Rockefeller's Land Company Comes to Town—and Everett Smells a Deal

EVERETT, Aug. 7.—An audience that fairly packed the city council chamber assembled this afternoon, as it was understood that a statement would be made by a representative of the Everett Land Company concerning the status of that company on the county seat question and, in general, what the company meant to do in relation to the various industries here. F. H. Brownell, one of the attorneys of the Everett Land Company, addressed the meeting. It was said that the parties heretofore behind the proposition had sold out to the largest stockholder interested in it, alluding to John D. Rockefeller, and that he would no doubt treat it as a business proposition and put in money when he could see an opportunity to get money back. At present real estate was stagnated throughout the country and values greatly depressed. The Everett Land Company had no interest substantially in the management of the chief industries, and hereafter they would be run on a strict business basis. All improvements in the order of the paper mill justified running the mill to its full capacity. For some time it had been running at only half its capacity. Arrangements would be made to double the output by the middle of the month. As to the Everett smelter, there was an ore contract in force and ore coming in. Between 120 and 150 men were now employed at the mine and concentrator in Monte Cristo. From thirty to eighty-three tons of ore per day were coming from the fields of the Mountain name to the concentrator. The Everett smelter, therefore, must soon be running as a business proposition. The Pacific Steel Barge Works at Everett had been consolidated with the American Steel Barge Company, and both Colgate Hoyt, president of the company, and General Manager McDougall had told him that the works would start September 1 to complete the whaleback City of Everett. The nail mill was substantially in the same condition as the paper mill and the smelter. There was no building going on to make an active demand for nails, but Manager Whitney confidently expected to see an immediate improvement that would enable the mill to enter upon a steady run. A great deal had been said about the land company's taxes. The Hoyt & Hoyt syndicate has paid annually for several years $75,000 taxes into the treasury of Snohomish County. The Everett Land Company made a reduction in the schedule of its lots last year, and it was thought that a corresponding reduction should be made in the assessment for taxation. The land company had said to the county commissioners: 'The people of Everett are greatly interested in the road from Everett to Machias. If you will appropriate $4,000 to the Machias road the company will pay its taxes.' Alluding to the county seat question, Mr. Brownell said he would speak simply as an individual and not as the representative of the land company. He warmly advocated going into the contest this fall for removal of the county seat from Snohomish to Everett, and gave assurances of the hearty co-operation of the Everett Land Company. As to voting bonds, he believed it would be useless to make an issue of bonds to build roads to Everett, as that would do harm to the party and not give nearly as much money to the job as would the construction of sewers. Concerning the fact that the Everett Land Company will probably not put money into the harbor, a proposition for a government appropriation of $10,000 had been secured. This is a creditable government estimate of the project. When business revives the land company may proceed with the harbor improvements. Judge Delaney followed in an earnest speech favoring an issue of bonds for public works to give the people employment. G. L. Hutchings offered the following resolution, which was adopted: 'That a committee of five be appointed by the chair to consider in all its bearings the question of bonding the city for the construction of roads, sewers or other public improvements giving employment to Everett labor.' The chair appointed G. L. Hutchings, A. E. Disney, E. Twer, W. G. Swalwell and S. S. King as the committee. On motion of George B. Laner a committee was appointed to act as a central committee in circulating petitions to the county commissioners asking them to submit to the people the question of the removal of the county seat. The committee is Thornton Goldsby, W. G. Swalwell and F. H. Hufford.