The Boomtown That Stretched Itself Thin

In December 1888, the writer prepared an article for the Post-Intelligencer which was published in January 1889. For about a month after writing that article, improvements were continued with great activity until all the jobs begun in 1888 were completed. This was followed by a two months' lull in building, when only small jobs were done, the active spring work starting up again about the middle of March. The leading improvements now under way include the G. England block, a three-story building 30x63 feet, Stevens & Dow, carpenters, to cost when finished, $6,000; the J. B. Ault block, four stories, 30x70 feet, to cost $12,000; and the A. M. Hartman block, three stories, about 38x60 feet, to cost $9,000. Wilbur’s brick block is also commenced. Although there is now a large immigration to this town, and the county population has considerably increased, the population of the town of Snohomish is now no greater than it was three months ago. There are about one dozen in the real estate business; despite all their exertions, real estate in the center of town has not increased in value within the past three months. The cause for this lies in the amount of land platted during the past year as additions to Snohomish, spreading the town over a greater area and relieving the pressure at the center. No complete account of a community can be presented without giving both sides of the picture. The three largest loggers of this place are either out of the business for the season, or will cut only a small amount of saw logs for 1889. While they will use their money to good advantage, and new men will start up to take their place, yet the sudden stoppage of all this work will be severely felt here this year. Another thing: booming in real estate and rise in values do not benefit everyone. The newcomer who wishes to build here has to pay three times as much for his lot as two years ago; rough lumber has advanced in price thirty percent, while the finest grades of cedar and spruce finishing lumber are now over one hundred percent higher than they were two years ago. On the other hand, if one wishes to earn money to pay for these things, logs sell for twenty percent less than two years ago, thereby reducing his wages to a still less amount. All these things tend to check the 'boom for 1889.'