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To the Pres.ident arid Directors of the B ...B.&,.B .. C.R.R.Co .. 1 · •
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Gentlemen: -
. I ttfhere-with to lay before you a condensed repo-rt of' .woFk
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and -operatior.i.S 'conducted by me, in consultation with and
u�der
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the general direct-ion of your President, since 27th May -1888,
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when I received the appontment of Engineer and·.Sllp.erint,endent_,
of your Co,_.pa.ny.
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On arriving here on 1st June,
y,-our p�ty,
consisting of about 3800 acl'.es of land, a small wharf
\:b'uiit. 1'�1
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1883 fror:1 which ·a railroad had been.graded about 3:Ilfi'.�$' and
track laid about 1 1-3 miles to
Whatcom Creek 1
·tim. -��s
�:_: l���-�.
dwellings, an� old store- and ··black-smith· shop-, and
. tools _ and .horses, was turned over to me by your Agetit
whose appointment as Agent was s0,on ffterwar-ds transf·,...
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·., m
e,.;,
so;
and Whatco.o., separated from it
and by half a_ mile,
by
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t:�
. .Cre-ek
Whatcom
of forest, rn:>t more than 3 or 400 people.
· Bellingham and Fairhaven lying on the Bay and about 2 .mtles
south
of Sehome contained
perhaps
50 more.
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Railroad location and construction.
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After a firtnirrht sp�nt. ;r,,-.studying the situation and �ki):� ·
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cursory exa.mit�tions of the count;, I obtained a co·���e of
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Assistant Engineers from Seattle�,. organized an. ·Engineers· corps,
:ind
cor.1I:J.enced the surveys for a 1Railroad to connect Bellingham
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Bay with the Cari.adian Pa,cific Ry.
A thorough investigatior::. having convinced me that the line
locc1..ted ir:. 1884 as far as Nooksack River could be mucl1 L!:proved
upon,
I atandor.:.ed the two ..11iles of grading-done iiorth of
., C\
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'}-:::>t.. �JI�rikf
The settlement of Sehone or New Whatcom contained at· t,4a£
not ove·r
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---0--Whatcom Creek, and, after �uch slow and tedious
work in running
. many lines through the almost impenetratable forest jungle, 'I
obtained a line 4000 feet shorter with
better grade$and aligrune�
and which cost $16.000 less to build than it wou.ld have done to
complete the old line.
No pains were spared in getting a
good locat"ion combined with economy of construct ion.,
and I feel
satisfied that we have obtained a first class road at a very
moderate cost, considering the country through which it runs.
The
�
Engineers and Chie.f Officials of the C .P.R. have repeatedly
told me that
,it is eqµal to any ·par½'-- and superior ·to �:ah of
their line_, in every
respect '- excepting in the lightn¢Sis �f· our
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rails, 50 Lbs .per yard o
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and structures,as also map and profile of
the aair.i. line.
In the Summer of 1888-, having -streagtbitltaed and partially-:E�-d
the old
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wharf and trestle approach an.d repaired and put the
road b-ed and track through towr.i. ir:i. good order, I co:mmenc-ed
clearing and constr:uct iion beyond Vmat com Cre .::. k.
The Winter rains eoming early and ti1e shortness of the winter
days making it unprofitable to do .more work than immediately
necessary,we stopped for the winteJ;after clearing and grading
a few mile.s besides clea.r::j.ng and making roads and
incidental to constructior..
.ln 1889 we
with loca t ior1 arid cor.struct ion as
��ppeared. to warrar1t.
other work
re,sumed,�nd proceeded
fast as circumstances and funds
The track reached
Nooksack Rive·r in
September 1890, and the .3ri tish Boundary. on 1st March 1891.
We found r.o gravel or other __ :aterial suitable for Ballast,
(excepting a small
quantity of Coal Ci-nders in heaps of :r::.irie
refuse at What�om) until we reached Nooksack River at 15 r:.1iles,
so after completing the Ballasting from the River to ·the
Bound-��.:.,.: ,,·.•:,;':·_'c:·',:.,,;_;kf
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we have b-een working baek towards town and have now almost
completed the Ballasting of the entire line and put
it
in first
class condition.· We· have buil ti4 · stall round house and turntable
at New Whatcom �d turntable and shed at Sumas, and tn: a-11 � 5-4
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miles, of spur and sidings;. We have built:and are o�·ia
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connection with the ·p.P.T.Co, a telegraph line. the whole lerigt.h
of' our road.
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.Ra.ilr.oad Ope·ration •
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In January 1889 ., we eGDaenee,d hauling piles, and �-�• laat,.
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having
complet.ri the SBall Saw Mill, we cQrneneed �- t.t
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with logs cut OD, �
14.n«. and
hauled gyer our r�:...
of July, 189-0, we ,e,o-:mmene·ed r� :�
. �:· _ _ lil�I.)-> . ,
mile, extending the distance operate� as ea.eh �ee:ssivle
miles were put into running order.
regular train servi.ce,
2;· ,�
6n fir:st of .April our ·
..•·,y:
:s
( 2 trains per day } reached the B&undaiy
at Sumas City, 23 1-2 miles, our trains still consisting of a
Caboose and box car for passengers a.nd a box and flat
for freight,
or two
each train,.._in addition to the passengers and
w.U.
freight bring in logs from the Camps being established along our
line. On 22nd
lin to.the exi_)ress, .two
rnixe-d. trains to SUID.as
for :freight and local passenf;er busine2.rnin::;-s are likely to increase as t�e efforts n•:JW
bei:1:c made by
the C.P .. R. to obtain freight. t2.ke effect.
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We have also a.;reed
1'dth the Dorimitn Express -Co to carry tlleir business Jver our
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�ine for 40 percent
of their gross earninGs.
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Our Rolling stock consists of two old lgcomot'ives brc;mght from
..; "£
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th
" . , is about worn out;
,., e Bl
1._ac.r:l, D'· ''1�ona.
1v11ne,
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t,ne s1:1a11er o f wuicn
1)ut the larger one has just been built �ver in our shops, :1nd
is now a very - serviceable Engine.
We have also a good new
Baldwin passep.ger Engine, and a Mogul freight ·Engine has beeL
ordered.
We have just recei ved fron Troy two new co.aches, a11d a
combination Passenger and Baggage car.
We have also a 4.8
?asseng-er coach whieh we :ma,(lte here, a Caboose which �a$, .sest last
year from- San Fra.neiseo, 50 old c_a.rs built by Mr �il:.k and
not accepted by the C.P.R. which we have put in repai-r s:0 as to
be good, · ( 12 as box and 18 as tlat car s ) and we have ais:o· 12
flat cars and 12 Rair of logging trucks built by us here-•.
3ranch R.ail Road t,o Lake Vv'hatcon.
--·-----� -oOo---------In the fall of 1888 I i:iade a preliminary locati
;r.:, OL the South
side of V{.natcon Creek for a branch Rail-road 5 miles long to
Lake What�oE:.
In 1890, I found and located a ::ietter thouc-h
sofilewt.at loq;er liLe le<1..vir1rr our main liri.e at the Sun,ni t ., 3
miles
from the tovn-1, a.nd runr�r.g to the L4-ke oa.:. the :,J::,rtr-� si.de
of
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vn:atcoD Creek.
ThP_
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'I.he cost of eith-er woulJ riot ex�eed $75.00C.
· · e i.;�t ;__ Ii, 'uuildirn�
� th1_·s branch would be to rea,.;.h the fine
OOJ
a:.-1d extensive �jdy of t.im.ber lying- a.round. the S,:;uti:: end of·
the
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Lake and t8 retair::. the tr?,cle
between the South f )rk of �c'i:::s,;;.ck
and t.he Sout ..-"1 end of the Lake which nay� otherwise
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el.+he-r,_. ...
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which passes a few �iles fr:Jm it.
the S. .L .S .&.E .R:,r,
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V'-
le,
w v_......
-or An;::r>orti=>s, or· b"ly a line
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be diverted.
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to
Fairhaven.
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'!'he re:�ent devel,opmert
... s of Coal on the East side or the Lake
wc::;.ld appe:::�r to warrant the expectation� of considerable
t� tide water, though to do that
0:1
a lar;;� s,:::ale would require considerable out lay for tracks
and bunkers beyond the above naned figures.
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Goal Prospecting.
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In 1838 & 89, .we did eor�iderable prospecting_ f_�r coal on the
Tributaries of the Noo-ksa.ck River'.
T�e only in¢.icati,ans which I
felt warranted in followiri� up and spending.money on -w:£re on
Ar.1.ders rm Creek about ten n:iles N .E. of the Bav and abe:i:ic\ .5 miles
J
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There we f oun.vr\T",t,1· nue ·th-e S\•1•. ..'..:1y1··np-
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al-"'Q
eit2'!.er ::.:y �irillir.:-g- 0r with a steam.Enr;ine. This Sumner we.are
agair.. prc,s_pe-:tir:g out s-o far
without rauch result.
Snall Saw Mill •
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Early iE 1339 ,, we ::milt a s1�:all Saw Mill of about 4-000 feet
Capacity _per l:0---.::r. I operated it supplyir.:.g- our o-w-n needs ::or
1838 -:Jf.it i.l :-::--:rver:::oer 1890, wher:. the ri.e·. Saw Mill beir1g
almost
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. a.
: :) · inc�e/.se
t.l�e
Stat e,.,=�"--.i,.i=:-v�
, .... --o�-1- -� -r i- +.,�-� ..,rrro ,.:,.. s
uso-1
+·J..l1 0
H'.hrr1·
;· 0
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..... u
....,,
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b
l··:al
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and.
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life time.
By it you will s ee ,it earned $26 .·6?5 .82
a'bove ''its running expenses.
over and
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New Saw Mill.
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In October 1889, we commenced bU.ildin� the Bew Saw Mill.
It has been constructed in the .most thourough r!.nd substantial
sa.nn:er and started up for the first time on the 15th January 1891
Since t her. some additions, planers, dry kiln, lath Mill &c,
aave been Bade to it, so.me of which .are still u1lfini.s�tl:•.
It has a capacity of about 10.000 feet per hour, and¥ oow··in
operation as a. sepll!!jat� and indep�ndent department .·'lili•
· :i? ·the
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2anas-en:ent of Mr Atkinson, wJio takes his instructions�:;,�:>�
···:..·\1L ·
reports to t11e Presidents offi0e direct.
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In November 1889, we commenced t he const ruction of the Eleetric
Light Station and plant with one Engine and one·65 Arc light
Brush dyrfin:o ( of 2000 .C .P .Capacity each ) and coa:nenced
operatine it on. the 4th of February .1890
with 19 lights.
As consumption ±n·:!reased and ·warranted we added two more 65 Arc
light dynamos and one 850 { 16 C .P. Capacity ) West.ingholis:e
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incandescent dynamo and increased the power by the addition of
th� Ene:i:;:).e 2.r:c!. ooiler which had beer. in the· SE1all Saw Mill.
1r�le
ct.. re
r:.O'\¥ suppl�ling, to the City of New Vfuati.;om. 65 Arc lights,
t.:) pri v?...t e ,.;onsu.:�i:;rs---and
T.:. os e
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75
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----390 incandescent lights. stal:ement ·•Xmdi'ttL
to the Cit:, are supplied Ulider contract by which we get
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-----0----$13.00 per month for eac-h light; those
at
3.
to
private consumers are·
sGnewh.at higher rate.
B. B. Water Conpany.
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Early ir.:. 1889, I co�:1eEced su,rveys for supplying Old and New
Wbateo.E1 with water from Lake Whatcom, which is 12 ·miles long and
a nile •Nide ar1d the lowest Sun.:::.er leve 1 of which is 312 fe�t
above low tide.
Having found a good route and made ?- loca.'tion
survey 1 we revived a local tncorporation .made in 1383 f.ex ··the
sc:1.Ee purpose, subs.cribed for 7925 of the 10 .ooo shar�P·j•
·�i-tal'
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st'::lc1: ( outside parties taking the rem2..ining 2075 sha°T�h):
procured the passage of ordir.ances by the Coun�ils of
��¥��.
a�·.d Seh0�s1e :;iving us all the rights we -desired for 45 ·y.��
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f:-'.Jn the 12th of June 1889, we agreeing to place hydrants?�-,;0::ar
·:iwn exper.se at ea.ch street' int ersection reached by our mai&is:
and to supply them free of charge with water for extinguishing
fires, and commenced wor_:k clearing the right of way_, making a
road the whole length and prep�ring to lay pipe.
r1y
plan conte2plated a deep cut or t unnel to take water
from
the
Lake at a depth of 7 feet below low water level, but, in order to
s2..ve t i:.1e a,:·!d exper:i.se at that e3.rly and aimo�t ·
experimental
st21,ge of the er,.terprise,
I followed the edge of Whatcom Greek
for some distance from its head at the Lake for 4800 fe·et,
faljir;g 7 feet'
uo«R
to the top of the upper falls, with an
18 iLch riveted steel pipe; thence on a grade of 5 feet per mile
witr_
2.
20 ir.::.;h pipe 6200 feet� and thence with 2.n 11 inch pipe
�
.8740 feet to the intersection of Maple and Hish
under presure
,..
s+.reets ir.:. New Whatcow, fallin g 105 feet to an elevation at'
t :,A.t :r,oi.nt of
187 feet above low tide.
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-----0----I had contemplated
g-rade
carrying the water as far as the 5 foot
extends in a flume, but substituted a light buried·steel
pipe tJ avoid the dar(;er to be feared from fires and falling
the :.::arryinrr Capacity of the pipe being 2 .000.000. gallons per
12.y, ir.. ,Jantiary 18-90, wb.en we CDllli..1eLced layine the main� for
dist:-ibutior:., being 8 rivetted steel an.d 6 inch and J.aer sizes
of iron. We have 12.id Mains· between Lake .and High Street11,
18,
and 20 tnch.:
19.740 feet.
Mai1:.s in tov;:n distribution,81
6,
4
and
2
inch: 58.188
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Service pipes:2,
l,
3-4
.;
aLend. i tures $1951.09 besides a fa.ir a.mount of
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stock on hand.
Town I.q,rove.ments and Real Estate
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1�.e
Among the first thir1gs I saw on my .arrival here was
need -o·f
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aecOJll.O.....
Litigation.
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We have had and ar.e still having sOJne lita�atior1 aris'i.�
principally from uon �9mpliance in early days with all the
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:.·?ci::�a:�----•:,_ :·c�:_;_1_-::, __:2�::.s ·-}. :
ter_:;,_�\_;r·ial ..
wh:i!bh
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4_ . t'.r,.z,, t OI ;_,,:,,
"'-c,1 1IOTUl.�,,2.
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. ·-· nd t�.·r.om t L.··1::j_�c-.S
� ·ffe.,,_,_
_. sr-,;n.
--i:,, r""'spet
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7�
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:i.�;,\}fkif:;,,\0r:.
r
·
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c'v
a1 Jlac,-ma.il ba�.d Qn :1W"rent" 11;�i? of!f�hor�l:tffetthe rnlcLJ
z:
0f some deeds b? yo'-'r firs- Agent
h-r,wh.���
,"'�';�!r
atte.�r- '�d t.o •;)� strengtheEed by t
he,.�L�,in:ant,·.��i"°'''.' · .. ,
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uee:.
.;'."--:.':.!.�
d�J:licate·::on·;.sue�-- L��t?f}-�1fi:J.�S- h'.JW�ver
not.tu�· ve�_�;rie;us .
i� ar.y of
t �#.,:'<µ,a�:..:S.{rrn-ni)���erit
ir.
���1: r was
instru2ted° .that the. no,oks w,:;.ul,�; be ·k�pt in San.�r�,
,�
� tChat I snould
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·
lg'
-"
m:�:�.:
s :� tr,,,
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s erJ up t o me •
t. ion
of which-,Jntc diferent
2.:1J.
m\:tf\\,"� I ',:;t� , !
c
c
. .-. r-
1•: ...,.:.:.,
accJunts was :rrade in the S.F .Cos
office. Since then we have kept accounts here and charged to
ea.ch :lepart.mer.t the disbursm.,. e1:.ts �a.de here in cash and
material
a.ntl. Ats" lilt.�
er .:..:.oor ir.. ;;ash or J.ue for labor or material suppl_ied to other
-f;
I attach stat�ent o:f totals of disbursments .made
.J
here (
caaa
and Memo )
Sir1ce March 1889.
8f'
those ma.de by San
Frapei:$-CO 9ffice, we ha:v:e uo rcecord. For a.11 complete records
for. rece;;_Pts anc. ,J.isbursments I must refer you to th e San Fran
1;.
office, wh-., 3..ll the account·s have been kept from the teginnir.g
In conclusio� I would say that I consider yot:.r porperty irl i:;ood
condit ionJ whatever has t:ieer.i. ctone has been done substaa.ntially
I"'
and. well, anc.i witt full re1:;ard� to true econom.y according to my
"'-·
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'views and· to th.-e very best of my ability.
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