the fairhaven and southern railroad in the northwest part of washington state was built by the fairhaven land co., founded by e. m. wilson, e. l. cowgill, nelson bennett, c. x. larrabee, and samuel e. larrabee. because the bellingham bay and british columbia railroad were already building to the north, the initial independent f & s railroad headed south, first to the coal mines in skagit county then to a connection with the seattle and northern railroad.