The Great Skagit Jam: How Local Men Tried to Unplug the River

The Skagit and Snohomish are the two largest rivers flowing into Puget Sound. The Skagit is the longer and more important of the two. It would be navigable for light-draft steamers about 75 miles, all the way to the Falls near the Snohomish. There is an immense amount of agricultural land fit for cultivation on these rivers.

The Skagit drains the southern portion of Whatcom County into the Sound by two channels called 'the North and South Forks.' A new town, Bellingham City, has been platted and laid out at the mouth of the delta of the Skagit. It is located upon bottom land between the reaches of each. Edward McAlpin is proprietor.

The North Fork is about ten miles long and empties into the Sound about three miles from La Conner. The South Fork is the main river. Its mouth is just at the south line of Whatcom and north line of Snohomish Counties. This fork is about nine miles long. Steamers like the 'Perry' or 'Funny Ink' can only navigate all seasons of the year.

The first settler on the river was Wm. Burtwell, who stopped a while on the Snohomish, then settled on the Skagit in February 1863. By the Spring of 1865 there were five at least on the river: W. H. Burtwell, Wm Alexander, Wm. Johnson, J. V. Armstrong, and Edward McAlpin. In 1872 there were fifteen; now there are about fifty families.

No logging has ever been conducted on the North Fork. For several years none have been in operation about the mouth of the South Fork, but this year is the first that regular logging has been carried on any distance up river. Now there are four companies on the South fork, and two more located near the Jam.

The Jam is the peculiar feature of the river for the lower end. It is almost two miles above Bellingham City; individual into a long unbroken mass. The lower Jam is about 1,400 feet long. The river is clear for about one half mile to the lower Jam, which is one half mile long. This Jam acts as a dam upon the bottom land of one of the finest regions in the Territory.

Only two families and none of these people having settled above the Jam. All are situated along the forks of the river, while a mountainous country lies along the navigable stream for some sixty miles above the Jam. The Jam is by this means prevented from being opened to settlement and cultivation... Logging can be carried on only to a limited extent until after their removal.

The Skagit Jam has been put in public hands. Many have been introduced into Congress who appreciate far its value. One gentleman has examined the Jam, and estimates it would cost about $15,000 to remove it, but has never received approval. Despairing of assistance from the government at various times parties have tried to find what could be done at home.

Some two years ago our friend Julius Campbell had an idea... to gather a party for the purpose of cutting a passage near the Jam by filling in with logs and stones... Their means were exhausted before they reached the main Jam, and in the channel enough for a steamer to pass up river. Their means were exhausted.

Last winter, about February first, men from the Snohomish, Martin Johnson, Daniel Mannan, and John Quirk, tinner, with Joseph Adams of Skagit, came to make a channel large enough for navigation through the main and upper jams. Mr. Campbell iniously united them by all means in his power. The four men evidently determined. They began with an unfailing instrument... Some two men of experience and determination coming together as well as kindling. The tools they use are very few, cheap and simple, but very difficult.

They have ventured to go through with it, however, despite their all to the enterprise. Have out and cleared away some time before we get the channel clear... These men hope to be remunerated in part by the logs they get out of the jam, until in default of Government aid and white prospects is slight they expect that $2,000 they have expended will be reimbursed in all business that the $15,000 was the sum it would cost to remove it.

The whole Skagit region looks to this enterprise, and half the public spirit of our town to meet the young sons sustained and lost by them. From what we know of them, we are confident that if they are half way prepared in labor or really actuated, we can reckon upon their asking no assistance except that it is upon the condition that they carry a packet steamer here all purposes of navigation through the above mentioned lower Jam.

The river bed is generally from 400 to 600 feet wide... It is the accumulation of upsets, and we have not seen any amount in how long it has been permanent in the forest business. It was probably called by big trees and other British wood laid in a bank or upper out of a shoal or island, ultimately, or technical in a single flat mass channeling the whole channel.