusing to passengers, as well as annoying to the motormen and conductors, the latter making their first regular, continuous trips beginning with the opening of this pesky loop, May 1, 1901, at which time also the company's offices were removed from the old car barn to uptown quarters at 1713 Hewitt Avenue. In 1901 only three cars each operated by one man, the motorman, except in afternoon rush hours, when a conductor was put on, were in use on Everett trolley lines. Ten new cars were added by Mr. Mc- Chesney in 1902-03, and the new Bond Street power house began delivering current April 22, 1902. Hewitt Avenue was double-tracked from Broadway to Chestnut, the cross-line being extended on Chestnut to Washington, while the Colby Avenue line was completed from 22nd to 37th streets, this line being supplied with the Colby Avenue passenger station opened December 10, 1903.

Interurban Lines

The first electric interurban railway service north of Seattle was operated between Everett and Snohomish, the first car going over the line from Everett via Lowell over the Lowell-Snohomish tracks of the Northern Pacific Railway on December 1, 1903, the N. P. trackage and right-of-way having been leased for the purpose by the Everett Railway, Light & Water Co., which electrified the interurban system and built the first interurban passenger car in its own newly equipped shops. Four different electric railway projects had failed before the original Everett-Snohomish system was materialized through the creative ability of Mr. McChesney and his associates. Robert Houston seems to have been the original interurban dreamer. In June, 1904, the county commissioners granted him a fifty-year interurban electric railway franchise for a line from the north limits of Everett via Lake Stevens to Arlington, and in the same month a similar right for a line from the south line of Everett to the north line of King County, to be part of a through line between Everett and Seattle. Six years later the present Everett-Seattle electric interurban line was built, and the first trip of a regular passenger car over that line was made on May 2, 1910, hourly service being maintained up to the present time. There were several other electric railway projects that remained dreams, among them that of J. W. Hall and W. M. Snyder, who obtained a franchise for an electric line to run from Monroe up the east branch of Woods Creek and Sultan River watershed to the Forty-five mine camp. One of the latest substantial electric service enterprises is represented in a twenty-five-year franchise granted by the county commissioners May 18, 1925, as reported by the Everett News, to the Sultan Electric Company, for an electric power and light line system to serve the entire Sultan district, and this service has since been taken over by the Puget Sound Power & Light Company.

Everett's city water system was likewise radically improved and expanded in 1902, and on August 11, the county commissioners awarded the Everett Water Company the right to lay mains under the Lowell-Snohomish plank road, as a necessary means of conveying water to supply Lowell and Everett for fire protection and domestic use. |

Lumber Activities

In 1903, business conditions continued favorable, and the timber industries were still further developed. The Eclipse Mill Company was one of the new concerns, with W. I. Carpenter president and H. W. Stuchell secretary and manager. Its mills, built in 1899 on the Everett river front, were designed to cut 40,000 feet of lumber and 50,000 shingles daily, and they expanded the sawmill capacity to more than 200,000 feet. Joseph Irving in 1903 organized the Standard Railway & Timber Company, which had much to do with the development and logging eastward of Arlington, where the new company built twenty-four miles of branch railway line, and twelve miles into the heart of the mountain district east of that town. Officers of the company were: Joseph Irving, president; E. W. Mathewson, vice president; E. E. Brehn, secretary, and J. H. Scott, treasurer. Of these extensive operators, Joseph Irving in 1926 remains perhaps the principal figure in logging operations in the county, while former president W. I. Carpenter of the Eclipse company died in 1926. Woodruff & Maguire in 1903 bought the Snohomish County mills of the Sterling Mill Company, with C. S. LaForge as manager. In this year Captain Harry Ramwell organized the American Piledriving Company and the Everett Sand & Gravel Company.