*** Source: History and Business Directory of Humboldt County, Lillie E. Hamm, November 1890, Eureka, Cal. *** ---page 107--- [ad] Headquarters FOR USEFUL VARIETIES AND ORNAMENTAL ARTICLES J.E. Mathews [ad] HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY 107 circumstances. He is the discoverer and owner of a "Metallic Paint Mine," which is regarded by experts to contain superior qualities to Prince’s famous paint. It gained the highest awards at the County and State Fairs of 1890. Our space will not permit us to mention the many other flourishing industries in this naturally gifted town, and therefore must conclude by only one more reference. In the line of increase in population, industries and wealth, much can be attributed to the energetic efforts of Messrs. Carr and Scotton, editors and proprietors of the Ferndale Enterprise. The paper has a wide circulation. It fairly represents the resources and people of the surrounding section, and is one of the ablest newspapers north of San Francisco. Ferndale indeed merits its large and advanced prosperity. PORT KENYON. Is one of the flourishing and prosperous towns of the southern portion of Humboldt county. It is situated on Salt River, one of the most important tributaries of Eel River, and is distant about six miles from the bar at the mouth of the latter waterway. Steamers and sailing vessels can dock at the wharves of Port Kenyon, as the streams are navigable for coasters up to this point, and for small craft a few miles further up, The town was surveyed and laid out by J. G. Kenyon, from whom it takes its name. The streets and thoroughfares are from 60 to 80 feet in width, and the blocks are subdivided by alley-ways 20 feet wide. The population is constantly on the increase, as the town is the shipping point and center of trade for a very productive section of the county. The harbor is safe from storms, and vessels can lie at the wharves at any time of the year. The only difficulty is with the bar at the mouth of Eel river, which at times vessels cannot cross, but this inconvenience occurs seldom and lasts but a few hours. Amongst those who have taken advantage of Salt river as an unexcelled locality for the situation of mills and manufactures is Mr. D. R. Roberts, who built a large and substantial mill at Port Kenyon. It has a cutting capacity of 25,000 to 30,000 feet of lumber per day. The cut includes spruce, pine and redwood, which finds a home market and is also shipped to San Francisco and other points. Although it may be said that Port Kenyon is but in its infancy, yet it can boast of an increasing and thriving business community. There are two schools with an attendance of over one hundred scholars. At the west end of the town are located the extensive wharves and warehouses of Messrs. Robarts Bros., to whom the progress made by the town is mainly due. These wharves and warehouses have a storage capacity of 2,000 tons, besides an unlimited storage space on the wharves and landing, for such commodities as lumber, shingles, shakes, staves, bolts, etc. On the north bank of the river stand two more large warehouses belonging to the same firm, having a storage room of about fifteen hundred tons. These warehouses are of great convenience to shippers residing on that side of the river. It is at these wharves that the staunch and fast steamer Newport (Edwards, master), has her landings. She plies weekly between San Francisco and Port Kenyon, leaving San Francisco every Wednesday and Port Kenyon every [ad] Gibbard & Lever Manufacturers of Furniture and Every Kind of Ornamental House Finish Factoy Eureka, Cal. 2d & L Sts [ad] ---end---