The Farmers’ Fight to Clear the Skagit River

Mr. W. H. Moore of the Skagit is taking a live interest in the removal of the jams in that river. He was in town yesterday; he is a self-constituted aid-de-camp to the enterprising men now bravely at work clearing away those formidable obstructions, which the government surveyor reported could not be taken out for less than $9,000. By next May both these jams will be removed and not one-sixth of $9,000 will be expended. The first jam has been removed and the second is fast crumbling away; and the doughty fellows who voluntarily took the 'elephant on their hands' have not received a cent in money, and only the value of a few hundred dollars in provisions and tools contributed by the farmers on the river and Mr. Gage, the Skagit merchant. A few weeks ago, Mr. Moore started out to solicit aid about the Sound. At Seattle the principal part of the sum above mentioned was subscribed. At Port Blakely, Captain Kenton generously headed the list, and others followed suit. At Port Ludlow, Mr. Phinney took the lead, and at Seabeck, Mr. Holbrook put down $5 as a starter. Mr. Moore visited Olympia and after spending several days and talking to all the business men, he only got the paltry sum of $10 subscribed. He solicited contributions from the stockholders of the new steamer Navigator, but did not get even a cent. They were all anxious to talk about the Skagit country and its resources, stating it was their intention to put a boat on that route once the jams were removed. They evidently want more enterprising and whole-souled men to beat the brush while they catch the birds. But we apprehend that this niggardly policy won't work.