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 | From Washington Territory 7 Jun 1880
Beginning in June 1880, Riley wrote at least letters to the editor on the Cloverdale Reveille, the local newspaper when the Hoskinsons lived in Cloverdale, CA prior to leaving for Washington Territory. In this first letter Riley admonishes a Mr. Wm. Frazier, who wrote disparagingly of the territory in the May 6 edition of the Reveille saying: "If there is no pay in the mines then I would not give & pinch of snuff for the whole country." Riley responds the man doesn't know what he's talking about, suggesting he may "never left his boat....But the mines Will pay, and of this there ie no doubt. Every few days new discoveries of rich Quartz lends are being made in various places. One other fact and the In am done. If the whole country is so utterly worthless why does the Pacific Mail Steamship Company send twice a month those magnificent floating palaces as the "Alaska," "Dacotah," (should read Dakota) "City of Panama," "Chester," and such vessels? Is it merely to gratify the curiosity of a few sight seers who want to look at our "hills, woods and water, and then curse the country and return? Nay verily, each one goes back loaded with wheat, oats, barley, potatoes, fine woods, and numerous other articles too tedious to mention. To any of your citizens who are willing to work, and want a home in a pleasant land, we most emphatically say COME." |
 | From Washington Territory 30 Sep 1880
In this letter to the Cloverdale Reveille, Riley relates the story and results of the Hoskinson family's move to Washington Territory. "As I was at one time a resident of your beautiful town, Some at least of your readers may be interested in hearing what we have done since landing at Seattle. W. T. Wife, self and son, first bought 33 acres near Seattle (this would be their first homestead at Smith's Cove - ed.) Cleared ground, dug with mattock, planted seed, fenced the same, and raised splendid garden, enough for ourselves, and quite a lot to sell. Also nearly cleared six acres more, then sold the same at an advance of 200 dollars. Moved to Bainbridge Island, near Port Blakely. Miles took a Soldiers Homestead of 160 acres. Cleared two acres, dug some with mattock & spade, again planted garden, raised enough for home use, and considerable sold besides In the mean time carried lumber from the beach, sixty rods distant (one rod = 16 1/2 feet so a total distance of about 1000 feet), built a dwelling house 16 by 24 feet, one half story high 10 foot shed on all sides, hen house 34 by 30 feet, Woodhouse 14x36 feet, grain house 12X14 feet, two stories high. Slashed and burned about six acres more land. Last spring a year planted, 200 fruit trees, of apple, Pear, Peach. Quince, Plum, Prune, and Cherry, also Currants, Gooseberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, and Strawberries, besides many other articles to tedious to mention. Now for the result, so far his season from the eleventh of an acre in strawberries we picked 316 gallons or 37 bushels, sold them at from 40 cents to one dollar per gallon. Sold 20 gallons of raspberries at 50 cents per gallon, while several of our apples pears, plum, and cherry trees produced fruit this season, and the trees are only in their 4th years growth. Many of our strawberries measured six inches round, and our plums five and half to six inches. The sales from garden this season so far exceed 150 dollars and our poultry (white leg-horn) have neted us since January 1st 1880, nearly two hundred dollars more. The assesor, when here in June last valued our homestead at one thousand dollars. When we left Coverdale we had less than five hundred dollars all told, and we have no disposition whatever to want a way from this lovely country." In closing, Riley also makes some very disbarring remarks about the Chinese people in California: "We would gladly have remained in your town, had encouragement been given us instead of Chinese. These are the withering blight of your noble State." |
 | From Washington Territory 7 Oct 1880
Riley again responds to a to a critique of Washington Territory in the Cloverdale Reveille. Someone named Waite in the Aug 26 edition of the paper apparently wrote: "The winters are cold and frequently causes great loss of stock. There are many there who would like to leave, if they only had the means to get away with &c.," and that the Territory is "overrun with emigrants &c." Hoskinson responds, "I am not aware of a single family that wants to sell out and return, nor do I know of a single farm for sale at any price.," and then proceeds to roll out his copious weather data to refute Waite's argument that the climate is too cold, ending with "Grass grows luxuriantly and remains green the year round." |
Fisher Family Genealogy