The Skagit River Jam Scandal
A public spat between two men regarding the funds collected to clear the Skagit River, a vital waterway for early logging and shipping.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
In a card published in the Dailly Intelligencer, Dennis Storks publicly defended W.B. Moore, asserting that Moore had fully accounted for all moneys collected from contributors on the Sound to clear the Skagit River log jam. Following this, W.B. Moore issued his own statement to 'correct certain false insinuations' regarding his honesty. Moore claimed that he had traveled to Seattle to solicit aid for men working to clear the river, turning over all initial donations of money, tools, and clothing to them. He stated that after a two-week canvassing effort, he returned home and was incapacitated by illness for over two weeks, during which time malicious rumors circulated. As soon as he was able to go out, he reconciled his accounts with the party and provided the remaining funds, clearing himself of all liabilities.
“I desire to correct certain false insinuations, reflecting upon my honesty, that appeared in a recent number of the Daily Intelligencer.”
This 1877 spat over 'donations' for river infrastructure mirrors contemporary Seattle debates about fiscal transparency, community-led infrastructure projects, and the public accountability of those managing regional development funds.
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