The Sheriff’s Auction of the Timber Lands
In 1878, a massive Snohomish County land liquidation reveals the brutal economics of early Washington territory development.
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.
Notice is hereby given that by virtue of an order of sale issued out of the Probate Court of the county of Snohomish, Washington Territory, on the 15th day of October 1878, in the matter of the ZI-X Estate, the undersigned sheriff will sell at public auction, upon the terms and conditions therein mentioned, all that certain property situated in Snohomish County. The sheriff’s office will also sell by virtue of said order of sale, at Snohomish City, Snohomish County, Washington Territory, on Tuesday the 12th day of November 1878, at the hour of 10 o'clock A. M., in front of the court house, the following described lands, situated in said Snohomish County, subject to confirmation by the said Probate Court. Included are thousands of acres of timber land, including lots in Sections 4, 9, 10, 15, 17, 20, 27, 28, 29, 30, and 24, along with mill properties and equipment. Terms and conditions of the sale: One-third of the purchase money to be paid on the day of the sale, and the remainder on confirmation of the sale by the court.
“The undersigned sheriff will sell at public auction, upon the terms and conditions therein mentioned, all that certain property.”
This notice reflects the era of rapid privatization and 'timber wealth' extraction in the Pacific Northwest, mirroring today’s debates over the consolidation of land ownership and the struggle for housing affordability in Snohomish County.
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