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Lewis County Declaration

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Part I - Statement of Need and Legal Framework

A. STATEMENT OF NEED

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B. DEFINITIONS

(1) Community stability:

"a combination of local custom. culture and economic preservation."1

(2) Coordinate:

"equal, of the same rank, order, degree or importance; not subordinate."2

(3) Culture:

"the customary beliefs, social forms and material traits of a group, an integrated pattern of human behavior passed to succeeding generations."3

(4) Custom:

"A usage or practice of the people which by common adoption and acquiescence, and by long and unvarying habit, has become compulsory and has acquired the force of law with respect to the place or subject-matter to which it relates."4

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C. FEDERAL ACTS

Following are excerpts from federal acts and regulations that refer to preservation of local ways and coordinated planning with local government.

The National Environmental Policy Act states:

"It is continuing responsibility of the Federal Government to use all practical means, consistent with other essential considerations of national policy, to improve and coordinate Federal plans, functions, programs and resources to the end that the Nation may ...

(2) assure for all Americans safe, healthful, productive and aesthetically culturally pleasing surroundings ...

(4) presence important historic, cultural, and natural aspects of our national heritage, and maintain, wherever possible, an environment which supports diversity and variety of individual choice."5

United States Forest Service regulations state:

The Forest Service is obligated to consider and provide for community stability in its decision-making processes.6

The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 requires:

"the Secretary of Agriculture shall develop, maintain, and as appropriate, revise land and resource management plans for units of the National Forest System, coordinated with the land and resource management planning processes of State and local governments..."7

"The Forest Service is obligated to consider alternatives to its proposed alternative if there are any conflicts with county land use plans."8

The Endangered Species Act requires:

Other federal agencies must also consider local government and public comments regarding the management of threatened or endangered species.9

Critical habitat designations must take economic impacts into account. Areas may be excluded as critical habitat based upon economic impacts unless the failure to designate the area as critical habitat would result in extinction of the species. 10

The Historic Preservation Act requires:

If a Federal, State or local action is determined to have an adverse affect on an historic property the State and Federal Historic Preservation officer shall consult with the head of the local Government, if requested by the local government.11

The Clean Air Act requires the federal government:

"shall encourage cooperative activities by the 'states and local government..."12

The Clean Water Act states:

"federal agencies shall cooperate with State and local agencies... 13

The Resource Conservation Act of 1981 states:

Congress finds that solutions to "chronic, erosion-related problems should be designed to address the local social. economic, environmental, and other conditions unique to the area involved to ensure that the goals and policies of the Federal Government are effectively integrated with the concerns of the local community ...."14...

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PART II - CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC DESCRIPTIONS

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A. INTRODUCTION

From the 1920's and before, the citizens of Lewis County exhibited "solidarity and commitment to their larger community that had bound them together through all the years of political turmoil.15

In the early twentieth century, "the goals of Lewis county farmers remained the same: that ... all producers should receive a just return on their labor and exercise control over their own affairs... Lewis County farmers proudly affirmed their American heritage and their commitment tot the Constitution and the values expressed in the Declaration of Independence. Their platform...included..protection of private property..."16

"The economies of the towns depended both on the agricultural production of the surrounding countryside and the timber industry."17

"Farming was perceived as a way of life, not strictly a business venture, even though families clearly intended to produce market crops for profit."18 Back to top or Back to home page

B. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Lewis County covers 2449 square miles in Southwest Washington. It includes portions of the Mt. Baker - Snoqualmie and Gifford Pinchot National Forests, including several wilderness areas and portions of the Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument and the Mount Rainier National Park. Approximately one third of the county is included in the national forests. Major rivers include the Chehalis, Cowlitz, Newaukum, Cispus and Skookumchuck. Elevations range from over 5000 feet in the east end of the county to 185 feet along the alluvial plains. Precipitation varies from 50 to 90 inches. Lewis County contains approximately 60,000 acres of cultivated farmland. Back to top or Back to home page

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C. FOREST PRODUCTION

The mainstay of Lewis County's economy has always been its timber resources. The first sawmill was built in 1847 by Simon Plomondon, the first white settler in southwest Washington, on his farm near Cowlitz Prairie. Later, Cattermole and Nelson operated a small sawmill along the Cowlitz River near Toledo. Over the years, a water powered shingle mill was added. In 1886, the Badger family moved to Toledo and built first a gristmill and later a sawmill along the river bank. From their own lumber. they manufactured kitchen cabinets, tables and other furniture as well as incubators for raising chicks.19

Early logging along the Cowlitz River was done using oxen to drag the logs to the waters edge. When enough logs were built up at the edge of the river, they were driven downstream by men with long poles.20

From the 1880's through. 1915, many shingle bolts were cut along the Cowlitz. In order to float shingle bolts down river to the mills at Kelso and Castle Rock, splash dams were built. These dams would hold water back until enough water was stored to wash the bolts down stream.

In 1889, Stone Dam was built on the Newaukum River eight miles from Chehalis. A large sawmill flume, aquaduct (sic) were then constructed. The sawmill cut lumber to supply the flume. The aqueduct supplied water to the City of Chehalis.

The first lumber mill in Chehalis was owned by Mealy and Lacey. Logs were hauled in by oxen and lumber was shipped out by railroad. In 1892, a second mill was built by Wadams and Elliot on the banks of the Chehalis River. Later, Snider and Frost built a shingle mill west of Chehalis.

The Luedinghaus Brothers arrived in Lewis County in 1891 looking for a mill site. They selected the area that is now Dryad. After the sawmill was constructed, it was followed in short order by two shingle mills, two general stores, two hotels, a blacksmith shop, a butcher shop, a school and a Baptist Church. A mile and a half beyond Dryad, Doty and Stoddard built a lumber mill in 1899. This site developed into the town of Doty.

Yeoman's sawmill, near Pe Ell, had one of the most modem railroad loading facilities in 1893. The mill was known for high quality dressed lumber.

By 1900, thirty percent of the men in Lewis County were employed, at least part time, in the timber industry. Working in the woods or in the mills was a way to earn extra money to get started or expand in farming or business. 21

The Coal Creek Lumber Company opened in 1905, with owners C. L. Brown, A. H. Brown and D. A. Clark. They built a sawmill and shingle mill and their own railroad up Coal Creek to the logging camps. They operated their own crews and cut both fir and cedar. They soon earned a reputation for superior quality lumber and the railroads became good customers, as they needed strong wood for bridge timbers and car parts. During the depression. many mills closed but Coal 22 Creek Lumber never missed a day, due in part to the railroad business.22

In 1899, W. A. Carlisle and his father arrived in Lewis County looking for a mill site. The Carlisle's owned a sawmill in Onalaska, Wisconsin. They soon chose a spot in the wilderness to build their new mill and the town of Onalaska, Washington. As was the custom, soon after building the mill, they followed with a store, post office and houses for the mill workers families. Having a connection to the railroad for shipping purposes was vital to the success of the new mill. Carlisle cut rail tiles and hauled them with horses eleven miles to the end of the rail line to build his new extension . The Carlisle's printed brochures about the benefits of living in their new town and sent them to various towns in the east. Shortly after the new mill began operating, Onalaska grew to one thousand residents. The Carlisle's built two hundred and twenty-five houses for their workers. Many of these houses can still be recognized today both along Carlisle Avenue in Onalaska and in various locations around the county where they were moved after the 21 mill closed.23

The Carlisle Mill rapidly became known as Southwest Washington's largest inland sawmill. With a daily production of two hundred and sixty thousand board feet. in one year, the Carlisle Mill produced enough lumber to circle the earth. In 1926, a full trainload of fifty cars was was shipped from Onalaska bound for New York and Philadelphia. The train carried 1.4 million board feet of lumber, mostly fir and hemlock. Two-thirds of the train went north to be loaded on steam ships in Tacoma. The other third went south to Kalama for shipping. The newspaper article reporting on the train declared, "[lumber] is the principle industry of this region and our prosperity is more or less dependent upon it."24

The 1930's through the 1950's were boom years for logging and sawmills in eastern Lewis County. Nearly everyone worked in the timber industry in one form or another. Records show over one hundred sawmills in eastern Lewis County at one time. 25 The City of Morton was known as the "tie mill capital of the world" in the 1950's. According to Ripley's "Believe it or Not". the longest railroad tie dock in the world ran along the tracks east of Morton."26

Today, over twelve percent of the employment in Lewis County is in the timber industry. Federal restrictions on logging have changed the industry, decreasing jobs in logging, and causing the milling and manufacturing industries to consolidate. while many mills and wood product manufacturers in Lewis County have closed, a few have prospered.27

Over the past fifteen years, timber related jobs have decreased fourteen percent. Yet, milling and wood products manufacturing remains the industry with the greatest employment in Lewis County. Business include: Cowlitz Stud, Northwest Hardwoods. Packwood Lumber, Cascade Hardwoods, and others.28 Numerous jobs in related industries such as trucking and heavy equipment sales and repair are created by the timber industry.

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Wood Products Manufacturing

In 1895, W. H. Nudd came to Centralia from Minneapolis, Minnesota to open the Wooden Eave Gutter Factory. He purchased the Centralia Chair Factory and began producing forty to fifty thousand feet of gutters per day in addition to moldings and flooring. He was joined in business by 0. P. Taylor who left his position with the railroad to be in charge of east coast shipping for the Gutter Factory.

Around 1905, the Chehalis Fir Door Company, the Dombecker Furniture Factory, the Chehalis Shingle Mill, the Chehalis Fir Gutter Company, and the Chehalis Milling and Manufacturing Company all opened their doors.

Two of the largest wood products companies were the Chehalis Furniture Company and the Chehalis Fir Door Company. The furniture factory manufactured high quality furniture from maple, oak, ash, and other native woods. Much of the production was shipped to the east coast. Palmer Lumber Company and the Chehalis Woodworking Manufacturing Company produced porch columns, fir gutters and moldings. The Pacific Column Company, Napavine Column Factory and Whistler Porch Column Company produced columns, gutters and newels with Pacific having a reputation for specialty products. The Buyers Manufacturing Company at Pe Ell made broom handles. boxes and other small wood products.

By 1915, the Chehalis Furniture Factory had grown to be the largest industrial plant in Lewis County. It was known as one of the most important factorizes its kind in the Pacific Northwest. The 1915 catalog contained eighty pages of furniture including several new lines. These catalogs were distributed nationwide giving Chehalis wide spread recognition.29

Many wood products manufactured in the past are no longer produced in Lewis County due to innovations in alternative building products, changes in demand and increased mechanization. Manufactured housing has become the new wood products industry. This industry grew rapidly in the county then suffered along with the timber and milling industries during the recession of the 1980's. Manufactured housing companies remain major employers in the county.

Today, the timber industry, including logging, milling, and wood product manufacturing remains the number one employer in the county. The employment picture in this sector is difficult to track because many workers are independent contractors, proprietors or work for small firms who are not required to report employment statistics. The industry has been very hard hit by logging cutbacks due to environmental concerns in general and the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) in particular. Listing of the spotted owl and later the marbled murrelet as endangered species severely limited logging on federal, state and private lands. The ripple effect through the Lewis County economy caused closures of mills and related industries such as Cascade Loggers Supply and Loggers World newspaper. True to form, one company in Lewis County has become a pioneer dealing with the fallout of Endangered Species Act regulations. Murray Pacific Company negotiated the first Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. This agreement will allow them to log selectively within areas designated as critical spotted owl habitat. Without major changes in legislation, the timber industry in Lewis County will never be what it once was. But determination and innovation on the part of citizens who wish to maintain their way of life will a] low the industry to continue to be viable.

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Alternative Forest Products

In addition to wood, the forested lands of Lewis County produce numerous other products. Beginning in 1903 the firm owned by I. P. Callison purchased cascara bark- for use in manufacturing pharmaceuticals. Cascara trees grow exclusively in the Pacific Northwest. Their bark is used as a pharmaceutical ingredient. Callison's was the nations largest supplier of Cascara, producing up to seventy percent of the worlds supply. Traditionally, Cascara bark was harvested by farmers or loggers who could strip bark when other work was slow to earn extra income. Families often worked together on weekends collecting bark. In the early days, Callison's established a receiving station in a feed store so farmers could exchange bark for hay or grain. Callison's also opened the market for foxglove, or digitalis, which grows wild in Lewis County and is also used in the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceuticals are increasingly manufactured from synthetic ingredients so the demand for raw products has decreased. A branch of Callison's, Sherwood Forest, is a major supplier of floral greens to the world market. Wild huckleberry, salal and sword fern are all harvested locally by independent workers who sell to Callison's.

A similar industry where independent workers can gain income is cone picking. Cones from Douglas fir, grand fir.. noble fir, cedar and hemlock were collected and sold to nurseries where the seeds were extracted and grown into seedlings. Seeds collected in Lewis County have contributed to improved timber in South America, Germany, Sweden., Italy and England. Cone picking has decreased as advances in technology have allowed breeding of trees in seed orchards, cloning and other methods of genetically improving trees.

In recent years. mushroom picking has grown into a significant industry in the county. Numerous residents earn a living picking mushrooms, others use it as a source of supplemental income. Alternative forest products are generally not the sole source of income for a worker, but provide a supplement. Because the products are collected by independent workers and often traded in the back of pick-up trucks, tracking the significance of this industry is extremely difficult.

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D. CROP PRODUCTION

Evolution of Farming

By 1861, multiple private farms on the Cowlitz Prairie were producing grain and potatoes for shipment to Portland on a regular basis. Steamboats became a popular mode of transportation for getting farm products to market. By the 1880's, farm products from as far upriver as Salkum and Mossyrock were being shipped to market down the Cowlitz River by steamer.30

The Chehalis Flouring Mill Company was built along the Northern Pacific Railroad tracks in 1888. The mill provided a market for locally grown wheat and a steady supply of Daisy brand flour for the growing communities. The milling company had a steam generating plant, which provided the first electric service to Chehalis.31

The eastern end of Lewis County was much slower to develop due to its isolation and the difficulty of travel over the rugged terrain. The first crops raised near Randle were potatoes and grain planted from seeds given to the settlers by Chief Kiona. 32

The average Lewis County farm in the 1890's produced both crops and animals. The typical family produced most of their own food and extra to sell. Common crops on the area were wheat, oats. hay, peas, potatoes, apples, pears, prunes, berries and hops. By 1900, a commercial fruit dryer was in operation in Silver Creek to dry prunes and apples for storage and shipping. Lewis County had the most acreage under cultivation and had become known as the greatest 33 agricultural count- -west of the Cascades.33

The economic growth and development of both the Toledo/Winlock region and the Chehalis area were closely linked to agricultural production and marketing. Hartman & Nathan's Big Department Store on Market Street in Chehalis held special sales on hop picking hats and gloves.34 One Chehalis bank- displayed fruit, vegetable and grain in its lobby with explanations of prices and marketing, to help farmers determine the most profitable endeavors.35

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Hops

Hops were a very important crop from the 1880's through the early 1900's, even though acreage under production was small. Most of the hops were exported to England, making it the county's most profitable crop. Hop yards were located near Toledo and Boistfort. Picking was labor intensive and women, children and migrant laborers were hired during harvest season. Hop production was curtailed by prohibition.

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Berries

The Lewis County berry growers formed their own association and leased a plant in Chehalis to process their produce. The affiliated with the North Pacific Cooperative Berry Growers in Seattle for marketing purposes. At least 200 acres of strawberries and 200 acres of loganberries were under cultivation locally. In September 1919. 35 tons of evergreen blackberries were shipped to Chehalis with more expected from Mossyrock and Willapa Harbor.36 Some local farmers felt uncomfortable with the alliance with the Seattle cooperative and instead marketed through the locally owned Cowlitz Produce Company in Toledo. A 1923 report showed Cowlitz

Produce shipping eighteen railcars of strawberries during the first three weeks of June.37 By 1926, over 300 acres around Chehalis were planted to strawberries. The largest grower was O.C. Nixon of Logan Hill who cultivated nearly 77 acres of berries.

Strawberry production declined in Lewis County for several reasons. Dairy and poultry production provided a more stable year round income. Strawberry harvest required much seasonal labor. Traditionally, families had picked together in both the hop yards and the berry fields. New child labor laws limited the opportunity for young children to pick with their mothers. More emphasis was put on school attendance and school superintendents complained that government funding would be reduced if students did not attend more regularly. Increases in the minimum wage and standards required for migrant labor housing increased the cost and reduced the availability of migrant labor. Finally, in the 1970's, Department of Labor regulations all but eliminated school aged youth from the berry fields.38

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Other Crops

Farmers tried many, different crops to replace hops. Sugar beets grew very well in the area but a stable market was never developed. In 1919, the Woodruff Boyce Seed Company of Seattle contracted for the prediction of hundreds of acres of kale, turnip and other vegetable seeds. Although Growers were enthusiastic, seed production did not take hold.

In recent years, vegetable seed production, especially spinach, has been a new ray of hope for farmers. In 1994 Alf Christianson seed Company of Mount Vernon, Washington began contracting with County growers to produce spinach, Swiss chard. bok choy, kale and similar seed crops. It appears that production will not expand significantly more than current levels. Limiting factors include soil type, distance from processing facilities in the Skagit Valley and grower expert;.-.. Specialty crops require more specialized equipment and sophisticated management techniques than are commonly found in Lewis County.

Other crops flourished in Lewis County on a smaller scale. The Lewis County Clover Growers Cooperative formed in 1927 with contracts to plant 500 acres of clover seed.

Flower bulbs were produced on a small amount of acreage including Regal lilies grown by Mr. Albert of Chehalis. Currently, flower bulb production is thriving but by only one grower. DeGeode Farms of Mossyrock produces bulbs, perennials, bedding plants and other floral items. While this operation is very successful, bulb production is unlikely to expand. Several other operations grow bedding plants on a smaller scale.

In 1932, the county- agricultural agent, representing the Washington State College Cooperative Extension Service. recommended growing pea.. Seventy acres had been planted as an experiment and had done well.39 Peas for processing have been a staple of Lewis County agriculture ever since. In recent years, acres has declined due to pest problems and decreasing profitability. The increasing cost of inputs without a corresponding increase in market price created a very slim profit margin. Farmers cannot afford to update equipment and are slowly phasing out of production. A crop tried later in Lewis County was green beans. In 198 1, National Frozen Foods decided to contract for 3000 acres of snap beans for processing. The State Director of Agriculture praised Lewis County's growing conditions and the tremendous opportunities for agriculture here.40

Other crops grown on a small scale in the county during the past ten years include: turf grass, rhubarb, pumpkins. potatoes, and a wide variety of vegetables for fresh market sales. Nursery products are all expanding industry in both quantity and variety. Approximately 3000 acres of Christmas trees are grown in the county. Christmas tree farms range from several hundred acres to small plots used as supplemental income. Many plantations were planted in the 1970's when the market was high. Over supply from other areas created a depressed market that now appears to be on the upswing.

Constraints that limit agricultural prosperity in Lewis County include climate, location, labor, and water. Although the local climate allows a wide variety of crops to be grown, unpredictable rain in spring, and fall can cause a short growing season and difficulties with harvest. Both the Puyallup and Skagit Valleys to the north and the Willamette Valley to the south have slightly more favorable climates. While Lewis County's location offers marketing flexibility, being located halfway between Seattle and Portland along 1-5, with perishable products such as fresh vegetable and berries. it is difficult to compete against the Puyallup Valley with their proximity to Seattle. Nearly adequate numbers of laborers are available for harvest in Lewis County but a shortage of low-income housing makes the migrant labor force unstable. Few water rights adequate for crop irrigation exist in Lewis County. The State Department of Ecology has determined that no new water rights will be issued in the Chehalis Basin. Without irrigation, few high value crops can be grown.

As the population in Lewis County continues to grow, complaints against farming activities continue to increases. Complaints include smell. dust, noise, slow moving vehicles and mud on the roadways.

The farmgate value of agricultural production in Lewis County was approximately $62 million in 1992. This annual income is generated on 1067 farms, over half of which are operated by part time farmers with another occupation. Fanning is a supplemental source of income. The aggregate value of agricultural assets is about $253 million. The majority of farmland in Lewis County is currently in hay or pasture for livestock.

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Vegetable Processing

The National Fruit Canning Company purchased the facilities started by the Lewis County Berry Growers in 1928. By 10,66, the plant processed peas, corm, strawberries and raspberries and shipped it's products to the east coast, Canada, Australia and Europe. In 1972, the company earned praise for it's water conservation and waste management innovations. At the time, it processed 25 million pounds of fruit and -%vegetables in Chehalis. In addition to packing private label vegetables for grocery stores, the company also sold to the Campbell's Soup and Green Giant Companies.

Today, National Frozen Foods is one of the largest employers in the county. From it's processing plant in the Chehalis Industrial Park., the company processes locally grown peas and

sweet corn along with carrots and other vegetables brought in from other counties. In Centralia, Symons Frozen Foods also processes locally grown peas and corn including organic peas for a niche market. During the summer, National Frozen Foods and Symon's together employee more workers than any single business in the county, including county government. Approximately sixty percent of these employees are seasonal. Year round employment in these plants appears to be stable. Seasonal employment may decrease as pea and corn production in the local area decreases. National Frozen Foods is being scrutinized by the Washington Department of Ecology over the terms of its wastewater discharge permit.

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E. DAIRY, POULTRY AND LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION

In the late 1890's West and Dobson opened a pork packing plant in Chehalis. Early product was shipped to Portland, later to Victoria, B. C. Cattle, hogs and turkeys were raised in Eastern Lewis County and shipped to market through Chehalis.

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Poultry

The Henriot's of Winlock began raising and marketing eggs about 1880. John Marcotte moved to Winlock as an agent of the Northern Pacific Railroad about 1910. He purchased eggs, hogs and beef from local! farmers then resold it to the logging camps located along the railroad. As his business prospered-. It became known as the Cowlitz Produce Company-.

In 1914. Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Ewing began using modern, scientific egg production methods and poultry production began to rival timber as a dominant industry in the area. 41

The Badger family of Toledo noticed the expanding poultry business in the area and began manufacturing incubators. Using wood from their own lumber mill. they produced both incubators and brooders. Their business prospered and soon they were supplying Sears Roebuck and Company In 1918 the incubator factor), moved to Fords Prairie.42

Egg production continued to grow in the Winlock area. By 1921, 300.000 baby chicks were shipped to Winlock. Jacob Erving and John Annonen, two of the areas largest producers, also began building incubators to meet the expanding need. In 1932, they installed an incubator with a capacity for 40,000 eggs with automatic temperature control and egg turners.

Prior to 1920, most of the eggs were marketed through Cowlitz Produce. During the summer of 1920. a group of 175 egg producers joined the existing Washington Cooperative Egg and Poultry Association. By 1915, this organization handled over eleven million eggs. Organizational meetings were Held in the Finnish Hall southwest of Winlock and were often translated into Finnish as many of the egg producers around Winlock were of Finnish decent (sic).43

In 1922, the Lewis County Advocate, a local newspaper, reported that Lewis County was the second largest egg producer in the country with Petaluma, California the largest. Eggs from Winlock were shipped as far as London, England. Nearly half of the production went to New York where they received high prices due to superior quality and consistent grading. Winlock became known as a central processing point for eggs. Eggs produced in Oregon and other southwest Washington counties were processed in Winlock. In 1932, eggs were being shipped from Winlock at tile rate of a carload a day by train. Cowlitz Produce received an order for sixty carloads of egos to be shipped to New York over a two-month period. To celebrate their status as world leaders in egg production, the local members of the Washington Coop along with members of several local Granges, got together in June of 1923 to hold the first Winlock Egg Day Celebration.44

Today. Lewis Count,%- ranks first in the state in the number of broiler chickens produced. Many former dairy farmers have converted to broiler production. More poultry operations are planned. The volume of product has lead poultry processors to look to Lewis County as a potential site for a new processing facility. To date, plans have not been successful due the Washington Department of Ecology's limits on water use and discharge in the Chehalis basin.

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Dairy

In the 1890's, creameries were built in Chehalis, Mossyrock, Boistfort and Winlock to handle the milk from the rapidly growing dairy industry. The Cowlitz River Creamery opened April 10, 1899 near Toledo. The Kaupisch brothers had organized the company and stockholders included not only dairymen, but also many businessmen from the Toledo area. Two years later, the Kaupisch brothers opened a milk collecting station near Adna. A new creamery was in the works in Centralia. The local paper, the Bee Nugget, declared the dairy industry to be very profitable in Lewis County.

From 1912 through 1924. milk-condensing cooperatives prospered in Toledo, Winlock and Chehalis. The Winlock coop was the most successful.

In 1918, the first liquid milk was shipped from Chehalis to Tacoma. That same year, C. A. Geblin and A. G. Dempsey organized over one hundred dairy farmers into the Cowlitz Valley Cheese Association. They built a factory at the end of Second Street in Toledo. On the day the first checks were distributed to the participating farmers, the wives of the board of directors made coffee and cheese sandwiches -for all to celebrate the event. The day was so enjoyable, it was decided to make it an annual event. The anniversary of that day has been celebrated ever since as Toledo Cheese Days, now a well-known community celebration with a variety of activities.45

The biggest privately owned milk-processing company was the Pacific Coast Condensed Milk Company in Chehalis. Many farmers preferred to have more control over the marketing process and stayed with the cooperatives.

The Lewis County Cooperative Creamery grew rapidly but was plagued with financial problems. In 1919, it merged with the Lewis-Pacific Dairymen's Association (LPDA). J. A. Scollard, a dairy farmer front Chehalis, helped to form both the LPDA and the United Dairy Association of Washington (UDA). This organization was comprised of five county dairy cooperatives and worked to standardized dairy products and prices throughout western Washington. The LPDA built a plant in Chehalis capable of producing butter, cheese, powdered and condensed milk. This provided flexibility and the opportunity to adapt to changing markets. The UDA adopted the brand name of Darigold to market it's products.46

By 1925, dairy products and poultry were the county's dominant market crops.47

Today, Darigold is one of the top ten industrial employers in the county. Much of the milk produced in Lewis County is shipped out of the county for processing. Lewis County ranks sixth in the state in numbers of milk cows. The number of dairies in Lewis County has decreased greatly over the past several years due to increasing production costs, milk prices and increasing environmental restrictions, particularly on manure handling. Cow numbers have remained stable as the industry consolidates. The future of the Darigold plant is somewhat uncertain due to the Washington Department of Ecology's concerns over its wastewater discharge.

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F. MINING

Some of the earliest prospecting for coal was done in the eastern end of the county. William Packwood and James Longmire explored the rugged land south of Mount Rainier twenty years before any other white men settled in the area.48 Superior quality coal has been found in eastern Lewis County. Near Morton, Mineral and Cinebar, mines were developed and the product shipped out of the county.

The first coal mine in Centralia was opened in January of 1888 by N. B. Kelsey. Kelsey did not have the finances to continue developing the mine so he sold out to George H. Ellsbury. In 1890, the local railroad was extended out to the mine making shipping more feasible. The first real commercial mine opened in 1906 at Kopiah, nine miles east of Centralia and further along the extension of the railroad. The Wilson Coal Company operated the Kopiah mine. It contained a higher grade of coal (sub-bituminous). In it's first year of operation. 50,000 tons of coal were shipped. Smaller mines operated at Mendota, Tono, Salzer Valley and along Coal Creek. There was also mining along National Avenue and under the hills of Chehalis. The Chehalis Coal Company operated a coal-fired power plant that supplied electricity for the streetcars in Chehalis and back-up power to the City of Centralia. At the peak of coal production, thirty-four mines were operating in the Chehalis-Centralia area. Mining jobs were the highest paying of any jobs in the country. By the 1920's, some of the smaller mines began to close. The Tono mine was operated by the Union Pacific Railroad until the 1940's. It then changed hands and was operated by the Martin Brothers, who had mined earlier on Waunch Prairie, until the 1970's. The mines closed one after another primarily because increasing environmental regulations caused them to be unprofitable.

The largest single private employer in Lewis County today is the Centralia Mining Company. Two percent of the entire Lewis County work, force is employed by the coal mining company. These jobs remain some of the highest paying in the county. The Centralia Steam-Electric plant, located adjacent to the mine has come under attack by environmental groups as a source of air pollution. Negotiations are underway to fit the plant with air pollution control equipment at significant expense.

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Brick

The first brick north of the Columbia was built on Simon Plomondon's farm on Cowlitz Prairie. Shortly thereafter, in 1850, brick was manufactured by Dan House of Claquato. It was used for building Fireplaces and chimneys. In the 1880's, two brickyards were started in Chehalis. Clay for brick making and shale for paving is present in significant quantities in the Chehalis area. In 190.1, A. F. Bickford and George H. Burrows founded Chehalis Brick and Tile. It developed into one of the largest plants in the Pacific Northwest and manufactured high quality brick, drain tile and hollow block. The brick kilns were shut down in 1975 because air quality standards could not be met.

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Other Minerals

The area around Morton became nationally known for the production of Cinnabar ore, which is used to make Mercury. Mercury was used in the manufacturing of medical, chemical and electrical equipment and supplies. In 1920 Ed Barnum discovered an outcrop of the brilliant red ore near Temple Creek. From 1928 to 193 1, Cinnabar mining and the reduction of the ore into mercury was a thriving industry in Morton and considered to be of national significance.49 Environmental concerns and substitutes for mercury made the mine unprofitable to operate.

Gold. silver,. copper, iron, graphite, arsenic and other minerals have been found near the town of Mineral in eastern Lewis County. The only arsenic mine in the United States operated near Mayfield.

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G. RECREATION

Early residents often trapped for extra food and income. Deer hides were tanned on the farm and used for clothing. Beaver, muskrat, otter and mink pelts were sold to Schubert Brothers Fur Company in Portland or Seattle.

The Rainier National Forest was created in 1897, limiting settlement in the area. In the early 1900's, Ohanapecosh Hot Springs was developed as a popular spot for vacationing and treating rheumatism. Development began on the White Pass ski bowl in 1915. Packwood Lake Camp was established in the 1920's complete with meal service, overnight accommodations and boat rental. The State Department of Fisheries built a trout eying station at Packwood Lake where rainbow trout were spawned and the eggs eyed out. A state salmon hatchery was built at Clear Fork, near Packwood in 1927.

Before the dams were built, the Cowlitz River was regarded as an excellent sport-fishing stream. Thousands of steelhead, spring and fall Chinook salmon., cutthroat and rainbow trout were caught each year. Today, thousands of dollars are spent by fishermen who come from many areas to fish the Cowlitz. Fishing is also a favorite sport of Lewis County locals.

Huckleberry and blackberry picking trips have been favorite family outings for over a century in Lewis County. Like hunting and fishing, these activities provide recreation for the family and supplement the food budget.

Several annual community events have their roots in agricultural and timber production. Morton Loggers Jubilee, Toledo Cheese Days and Winlock Egg Days all began as celebrations of the success of local industries. The Morton Loggers Jubilee began as a community celebration in the 1930's. It has grown into one of the nation's top logging shows, attracting contestants worldwide. Over the years, events changed as new equipment and methods came to the industry. In true community form, the citizens of Morton have rallied over the years to develop a youth recreation center, a community park and athletic fields in conjunction with Jubilee Park. A new festival came into being in 1986 to celebrate the success of DeGoede Bulb Farm in Mossyrock. The Spring Shower of Flowers, (formerly the Mossyrock Tulip Festival) includes Dutch traditions and has grown to include numerous community organizations and local businesses.

Today, Lewis County has significant outdoor recreational opportunities. Portions of Mt. Rainier National Park, Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and White Pass recreational areas all lie within the county. There are over 450 maintained trails in the county, as well as, numerous campgrounds. Twenty lakes and six rivers are popular spots for fishing and boating. There are thirty local and county parks. There are two dinner trains including the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad. The Cispus Learning Center provides environmental learning opportunities for thousands of Youth each year.50 Numerous small businesses have developed to supply hunters, fishermen, skiers, hikers. etc.

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Part III - Future Social and Economic Stability

A. Summary

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B. CURRENT ECONOMIC SITUATION

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C. SOCIAL AND CULTURAL IMPACTS

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D. CONCLUSIONS

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Footnotes:

• 1 Forest Service, USDA, The Use Book, (1906 ed.), p.13
• 2 Blacks Law dictionary, (5th ed. 1979), p.303.
• 3 Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary, (1975), p. 277
• 4 Black's Law Dictionary, (5th ed. 1979), p.348
• 5 42 USC 4331 (b) (2), (4)
• 6 16 USC 1604 (a)
• 7 16 USC 1604 (a)
• 8 36 CFR 221.3 (a) (1)
• 9 16 USC 1533 (f) (5)
• 10 16 UCS 1533 (b) (2)
• 11 36 CFR 800.5 (e) (1) (i)
• 12 42 USC 7402 (1)
• 13 33 USC 1251 (g)
• 14 16 USC 3411 (5)
• 15 Marilyn P. Watkins, Rural Democracy, Family Farmers and Politics in Westeren Washington, 1890-1925, (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1995), p.1.
• 16 Ibid., p. 5.
• 17 Ibid., p. 24.
• 18 Ibid., p. 25.
• 19 Toledo History Committee, The Toledo Community Story (Toledo: The Toledo Parent-Teacher Organization, 1976), p. 97.
• 20 Toledo History Committee, Toledo Story p. 111.
• 21 Watkins, Rural Democracy22 Chehalis Bee. May 1915. p.25.
• 23 The Daily Chronicle, Centralia, February, 23, 1983
• 24 Chehalis Bee February 12, 1926
• 25 Caroll La Gra, Morton (Morton, WA, 1988), p. 88.
• 26 LaVonne M. Sparkman, From Homestead to Lakebed (Spakrman Publications, 1994) p. 72.
• 27 Lewis County Economic Development Council, "Overall Economic Development Plan, Cowlitz and Lewis Counties", 1995, p. 25.
• 28 EDC, Economic Development Plan, p. 39.
• 29 Chehalis Bee May 1915, p. 23.
• 30 Toledo History Committee, Toledo Story, p. 5.
• 31 "Old-Timers Sharp on Recalling Flour Mill," The Daily Chronicle, September 27, 1961.
• 32 LaVonne M. Sparkman and Irma Boyer, Where the Big Bottom Begins, (Rochester: Gorham Printing, 1995), p. 12.
• 33 Watkins, Rural Democracy p. 24.
• 34 Ibid., p. 18.
• 35 Ibid., p. 38.
• 36 Ibid., p. 41-2.
• 37 Ibid., p. 130-1.
• 38 Lingreen, Hop Cultivation, p. 52 Addendum.
• 39 Minnie Lingreen and Priscill Tiller, Hop Cultivation in Lewis County, Washinton, 1888 to 1940 (Centralia, WA: Washington State commission for the Humanities, 1981), p. 42-3
• 40 "County picked for crop production," The Daily Chronicle, August 1, 1981.
• 41 Janet A. Hale, "Winlock, Washington Territory" (History Thesis, Linfield College, McMinville, OR, 1948), p. 41.
• 42 Toledo History Committee, Toledo Story, p. 97.
• 43 Watkins, Rural Democracy, p. 143.
• 44 Ibid., p. 144.
• 45 Toledo History Committee, Toledo Story, p157.
• 46 Watkins, Rural Democracy, p. 134-5.
• 47 Ibid., p. 124.
• 48 LaVonne M. Sparkman and Irma Boyer, Where the Big Bottom Begins, (Rochester: Gorham Printing, 1995), p. 11.
• 49 Caroll La Gra, Morton (Morton, WA, 1988), p. 74.
• 50 EDC, Economic Development Plan, p. 24.
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