USA > Washington > Spokane County > An illustrated history of Spokane county, state of Washington > Part 17
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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
other covering a long period-is about three and seven-tenths degrees, proving that the changes are wrought moderately.
The evenness of the winter temperature is noteworthy. In December and January the mean daily average (average difference between the highest and lowest) is but ten degrees, while for long periods, say for a week or ten days, there is scarcely . enough lifference to give decided maximum or mini- mum for the day. . An instance of this was noted recently, when from December 14 to 20 the greatest difference was only nine de- grees, while the greatest difference for the first twenty-one days of the month was eight- een degrees. These are winter figures, when persons subject to rheumatism, pneumonia. etc .. would be seriously affected by sudden or marked changes.
The march of the seasons is well defined. When spring comes winter can be bade adieu : from spring to summer is a mild step. and from thence on to autumn and winter the change ,is moderate and permanent-not a cold wave to-day and a hot one to-morrow.
The most noticeable change in temperature is characteristic of this entire region, that of the "Chinook" wind; and fortunately it is always a change for warmer weather coming in the winter season. In the coldest winter months, when the ground is covered with deep snow in places, a "Chinook" visits us. and before we realize it, all the snow has melted and gone. The strangest feature of the Chinook is the comparative absence of water from the melting snow. This peculiar wind seems to have the power of carrying the water as it goes.
The prevailing winds in this section are those from the southwest quadrant, bringing to us as they do the modifying air from the ocean which tempers the rigors of winter and the heat of summer. There is an absolute absence of cyclones and tornadoes. With a record extending back to the winter of 1880- 81. there has never been a wind of greater velocity in Spokane than forty-eight miles per hour, or what might be called a "fresh gale." There are few points in the United States with a similar altitude and so low maximum wind velocity as Spokane. Days and weeks frequently pass with a velocity of not over five or six miles per hour, and the average hourly velocity for the past sixteen years is only four and nine-tenths miles.
The most valuable feature of Spokane cli- mate is the equal distribution of precipitation throughout the year. There is an entire ab- sence of "wet seasons" and "dry seasons" in this section. The greater portion of the pre- cipitation falls. of course. in the winter months. .And there is but one month in the past six- teen years when rain has not fallen in Spo- kane.
This distribution of moisture throughout the year is extremely valuable, irrigation be- ing unnecessary : no "wet" or "dry" season to contend with. or consider when looking for- ward to a season's yield. In winter snow falls in varying depths. . At times there is very little or . none on the ground. During December there was no snow in sight. except on the far (listant mountain summit, a "Chinook" hav- ing carried it away.
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CHAPTER XVIII.
SPOKANE AS A COMMERCIAL CENTER.
MANUFACTURES.
Spokane possesses such unusual facilities in all lines of manufacture that it makes it nat- urally the industrial center of the great "In- land Empire." The almost unparalleled water- power, with seven railroads, are advantageous features that especially invite those desirous of establishing industrial enterprises. Al- ready such institutions are numerous.
"Spokane has over three hundred manu- facturing and industrial concerns. The lead- ing industries are flour, lumber, brick, tiling and pottery, beer, paint, soap, brooms, crack- ers, meat packing, cigars and iron castings. Among the minor industries are artificial limb manufacturers, awning and tent manufacturers, book binderies, box maunfacturers, cider and vinegar manufacturers, coffin manufacturers, electric lights, electrotypers, hat makers, jew- .elry manufacturers, mattress manufacturers, marble works, cabinet manufacturers, candy manufacturers, carpet weavers, book and job printers, shingle mills, sawmills, sashi and door factories, trunk factories. Added to these are blacksmith shops, harness shops, taxidermists, laundries, sheet metal workers, artificial stone makers, merchant tailors and shoemakers."
A full descriptive treatment of all would fill a volume, therefore condensation is impera- tive.
Union Iron Works .- It is gratifying to the eye and business sense to note the thoroughly complete and well appointed foundry and ma- chine shops of the Union Iron Works, which occupy about two acres of ground in Heath's addition, having their own side tracks on the main line of the S. F. & N. Railway.
Established in 1889. the concern kept pace
with the local conditions of this section, and built up a prosperous trade, notwithstanding the loss of the entire plant by fire in 1894. The present showing, however, dates from September, 1898, when some of the leading capitalists, seeing an opportunity offered for in- vestment, bought a control, re-organized the company with increased capital, and at the same time purchased the plant and good will of the Reid Machine Company. The present commodious fire-proof buildings were erected and stocked with the newest machinery and modern equipment, as well as large supplies of raw material direct from the mills and fur- naces for manufacture.
A good portion of the trade of the great mining country adjacent, which hitherto was forced to go elsewhere, is now handled satis- factorily here, and some idea of the magnitude of the business can be gathered from the fact that the average number of men employed in 1899. per month, were seventy hands, and the running expenses about two hundred and fifty dollars per day, a mighty factor to the credit of Spokane's numerous enterprises.
The concern since their establishment can point to many ornaments of their handiwork. having furnished the iron and steel used in the erection of many of the prominent buildings. not alone in Spokane. but in Walla Walla, Col- fax, Lewiston. Moscow. Wallace. Wardner, Nelson, Rossland and many of the outer pros- perous towns in Washington, Idaho, Mon- tana and British Columbia: and it is a matter of local pride that some of the huge. as well as delicate, machinery, including condensers. osmogenes, strainers, mixers, beet wheels, gas washers, etc., for the Washington State Sugar
E.D OLMSTED MD
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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
Refinery, at Waverly, were made here, in com- petition witheastern and foreign manufacturers.
The firm is making a specialty of mining machinery, and builds engines, boilers, ore crushers, hoists, horse whims, hand hoists, pulleys, sawmill and smelter supplies, etc., and the stock of standard patterns, which have been accumulating, and which were gathered at a great cost, enable them to distance all competitors, and scarcely anyone cares to enter the field against them.
The officers of the company are: E. J. Roberts, president ; Austin Corbin, second vice- president ; J. M. Fitzpatrick, secretary and treasurer ; C. H. Prescott, superintendent ; H. E. McCamy, assistant superintendent ; and their down town office is located at 301 Hyde Building.
National Iron Works-This is one of the oldest and most important industries of its kind in the "Inland Empire." It was organ- ized in 1887 and began operation at its pres- ent location, Havermale Island, or 501 How- ard street. J. H. Boyd is president and man- ager, and is thoroughly equipped for his busi- ness. The pluck and energy of the manager was evidenced something like a year ago in the speedy rebuilding of the plant. They manufacture gasoline and steam engines, boil- ers, elevators, architectural iron works, quartz mills and crushers, concentrators, ore cars, buckets and general and mining machniery. They are also engaged in general repairing of every description.
The location is most central and the water- power is all that could be asked for. The National Iron Works are favorably known not only in this city, but all through the surround- ing country to Idaho, Montana and British Columbia.
There are thirty-five men employed at the present time, and the moving machinery and the activity on all hands indicate prosperity.
Spokane Iron Works, Engineers, Found- ers and Machinists, Builders, Mining, Milling
and Smelting Machinery -- This industry was started the first of September, 1899, by Messrs. George M. Hull and Charles Walton, in the building formerly occupied by the Reid Ma- chine Company, on the Big, or Havermale Is- land. The premises occupied consist of a building Sox80, supplied with modern ma- chines and appliances, with water motive power, and ten men are employed.
Spokane Foundry-This industry was started at its present location, E. 1402 Sprague avenue, over two years ago. The proprietors are H. A. Klein and C. Frahm, and they manu- facture chilled plow-shares, furnaces, portable French and family ranges, stove. supplies. dutch ovens, kettles, boxes and collars, sled- shoes, couplings and flanges, grates and wash- ers, sash-weights, lintels and plates. They employ six men and find abundant market in the city. The foundry will soon be removed from its present location, which is leased ground, a few blocks south on Third avenue on land owned by the company.
Northern Pacific Shops-This is the larg- est industry in Spokane. Until 1896 the Northern Pacific shops for this division were at Sprague. During that year the plant was burned, which was the occasion for the re- moval of the same to Spokane. During the year above mentioned extensive stone shops were erected. The machine shop, carpenter shop and round house are large and airy. The supply house, where the offices are, is also large and convenient. The Northern Pacific Com- pany employs in this city about three hundred men, and the payroll amounts to over one thousand dollars a day. Frederick W. Gil- bert is the division superintendent, and Wil- liam Moir the master mechanic.
Water Power-An eminent engineer who made a careful study of Spokane water power had this to say: "The city of Spokane is sit- uated on the eastern margin of the broad Washington prairie. This prairie has an an- nual rainfall of abount twenty inches, but the
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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
water shed of the river above the falls is chiefly a mountainous area sloping toward the west. These mountain slopes condense more moisture borne by the prevailing westerly winds from the Pacific ocean than the plain. The depth of the annual rain upon the water- shed of the river may safely be estimated as averaging twenty-four inches for the whole year. This water-shed embraces part of Washington, part of Idaho and a small area of Montana, and measures about four hundred and fifty square miles. The beautiful Cœur d'Alene lake in Idaho receives the greater part of this drainage from the St. Mary's, St. Jos- eph's and Cœur d' Alene rivers, and it acts as a vast storage reservoir to equalize the flow of the river during the entire year, stirring up the vast volume of water brought down by the melting snow in the spring to feed the flow of the river during the succeeding months when the rainfall on the lower part of the water-shed is very light. This lake has an area of about sixty-nine square miles, accord- ing to the survey of Lieutenant Hayden, of the United States Army, and this natural stor- age is a very important factor in determining the value of the water power of the Spokane river. Should the time come when the de- mand for power exhausts that which now can be supplied by the present low-water flow of the river, a dam placed across the mouth of the lake would greatly increase its storage capacity and add to the low-water flow of the river. increasing its volume very materially. The water-power of Spokane has natural di- visions made by the several islands occurring in the stream, thus making the developing of the water power a very easy proposition, and also distributing to power sites over a large area of territory, giving ample space for the construction of mills and factories which use the power."
At present the minimum flow of water, low water. furnishes thirty thousand horse- power, yet the testimony of the expert re-
ferred to shows that it can be doubled, which means much.
The horse-power which has made Minne- apolis famous as a manufacturing city, grow- ing two hundred thousand inhabitants, is only about twenty thousand. The adapta- tion of the Spokane river to utilization the year round is remarkable. The falls are divided into three sections. The first falls fourteen feet in a run of four hundred feet. Then the river is divided into two almost equal size channels by Havermale island, but the opera- tions of the Great Northern Railroad seem to narrow the south channel. At the lower end of the said island, which is about a quarter of a mile in length, are three other small islands which divide the river into five channels. To the foot of Havermale Island the river falls about sixty-five feet, and below the smaller islands the river becomes one channel again. and rushes on, and in a few hundred feet takes its final plunge of over seventy feet. Water power already developed is about ten thousand horse power. Careful estimates have been made showing that the cost of the develop- ment of one thousand horse power would be eighty-one thousand, five hundred dollars, and the interest on this investment with annual ex- pense of maintaining and operating the same would be eighteen dollars and fifty-three cents per horse power per year.
The cost of developing five thousand horse power on a fall of seventy feet would be one hundred and sixty seven thousand dollars, the annual interest included would be ten dollars and fifty cents per horse power. For twenty thousand horse power the cost of operating would be ten dollars per horse power per year. Compare this with the average cost of steam. which is not less than fifty dollars per horse power annually.
Edison Electric Illuminating Company- This is the largest patron of the water power. . The station is located at the foot of the lower falls and is a massive building alive with in
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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
tricate machinery. This is one of the great- est water power stations for the generation of electric currents in the country. In 1885 a few local capitalists built a small plant on the north side of the river running by one water wheel. It generated enough electricity for twelve arc lights and three hundred .incan- descent lights. In 1888 the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Spokane Falls was incorporated and absorbed the old company and plant. They moved to the rear of the C. & C. mill. in the old Post mill building, and soon equipped eighty arc lights and twelve hundred incandescent. At the time of the great fire it had one hundred and thirty-five arc lights and eighteen hundred incandescent. The loss of the company in the fire was great-all the poles being burned. The present building is sixty-five by one hundred and twenty feet, with an addition of thirty by forty. The founda- tion is of heavy granite laid in Portland cement. It is designed to have uninterrupted power day and night all the year round. Plans and designs were prepared by H. A. Herrick, and it was constructed under the superintendency of Col. J. T. Fanney. The Edison Electric Illuminating Company have the entire lighting of the city and also furnish power to many of our largest plants.
Washington Water Power Company -- This company controls the Edison Electric Il- luminating Company, Spokane Street Rail- way Company, Spokane Electric & Ross Park Street Railway Company, and are the owners of the C. & C. flouring mills. It employs two hundred men. The officers of the com- pany are: President, H. M. Richards: first vice-president, F. Lewis Clark; second vice- president. J. D. Sherwood ; secretary and gen- eral manager, W. S. Norman; treasurer, D. L. Huntington ; and these gentlemen compose the directorate together with Messrs. J. L. Prickett. J. W. Chapman and C. G. Reeder.
Spokane Marble Works, S. G. Frost, Pro- prietor, Wholesale and Retail Marble and
Granite Dealer-This industry was started eleven years ago by Mr. Myrick. Mr. Frost purchased it ten years ago. It is located at 0827 Monroe street. H. Matzke is the man- ager, and five men are employed.
Washington Monumental and Cut Stone Works-The office and works are located at 1508 to 1530 Second avenue. The owners are H. P. Sched and F. Swanson. This indus- try was established in 1897 at the corner of Howard street and Third avenue. They have quarries on Little Spokane river and on Latah creek. and manufacture and deal in granite and marble cemetery and all lines of cut stone work. The number of men employed varies from five to twenty, according to the season.
FACTORIES AND MILLS.
King. Sash. Door & Lumber Company .- This company was incorporated in 1897, and are manufacturers of windows, doors, moukl- ings, fixtures and all kinds of finish. The cap- ital is five thousand dollars and factory and office are located at North Washington street. near the Union depot. The company consists of J. J. King. president and treasurer: Isaac Baum, vice-president : George Kienzle. secre- tary. Twenty-five men are employed, and the principal market in the city, although some shipping is done to other states.
Holland-Horr Mill Company, Wholesale and Retail Dealers in Lumber, Lath, Shingles, Poors, Windows, Moulding's and Mill Work .- The factory and lumber yard are located on the corner of Gardner and Madison, on Boone street car line. The business was established in 1892. The members of the firm are W. T. Horr, president and treasurer; John Heran, secretary, with T. H. Holland, E. H. Horr, R. J. Horr and above officers as trustees. At the sawmill, located at Clayton, managed by Mr. Holland, twenty-five men are employed. and at the factory and yards, forty men. The
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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
company has a capital of twenty thousand dol- lars (paid up). Their market is Spokane and vicinity, Idaho and British Columbia.
Washington Mill Company .- They are the leading manufacturers of lumber, sash and doors, fruit boxes, and interior finish in the city or county. The company was incorpo- rated in 1892, and its present capital is seventy- five thousand dollars. W. H. Acuff, president of the city council, is the president ; G. M. Bar- line, secretary; J. C. Barline, treasurer ; J. W. Cook, superintendent. D. Dahline is the fac- tory foreman, and George W. Hoag yard fore- man. The office and factory are located on the corner of Cedar street and Great Northern Railway, and the sawmill at Milan, and the ag- gregate number employed are one hundred and seventy-five. The business has increased from year to year so that at present it is more than double what it was in its early history. They have a market all over eastern Washington- north, south, east and west; also in Idaho, Montana and British Columbia. The manu- facture and sale of fruit boxes have grown to great proportions, being sent in large quan- tities to the Snake river country, Walla Walla, Portlach, Columbia river region and other places where fruits are handled.
Aslienfelter Mill Company .- This company was organized in 1891 by H. C. Ashenfelter, The present owner is W. C. AAshenfelter, with A. Burns as superintendent. Twenty men are employed at the factory, on Pacific avenue and Walnut street, and nearly the same num- ber at the sawmill at Milan, under the manage- ment of C. M. Davis. They depend almost wholly upon home market.
Spokane and Idaho Lumber Company, Dealers in and Manufacturers of Lumber, Lath, Shingles, Sash and Doors, Office and Yard South 159 AAdams Street .- This company was incorporated in 1893, and was the suc- cessor of Paterson & Company, which was the successor of the Spokane Lumber & Manufac- turing Company, organized fourteen years ago
and operating for a time on the corner of Mill and Railroad, until it combined with the Spo- kane Mill Company. The present officers are : H. M. Strathern, president ; Morris Williams, vice-president ; C. M. Patterson, secretary and treasurer. The sawmill and principal factory is at Post Falls, superintended by Mr. Strath- ern, where fifty persons are employed. The extended yards in the city, and the factory for finish work put in last year, which is now being enlarged, and number of men employed, one hundred in all, are indications of increasing prosperity.
Northwestern Manufacturing Company, Manufacturers of Bank Fixtures. Bar Fix- tures, Furniture. Show Cases, Grills, Stair Work .- This company was incorporated and began to do business in 1899. with office and factory Madison and Northern Pacific Rail- road. The present officers are W. H. Mc- Vay. president : O. J. Jones, secretary : Will- iam Chilberg, superintendent, and they employ twenty persons and send their goods all over the "Inland Empire."
The Saw-Mill Phoenix .- This is located on the site and operated by the same water power as the old Spokane Mill Company. the history of which goes back to the very beginning of the town. References to it are made in other parts of this work. For many years while under the management of the late E. J. Brickel and others, it was the most important manu- facturing industry in the city. While the present concern is not in fact related to the company referred to, yet historically it is its successor. The present company began op- eration early last year and at present em- ploys fifty-five men. E. T. Cartier van Dissel is the manager.
Central Planing Mill .- This representa- tive business was established seven years ago by Mr. Charles Russell, the present propri- ctor. The mill is situated at Bernard and Ferry streets and is 50x100 feet in area and four stories high. They manufacture doors,
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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
windows, sash, blinds, mouldings, and all kinds of mill work. The lumber comes from Gray's sawmill, near Chattaroy. About one hundred men are employed in all and they find themselves unable to meet the demand of the city trade.
Childs Lumber and Manufacturing Com- pany .- The mill and lumber yard are located in Heath's third addition, blocks 36 and 37, on Ermina avenue. The company was or- ganized December 20, 1898, and have been doing a lively business from the beginning. They get their lumber from the sawmills on the Spokane Falls and Northern Railway. E. R. Childs is the manager.
J. F. Sexton & Company .- This firm was established under the name of Sexton & Mer- ryweather in 1888. In 1891 Mr. Sexton be- coming sole owner, the present name was adopted. The offices and warehouses are on Railroad avenue, between Mill and Post streets, while large yards are operated on Pacific avenue and Maple street. The yards front four hundred feet on the Northern Pa- cific tracks, affording the very best transpor- tation facilities. Mr. Sexton deals in lumber of all kinds, shingles, moulding, white pine and cedar doors and windows, and has built up a good business which is constantly extend- ing over the adjacent county.
Star Shingle Company .- The mill is lo- cated on Oak street and Great Northern track and is owned by S. N. Tefft. From seven to ten men are employed and the wood comes from different points in Idaho. About half the shingles manufactured are sold in the city, and the other half is shipped in car load lots to outside towns.
Central Shingle Company .- This mill is lo- cated on Havermale island, in the rear of the National Iron Works, and the proprietors are J. F., J. E. & J. L. Farmer-the latter being foreman. They began business in 1894, and manufacture shingles of all grades, and deal in shavings, firewood and sawdust. Ten men
are employed and abundant market is found within the city.
Spokane Coffin Factory Company, Manu- facturers of Wood and Cloth Burial Cases, Linings and Robes, and Jobbers of Metallics and Undertaker's Supplies .- The company con- sists of S. M., E. L. and C. E. Smith, and the factory is located at 914 and 916 Second avenue, where nine men are employed. It was organized in May, 1896, and the business has been extending from year to year so that at the present time their goods find a market all over eastern Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and British Columbia.
G. Meese & Company .- The enterprise was established in 1893 by Messrs. Meese and Golder, the present name being adopted when Mr. Meese became sole proprietor last Octo- ber. The premises occupied for the business consist of one floor and a basement, each of which is 40x100 feet in area, affording large accommodation for the immense stock of goods that is always carried. The Washing- ton broom factory, owned by the same firm and operated in the same building. is now making their own broom handles from timber raised in this section of the country, thereby leaving thousands of dollars at home which would otherwise go to the east and also giving employment to several men. The capacity of the factory is twenty dozen of brooms per day. The business is wholesale in character and is wide in extent, the trade covering all the territory within a radius of two hundred miles of Spokane. Mr. G. Meese is sole pro- prietor of the business.
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