TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State
TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State
TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State
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Told <strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pioneers<br />
small sacrifices for reading matter; books, papers, and magazines.<br />
The winters would have been impossible without <strong>the</strong>m. Mail came <strong>by</strong><br />
stage, coming in and going "out was a 10 cent charge for letters and<br />
5 cents for papers, besides <strong>the</strong> stamps.<br />
LOREN BINGHAM HASTINGS<br />
Jefferson County<br />
In 1881 I made my first bold stroke in business. The carrying <strong>of</strong><br />
mail between Puget Sound points and Neah Bay was a very pr<strong>of</strong>itable<br />
business. I had 110. way <strong>of</strong> carr}ying <strong>the</strong> mail I owned no boat but<br />
put in a bid for <strong>the</strong> contract. My bid was slightly under that <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
former contractor and <strong>the</strong> job was awarded to me <strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> government.<br />
I <strong>the</strong>n <strong>of</strong>fered to buy <strong>the</strong> loser's schooner for $5,000, and <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>fer<br />
was accepted. I scraped toge<strong>the</strong>r $2,500, gave my notes for <strong>the</strong> remainder<br />
and within a few months had, through <strong>the</strong> boat's earnings,<br />
paid <strong>of</strong>f this debt.<br />
EfYERETT GETCHELL<br />
Mail fOl' Early Residents Left at Post Office at Mukilteo<br />
Snohomish County<br />
Wherever <strong>the</strong> hardy pioneer has pushed through <strong>the</strong> wilderness and<br />
been followed <strong>by</strong> civilization, <strong>the</strong> United <strong>State</strong>s postal system has<br />
been close behind. The same that has been true <strong>of</strong> every frontier held<br />
• •<br />
true in Snohorpish county, even as early as 1870 when <strong>the</strong>re were only<br />
a handful <strong>of</strong> ~ettl€rs scattered along <strong>the</strong> waterfront, and up <strong>the</strong> rivers.<br />
,Perhaps <strong>the</strong> mail didn't arrive on schedule, in fact, at times it might<br />
be a week late, even after a route had been established, but <strong>the</strong> people<br />
were too busy to care. If <strong>the</strong> boat came and brought letters from <strong>the</strong><br />
folks back home, <strong>the</strong>re was joy in <strong>the</strong> settlement. If not, life went on<br />
and <strong>the</strong> business <strong>of</strong> makilig a home in <strong>the</strong> wilderness progressed.<br />
I am a Lowell pioneer, who came to Snohomish county when but a<br />
lad <strong>of</strong> five years. I remember <strong>the</strong> first boat to navigate <strong>the</strong> Snohomish<br />
river on a regular run. O<strong>the</strong>r boats had gained Snohomish, head<br />
<strong>of</strong> navigation, but not regularly.<br />
It was in <strong>the</strong> spring <strong>of</strong> 1870 that tl1e steamer Chehalis, owned and<br />
operated <strong>by</strong> Captain Wright, began to ply <strong>the</strong> routes <strong>of</strong> Puget Sound<br />
and push its nose up <strong>the</strong> snag-infested and uncharted waters <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Suohomish river. Although not intended to carry mail when first put<br />
on <strong>the</strong> run, <strong>the</strong> captain graciously consented to pick up <strong>the</strong> few letters<br />
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