Stanwood, Washington - Snohomish County Washington, Past Achievements, Present Status, Future

Snohomish County Washington, Past Achievements, Present Status, Future

In the opinion of government experts there is no richer or more productive soil in the State of Washington than that which is to be found in the vicinity of Stanwood and it naturally follows that any description of this community should commence with a review of its agricultural activities.

In order that these may be clearly understood it should be explained that the lands in this locality are of three distinct types, each possessing its own characteristics and advantages.

creamery made 366,743 pounds of butter last year and during the Same period the value of its entire output exceeded $120,000. The local plant of the Pacifie Coast Gon: densed Milk Company has been constantly taxed to its utmost capacity and consequently has just been rebuilt upon a much larger scale.

Moreover the agricultural development indicated by these statements, is but the fore runner of further development that may be logically anticipated - for on the one hand there is still a great deal of excellent land that has not been cultivated at all, both on at length in the introductory chapter of this review so that it is only necessary to state here that Stanwood is surrounded by several thousand acres of tide-lands, possessing fertility that almost surpasses comprehension; river bottom lands almost equally important in extent and productiveness and vast areas of uplands affording wonderful opportunities for advantageous investment.

With such an environment it is natural of course that Stanwood should be the center of extensive agricultural enterprise. Indeed it is safe to assert that no town in Snohomish County has a more wealthy farming community in its immediate proximity. The importance of these activities can be gauged, at least in part, by the following authentic Statements. The oat crop is conservatively estimated at $60,000 per year; the hay crop rarely, if ever, falls short of twenty thousand dollars. The Stanwood co-operative the mainland and on Camano Island (which is connected with Stanwood by steel and concrete bridges), and on the other hand there is a gratifying tendency to break up some of the large farms into smaller tracts.

That development in both directions is absolutely assured is strikingly emphasized by the policy of the Pacific Coast Condensed Milk Company to which we have already referred. About two years ago this company built a temporary condensery here and it has already proved to be totally inadequate. Hence the construction of the new plant, which is so large that it will not only take care of present needs, but that also anticipates the further development which this review of the situation so confidently predicts.

Business Activities In Stanwood

The Peoples' Bank, the Stanwood Co-operative Creamery, a caity ranch, temporary plant of the Pacific Coast Condensed Milk Company, and the Bank of Stanwood and that the operations of the condensery have not affected the volume of its business in any appreciable degree. In other words experience has proven that both institutions were needed; that each plays a most important part in developing the agricultural resources of the vicinity, and that each is destined to still further enlarge the scope of its activities when these resources are fully utilized. In fact it is no exaggeration to say that the dairying interests of the locality are as yet but in their infancy and that in this direction, perhaps more than any other, the most striking opportunities of the district are to be found. Remembering the fundamental facts above enumerated, the reader will be prepared for the statement that Stanwood is a prosperous and progressive community, which is indeed the case. Moreover, Stan-

State, when compared with towns of similar size and character. Its gravity water system has been described as perfect by the State Board of Health, the source of supply being a spring-fed lake so fenced in and protected that contamination is impossible. As a further precaution the water is filtered through beds of gravel before it enters the storage tanks. Its fire station is well equipped with modern appliances and the risk of fire loss has been reduced to a minimum by the installation of hydrants and high-pressure water pipes throughout the city limits. A heavy gasoline engine in the fire station drives water from the river through these pipes at great pressure and thus affords the most perfect protection possible. It has many beautiful and costly homes in its residence districts and numerous substantial stores, warehouses, hotels wood possesses the further advantage of several industrial plants in the district whose payroll contributes very materially to the prosperity of the community - among which should be especially named the plant of the Stanwood Lumber Company, which employs an average of 45 men and pays out approximately $34,000 per year in wages alone.

The town is one of the oldest in Snohomish County, and occupies a strategic location near the mouth of the Stillaguamish River and in the heart of the Stillaguamish Valley. It is in every sense a model community, enjoying all the advantages that such a phrase suggests. Its principal streets have concrete sidewalks and are permanently paved with brick. It has a most efficient sewer system and electric lighting facilities that are second to none in the and office buildings in its business section. It has six churches, each occupying attractive property; numerous fraternal organizations; two banks with a combined capital and surplus of $58,000, and with deposits amounting to $388,000; two telephone systems; telegraph office; express office; a "live" newspaper; a well equipped hospital; an opera house; a moving picture theatre; good hotel and restaurant facilities; mercantile establishments that amply meet all requirements of the vicinity; and last but not least, school properties and an educational system of pre-eminent importance. The schools of Stanwood have had a wonderful growth within recent years and are now recognized as being among the best in the County. A large school building was erected in 1892, anticipating the logical growth of the community, for at that time were very few names on the school Sane Now, however, this building is altogether too small for existing pears ments and consequently a magnificent hig school has just been built, of which an illustration is given in these pages, at a total cost of thirty thousand dollars. This high school is on the list of accredited schools and students completing the course here are admitted to the State University without examination. Its curriculum is modern in every sense of the word and includes training in manual arts and agricultural pursuits. Possessing religious, fraternal, industrial, commercial and educational activities to such gratifying extent, it is surprising to find that the population of Stanwood was only 544 when the last national census was taken. The explanation, however, is simple and lies in the fact that this figure refers in the construction of its coast line from Seva to Bellingham, the G. N. R. R. Company chose a very direct route with the result that the Stanwood depot is just one mile east of Stanwood town. The upbuilding of a community in proximity to the railroad naturally followed, but this community, known as East Stanwood, is very rapidly growing in a westerly direction and may logically be expected to do so still further - jndeed, until the two parts become an undivided whole. Hast Stanwood has developed wonderfully during the past few years, and possesses a most attractive residence district in addition to its growing commercial activities.

For several years a locally owned railroad has connected the town of Stanwood on the river bank with Hast Stanwood at the depot, thus giving to both parts of the

Hence it should be clearly understood that the word "Stanwood", as used throughout this article, refers, in great measure, to a much larger area than that encompassed by the city's narrow boundary lines, and particularly that it includes that portion of the district which is locally known as Bast Stanwood - for the very obvious reason that all advantages having their origin in the fundamental facts of soil fertility, climatic conditions and the like are essentially the same.

When the town of Stanwood was built on the banks of the Stillaguamish River it was presumed that the railroad would pass through the center of the new community but this assumption proved to be erroneous, community, and in fact to the entire district, the dual advantage of railroad and river transportation, the latter being especially important in that it affords economical communication with the markets of all cities in the Puget Sound area.

While a whole volume might well be written regarding the opportunities of this vicinity, the charm of its exquisite climate and the wonderful beauty of its scenic environment, enough has been said to satisfy the most sceptical reader, that homeseekers who come to this section with determination to succeed will assuredly realize their most sanguine anticipations. The capitalist will find avenues for advantageous investment; the manufacturer will find opportunities for industrial activity and the farmer will find conditions of soil and climate that cannot fail to spell success.