An illustrated history of Spokane county, state of Washington, Part 45

Author: Edwards, Jonathan, 1847-1929. cn
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: [San Francisco?] W.H. Lever
Number of Pages: 888

USA > Washington > Spokane County > An illustrated history of Spokane county, state of Washington > Part 45

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sketch and with strong arms and stout hearts entered upon the task of developing the re- sources of a country whose fame and glory has far outshone the splendor of their brightest dreams.

"The government of the United States was eager to assist in this enterprise, and in Janu- ary, 1879, established the Waverly postoffice at the pioneer residence of A. D. Thayer, on Hangman creek, about one mile east of the present town site, where it remained for a period of more than five years.

"'Twas in the summer of 1884 that the venerable P. Gimble, the founder of the first business enterprise in Waverly, and the sage whose industry and activity materially aided in the advancement of the community and the de- velopment of the country, opened a general merchandise store upon the present town site, then platted by William Connolly. F. Dashiell and Hon. D. F. Anderson, on the north side of Hangman's creek.

"Remote from the scenes of turmoil and strife, and surrounded by a farming community novel in the extent of its development. Waverly at once assumed the aspect of a rural village, peaceful, quiet and serene. Though the pioneer citizen was energetic in his labors, and nature was generous in her offerings, progress in the line of town building was slow. Railroads pen- etrated other localities, where villages and cities sprang up as if by magic, drawing the life blood from the existence of Waverly. As the years rolled by barren hills, forests, wild and track- less prairies were transformed into beautiful homes, blooming orchards and waving fields, and the pioneer of old became the farmer of to- day. Thus two decades passed silently away after the establishment of the government post- office and the little village, quiet and serene, slumbered peacefully on, apparently uncon- scious of the wonderful changes that time had wrought. In the meantime, far and wide had spread the tidings of the wondrous growth, magnificent resources and rapid development of

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the Inland Empire. The tide of immigration rushed onward from the east with renewed ac- tivity, eager to gather the golden apples from the garden of Hesperides. The stream of capi- tal and wealth that followed in with unceasing flow, freed from the acute competition of the east, found volumes of remunerative profit by loan and investment. Leading enterprises and manufacturing industries of the time found welcome in the larger cities of the valley and plain.

"'Twas in the early spring of 1899 that the spirit of manufacturing and commercial in- dustry aroused from slumber and inactivity the peaceful village. For some time past rumor was rife of the establishment of a beet sugar factory along the water course known as Hangman, now Latah, creek, but several at- tempts to establish the same had heretofore, from various causes, proved a failure and con- fidence was wanting in the effectual establish- ment of the enterprise. But the coming of spring time brought the joyful news that the glittering reward was now in store for those who had toiled so faithfully for the establisli- ment of this industry.

"A new company was formed with ready capital at hand, eager to embark in the enter- prise. Plans were drawn, contracts let, labor- ers secured and work begun upon the founda- tion of the structure and upon the new railway branch of the O. R. & N. from Fairfield.

"A new addition to the former town site was platted by Col. E. H. Morrison and filed for record in the office of the county auditor in the following June, and the peaceful village that had never witnessed a period of excite- ment greater than a political meeting, a Sun- day school picnic or a general election, en- tered at once upon a period of activity unpar- alleled in the history of the Inland Empire. The railroad was completed and ready for transportation in the latter part of June. Car loads of material for building purposes, and goods, wares and merchandise were shipped

daily over the new line. On every side was heard the sound of the hammer and saw. Buildings were going up on both sides of the creek with amazing rapidity. Here and there structures of arched canvas were raised to ac- commodate those whose business enterprises would not permit of the delay occasioned by the scarcity of building material. Within the period of three summer months over thirty new store buildings were erected, stocked with an up-to-date line of goods and ready for business. In addition to these the work on the factory building continued to progress. Con- tractor Moffit employed a regular force of men ranging from fifty to seventy-five in number. The structure stands as a masterpiece of me- chanical architecture. the walls being of stone and brick and the pillars and crossings of iron and steel. The structure in the main is three hundred feet in length and averages ninety feet in width, three stories high, and represents a total cost and expenditure of nearly five hun- dred thousand dollars. The Spokane Grain & Milling Company and the Pacific Coast Ele- vator Company have constructed warehouse buildings suitable for handling the large sup- ply of grain which will be delivered this fall."

There has been built a cribbed dam across Latah creek, about one hundred yards below the factory, four hundred and eighty feet in length, the top of the dam being twelve feet . above high water mark. Three beet sheds. 30x330 feet. have been erected for the purpose of handling and washing the beets.

Within a few months as many as fifty buildings were ercted, costing from two liun- dred dollars to twelve thousand dollars, not counting the buildings connected with the Washington State Beet Sugar Company. The town assumed a metropolitan aspect, with the principal business represented by the Loy Hardware Company. Waverly harness shop. Waverly and City meat markets, jewelry store. general merchandise. millinery, two hotels. two restaurants, livery stable. barber shop,

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general furnishing store, one physician, one real estate and insurance agent and two sa- loons.

A Vast Enterprisc .- The Beet Sugar Fac- tory is doubtless one of the most important in- dustries in the "Inland Empire," and deserves extended description. It began operation in December, 1899, and is thus described in the Optimist :

"Wednesday marked the beginning of a new epoch in the industrial development of the 'Inland Empire,' when the wheels of Waverly's new industry, the Washington State Beet Sugar Company, were set in motion and the interesting process of transforming the raw material into the finished product began. The event is the final result of years of persistent labor and agitation by the citizens of this com- munity, and to Col. E. H. Morrison, of Fair- field, more than to any other man is honor due for establishing the industry. He was one of the first to conceive the idea that sugar beets could be profitably grown in this country, and proceeded to demonstrate the fact to the incred- ulous. This was easily done, but the liercu- lean task was to interest capital in the enter- prise. Many attempts were made, and at times it looked as if success would reward their efforts, but in each instance failure was the result.

"Finally, D. C. Corbin, who made millions in building and operating railroads in the west. was induced to furnish the necessary capital, and the enterprise was assured. A large force of workmen were employed to erect the building, expert mechanics were secured to install the heavy and complicated machinery, and the farmers began raising beets.

"The new factory and adjoining buildings are constructed after the most modern and ap- proved plans of sugar manufactories, and the plant in the perfection of its equipment is probably the equal of any other in the country, and every facility will be available to demon- strate that beets can be profitably raised and

converted into sugar in the state of Washing- . ton

"One hundred and fifty men are employed in the factory-seventy-five on each shift. The wages average from one dollar and seven- ty-five cents per day for common labor, up to seven thousand and five hundred dollars a year for a superintendent skilled in sugar making. During the summer and fall about four hundred men have been employed in the beet fields around Waverly and vicinity, re- ceiving one dollar a day and board.

"The factory was built under the direction of Emile Salich, of Chicago, an expert in his line. Work was begun on the main building in June. It is a three-story structure, one hundred by three hundred feet. The ma- chinery was purchased in France, Belgium. Chicago and Spokane, and careful tests of its workings satisfy the managers that it is in good order.

"The capacity of the factory is three hun- dred and fifty tons of beets daily, which rep- resents fifty tons of sugar extracted. The run this year will probably last six weeks.

"The process of transforming the raw ma- terial into crystallized sugar is an interesting one, and a brief description will no doubt be of interest to our readers. The beets are stored in large sheds three hundred feet long. and from there begin their journey through three cemented channels, or conveyors. laid just underground and covered by planks which form the walks. Through these channels the beets are forced by a strong current of water, which also continues the washing process. Entering the factory, they are caught in bas- kets in the periphery of a slowly turning wheel eighteen feet in diameter. As the wheel re- volves the baskets are inverted over an incline which delivers the beets into the washer, a long, sheet-iron receptacle furnished with pad- dles, wherein a current of water completes the cleansing operation.

"From the washer a small wheel removes

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the beets to another incline from which they sling into baskets of an elevator and are lifted to the fourth floor, or cupola room, above the roof. Here they are dumped into the auto- matic scale-a delicate watch-like contrivance, notwithstanding its size-which registers ac- curately and dumps each filling into a chute which delivers them to the slicer. This is a large tank, or upright cylinder, in the bottom of which revolves a horizontal plate, furnished with corrugated knives, which reduce the beets to small triangular slices, called cossettes, or chips. In this form the largest possible sur- face is presented to the action of the water in the diffusing battery, which is the next stop- ping place reached.

"These machines are a circle of great iron pots, or diffusers, having massive lids and con- necting by means of valves with each other, and each separately, with steam heat and water pressure. In the first cell the beet pulp enters water at a high temperature. but always be- low 212 degrees. After the proper time al- lowed for diffusion, the manipulation of nu- merous valves by the operator forces the fluid contents of this cell into the mass of pulp of the second cell and renews the water upon the pulp in number one, and so on until the first water has completed the circuit, or a sufficient part of it, and each mass of pulp has passed through from nine to eleven diffusions. From the battery the juice passes by pressure to the great measuring tanks, which have each a floating register, so that accurate tally is kept of the quantity of juice contained at each fill- ing.

"The juice, after passing the measuring tanks, returns to the first floor, from which it is pumped to the third story, and into immense tanks called lime-and-juice mixers, in the bot- tom of which revolving propellers slowly mingle the ingredients in the proper propor- tion. The lime solution-known as milk of lime-is furnished from a tank house on the roof, which is tended by a man who receives

and delivers the supply as needed, according to signals by an electric bell.

"From the mixing tanks, the mixture chemically known as saccharate of lime de- scends to the heater on the second floor, and after being raised to a temperature of 190 de- grees, passes to the first carbonation tank, where the introduction of carbonic acid from the lime kiln direct forms carbonate of lime, which precipitates, carrying off all impurities. The contents of the tanks are then pumped to the filter presses on the third floor, which sep- arate the precipitates from the juice. Then back to the second carbonation tank the juice returns, for a second addition of milk of lime, which completes the chemical purification, after which it is heated to its former tempera- ture and passed to a second set of five ma- chines on the third floor, which filter it through perforated steel plates and sheets of linen can- vas.

"From the evaporating apparatus, at the proper consistency, the syrup goes to the sul- phitation tanks, which are connected with small sulphur kilns which burn the sulphur. and the resulting fumes are forced into the tanks through perforations in the bottom and bubble up through the contents until the syrup is bleached to the proper transparency. From the sulphitation tanks the bleached syrup goes to the 'waiting tanks.' where, in large quan- tities, it awaits its reduction to sugar in the vacuum pans. The product of the pans-crys- tallized sugar mixed with molasses-is then passed to the centrifugals on the first floor where they are separated by a speed of one thousand revolutions per minute within a cyl- inder of fine wire net. The sugar thus sep- arated is carried by elevators to storage bins on the third floor, to await delivery into the dryer, or granulator.

"From the dryer the sugar comes in two grades of fineness, known as 'No. 16,' and 'Bar sugar,' being separated by bolters, as in flour- ing mills. Cube sugar-which is not at pres-

HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.

ent a product of the Waverly Mills-is made of the damp product, before drying, and is formed by drying in a mold, under pressure.

"The molasses left in the centrifugals is pumped into waiting tanks, thence into the vacuum pans, to be reheated. It then goes to the crystallizing machines, where, by a process of slow revolutions, it produces yellow sugar and a by-product-bitter and impure-called 'final molasses,' which has a commercial value for some manufactures and for the distillation of alcohol. It is for the storage of this sub- stance that the large syrup house will be used when completed. The yellow sugar is re- melted and returned to the juice, and finally joins the white granulated product in the familiar muslin sack."

The first season's run of the factory came tc a close about the end of January, 1900. As would be expected, it was attended with many misfortunes and trials. It was no easy mat- ter to get such complicated machinery into working order, especially when it is taken into consideration that many of the employees were inexperienced in such work. The difficulties in a great measure were overcome and sugar

of a high grade was produced. . There was consumed about six thousand tons of beets. making about four thousand sacks of sugar. Every advantage has been taken of the experi- ence and result of the first season's work. A force of men has been kept working making improvements and alterations. The factory will doubtless be operated on a larger scale the coming season. and Waverly and the country around will reap the benefit.

Plaza is a small settlement on the Spokane and Palouse branch near the southern line of the county. It has a small store, and post- office, an elevator and blacksmith shop.

Stevens is the last station on the west end of the county on the Northern Pacific Rail- road. There is a store, a blacksmith shop, a postoffice and a school house.

Mica is a flag station on the O. R. & N. Railroad, sixteen miles from Spokane. A store, school house, and three or four build- ings make up the settlement. The country- around is quite thickly settled and the school enrollment reaches fifty scholars. The Mica peaks have attracted considerable attention and are treated in another chapter.

CHAPTER XXXI.

POLITICAL HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.

Major R. H. Wimpy was the first resident of what is now Spokane county to be elected to the Territorial Legislature from Stevens county. Hon. D. F. Percival, of Cheney, was a commissioner of Stevens county, and J. N. Glover, a justice of the peace, prior to the or- ganization of Spokane county. Mr. Percival was a member of the Legislature from Stevens county when Spokane was organized. The 19

first county election took place on December 8, 1879, resulting as follows: Probate judge, J. E. Labric; auditor, J. M. Nosler ; sheriff, N. M. Tappan ; treasurer, A. M. Cannon ; su- perintendent schools, Miss Maggie Windsor ; commissioners, John Roberts, V. W. Van Wie and T. E. Jennings ; J. T. Lockhart, clerk of district court for Spokane and Stevens counties.

The second election, in November, 1880,

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was a very -lively one. This was made mem- orable by the desperate fight between Spokane Falls and Cheney for the county seat. The papers of both places were ablaze on the sub- ject. The editors of The Spokane Times and The Chronicle wrote vigorous articles on their side, aided apparently by The Palouse Gazette, of Colfax. and the Northwest Tribune. edited bv L. E. Kellog, wrote equally strong ones in favor of Cheney. They applied rather un- complimentary epithets to one another, the monosyllable with two s's not unfrequently used. The result of the election on the county- seat question was Spokane Falls, 563 : Cheney, 680; majority for Cheney over all places, 83. County officers : Councilman, James M. Gra- den; prosecuting attorney, S. C. Hyde; auditor. W. H. Bishop; sheriff, J. M. Hatton ; treasurer, A. M. Cannon ; probate judge, A. A. Smith : commissioners, T. E. Jennings, John Roberts, R. M. Bacon ; school superintendent, A. J. Stevens : assessor, J. M. Hatton; sur- veyor, J. Rockhold; coroner, L. P. Water- house ; sleep commissioner, Burrows. The majority were Republicans.

In the campaign of 1882 there were three, if not four, county tickets. The election re- sulted as follows: Councilman, C. J. Wright ; representative, Jacob Stitzel; prosecuting at- torney, S. C. Hyde; auditor, W. H. Bishop: sheriff. - - Dillon ; treasurer, J. W. Payne ; probate judge, W. Cobb; school superintendent, A. J. Warren; assessor, B. A. Hutchinson ; surveyor. J. Rockhold; coroner, L. P. Water- house : sleep commissioner, O. G. Wood ; com- 'missioners, J. J. Piper, C. C. May, T. E. Jen- nings. The majority were Democrats.

The election of 1884 resulted as follows : Sheriff, E. F. Whittier ; treasurer, Sam Gray : probate judge, J. M. Binkley ; commissioners, D. F. Anderson, Stanley Hallet, J. J. Piper ; school superintendent, Miss Lizzie Haldemann ; assessor, MI. O. McCoy; surveyor, W. E. Runner : coroner, C. S. Penfield ; sheep com- missioner. D. Webdell; joint councilman, J.

B. Reavis : joint representative, John S. Fenn; prosecuting attorney, S. C. Hyde. All Re- publicans except sheep commissioner. Dis- trict officers : Judge fourth judicial district, George Turner; clerk, D. A. Clements ; deputy clerk. C. B. Johnson.

The officers for 1886 were: District offi- cers-Judge fourth judicial district. George Turner : clerk. D. A. Clements : deputy clerk. C. B. Johnson: joint representative, J. S. Fenn. County officers-Councilman, J. M. Reavis: prosecuting attorney. S. C. Hyde: auditor, B. C. Van Houten : sheriff, E. F. Whit- tier : treasurer. Sam Gray: probate judge, J. M. Binkley; commissioners. D. F. Anderson, Stanley Hallett, J. J. Piper : school superin- tendent. Miss Lizzie Haldemann ; assessor, M. O. McCoy : surveyor. W. E. Runner ; coroner, C. S. Webdell.

The election of 1886 was lively for two reasons : the people voted on changing the county seat from Cheney to Spokane Falls, and also on local option. The vote on county seat resulted in favor of Spokane Falls. The county seat was removed in 1887. A tem- porary court house was erected on land do- nated by Col. D. P. Jenkins, which was re- placed by the present magnificent building de- scribed in another chapter on Spokane city.

The officers for 1887-8 were as follows : District officers-Judge fourth judicial dis- trict. George Turner: clerk, D. A. Clements ; deputy clerk. C. B. Jolinson ; joint representa- tive. J. S. Fenn. County officers-Councilman, Jesse N. Barker : joint councilman, R. McMil- lan : representative, Eugene J. Fellowes ; prosecuting attorney. W. C. Jones : sheriff. James Glispin : auditor, B. C. Van Houten : treasurer, W. C. Gray : assessor. A. W. Strong : school superintendent, Rosa McMahan : county commissioners, J. J. Piper. C. McDonall. W. Cobb.

THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.

The constitutional convention of the state

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of Washington assembled at Olympia, July 4, 1889. J. Z. Moore, of Spokane Falls, was elected temporary chairman, and John I. Booge, of Spokane Falls, was chief clerk. Members from Spokane county-J. Z. Moore, H. E. Allen, J. J. Browne, T. C. Griffitts, George Turner ; page, John F. Carrere, Jr.

The county officers elected in 1889 were as follows: Auditor, Martin D. Smith; recorder, Martin D. Smith; sheriff, Edward H. Hinch- liff; treasurer, George E. Cole ; probate judge, M. T. Hartson; superintendent of schools, I. C. Libby ; assessor, Alex. Watt; surveyor, C. D. Ide; coroner, J. D. McLean; prosecuting attorney, W. C. Jones; clerk district court, Harry A. Clark; county commissioners, W. L. Magers, chairman, John L. Booge, E. L. To- zier; superior court judges, R. B. Blake, J. M. Kinnaird.

1890-Probate judge, M. T. Hartson; clerk, James M. Armstrong; sheriff, F. K. Pugh; deputy sheriffs, F. M. Pugh, L. E. Cis- na, John Spangle ; auditor, M. D. Smith; treas- urer, G. E. Cole; assessor, Alexander Watt; superintendent of schools, I. C. Libby; sur- veyor, J. K. Ashley ; attorney, W. M. Ridpath ; coroner, Dr. E. W. Weems; commissioners, W. L. Magers, W. A. Kinney, E. L. Tozier ; justices of the peace, Amos P. Curry, Charles B. Dunning; attorney general, W. C. Jones; congressman, John L. Wilson.

1892-Clerk, James M. Armstrong ; sheriff, F. K. Pugh : deputy sheriffs, F. M. Pugh, M. A. Cisna, Charles A. Cole, O. R. McDonald; audi- tor, J. J. L. Peel; deputy auditor, \V. H. Hasler; treasurer, G. E. Cole; assessor, J. S. Brown; superintendent of schools, W. B. Turner; sur- veyor, J. K. Ashley; attorney, S. G. Allen; coroner, Dr. E. W. Weems; physician, A. P. Johnson; justices, Charles B. Dunning, C. F. Backus; judges, R. B. Blake, W. G. Langford, J. Z. Moore ; senators, E. B. Hyde, B. C. Van Houten, Alexander Watt, James R. O'Neil, Spokane, Stevens ; representatives, George Fel- lows, J. E. Gandy, A. G. Hanson, David Leh-

man, E. L. Powell, A. V. Ragsdale, Louis Reinhardt.

1893-County clerk, C. O. Downing; sher- iff. F. K. Pugh; auditor, J. J. L. Peel; treas- urer. D. S. Prescott; assessor, J. Fred Leg- horn ; superintendent of schools, W. B. Tur- ner; surveyor, Albert H. Gray ; attorney, James E. Fenton : coroner. Dr .. K. C. Neman : physi- cian. Dr. B. Freeman : justices. J. B. Wood, T. J. Cartwright; commissioners, Fred A. Fen- der, William Connelly, H. T. Jones; congress- man, John L. Wilson ; attorney general, W. C. Jones.

1894-Supreme judge, Ralph O. Dunbar; county attorney, J. W. Feighan ; clerk. W. E. Willis ; auditor, H. W. Tyler ; sheriff, Ezra D. Rinear: treasurer, George Mudgett; superin- tendent of schools, Zach Stewart; assessor, Harl J. Cook ; surveyor, J. W. Strack; coroner, Dr. D. C. Newman; justices, Adolph Munter, J. D. Hinkle; representative to Congress, Samuel C. Hyde; state representatives, sen- ate, George W. Temple, J. E. Foster; representatives, state legislature, second dis- trict, G. H. Collins, fourth district, F. M. Tull, J. E. Gandy, O. B. Nelson; commissioners, Fred A. Fender, Henry Treede, A. L. Thorp; judges of superior court, J .. Z. Moore, Norman Buck, Jesse Arthur. State officers-United States senator, John L. Wilson; attorney gen- eral, W. C. Jones.

1896-1897-Board county commissioners, L. C. Gimmell, first district, Henry Treede, chairman, second district, William R. Parks, third district, W. P. Grubb, clerk; county clerk, J. R. Low ; sheriff, C. C. Dempsey; dep- uty sheriffs, V. J. Rutherford, Charles H. Fer- guson, E. Burch, B. N. Carrier ; auditor, W. P. Grubb; treasurer, George Mudgett; asses- sor, J. W. Daniels; superintendent of schools, Vivian Hopson; surveyor, J. W. Strack; at- torney, J. A. Pierce ; coroner, E. L. Kimball : physician, P. S. Byrne; justices of the peace, W. W. Saunders, Zeigler block, C. F. Backus, county court house. C. E. Bisbee, 13-14 Granite

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block ; superior court judges. William Richard- son, Leander H. Prather. State officers resid- ing in Spokane: United States Senators John L. Wilson and George Turner and Congress- man W. C. Jones.

1899-1900-Board county commissioners, first district, Frank Bracht, second district, J. P. Campbell, third district. William R. Parks; clerk to commissioners, H. H. Hub- bard; county clerk, James A. Drain ; sheriff, C. A. Cole; auditor, H. H. Hubbard; treas- urer, A. L. Smith ; assessor. A. P. Williams;

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An illustrated history of Spokane county, state of Washington, Part 45

Author: Edwards, Jonathan, 1847-1929. cn Publication date: 1900 Publisher: [San Francisco?] W.H. Lever Number of Pages: 888

Author: Edwards, Jonathan, 1847-1929. cn
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: [San Francisco?] W.H. Lever
Number of Pages: 888