USA > Washington > Walla Walla County > An illustrated history of Walla Walla County, state of Washington > Part 26
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
one hundred and thirty thousand tons of grain and about twenty thousand tons of other freight. Of this amount 62,776 tons were shipped from Walla Walla .county. The amount of freight brought in was, in round numbers, forty thousand tons, of which about half consisted of lumber, wood and posts, and the other half miscellaneous merchandise. A little over half of this amount was discharged in Walla Walla county. By its connection with the Northern Pacific at Hunt's Junction, this line is the natural route from Walla Walla to Puget sound.
The other transcontinental railroad upon which Walla Walla county is specially depend- ent is the Union Pacific system, through the Oregon Railway & Navigation line. This line was the successor upon the river of the old Oregon Steam Navigation line, having pur- chased that property in 1879. Henry Villard was its animating genius. He came to this country first in the interest of the German bondholders of the Oregon & California Rail- road. With the quick grasp of a statesman Mr. Villard perceived here the opportunity of a lifetime. He saw that a railroad up the Columbia river with branches north, east and southeast, might be thrust like a wedge be- tween the Northern Pacific and the Union Pacific and control both. Ile made three great steps in quick succession. The first was the incorporation of the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company. The second was the formation of the "blind pool," and the Oregon & Transcontinental Company. The third was the acquisition of a controlling interest in the Northern Pacific Railroad.
The years of building the railroad from Portland to Wallula. 'So-'83, were never sur- passed in activity and in results in the history of railroad building in this country. To the
untiring and sometimes destructive energy of Contractor Hallett, the speedy execution of the difficult and expensive line along the Columbia river was due. In 1883, as already noted, the gap betwixt the Oregon line and the Northern Pacific was joined at Wallula, and the Pacific Northwest had its first through line to the east.
Although Villard's financial downfall en- sued almost at the moment of his triumph, and the Oregon & Transcontinental Company failed, and as a natural consequence the O. R. & N. lost permanent control of the Northern Pacific Railroad, Villard's scheme is fulfilling its destiny in part, by the fact that the O. R. & N. has become an essential portion of the Union Pacific system.
As now constituted, the O. R. & N. sys- tem is a vast and comprehensive combination of steamboat and railroad lines. It runs a magnificent group of ocean steamships from Portland both north and south, and it has a fleet of superb river steamers on the Columbia, Snake and Willamette rivers. It also has a line of steamers on Puget sound.
The genesis of the railway division of the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company has already been described. With Portland as a starting point, it radiates in all directions throughout the Inland Empire. The main line extends from Portland to Huntington, a dis- tance of four hundred and four miles. At that point it connects with the Oregon Short Line, which extends five hundred and forty miles further to Granger, Wyoming, on the main line of the Union Pacific. The chief branch of the road diverging from the main road at Umatilla extends to Spokane. From this, as from the main line, branch out numerous important short lines. Those in Walla Walla county are the lines from Pendleton to Walla Walla, from Walla Walla to Riparia, from Walla Walla
174
HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
to Wallula, and from Wallula by river to Ri- paria. There are also the narrow gauge lines from Walla Walla to Dudley and Dixie. The aggregate mileage, not counting the side tracks, is one hundred and sixty-four miles.
The amount of freight shipped out of Walla Walla county by the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company during the past year was about thirty thousand tons, and the amount of freight shipped in was about thirty-five thousand tons. The "in-freight" included an immense quantity of wood and lumber, and hence exceeds "out-freight."
This survey of the railroad connections of Walla Walla county would be incomplete without reference to the Great Northern line. Although this line does not touch Walla Walla county. yet by means of its traffic arrangements
with the Oregon Railway & Navigation Com- pany it gives us practically the benefit of an- other transcontinental line. And it must be stated that the Great Northern line, by the phenomenal energy, foresight and broad pol- icy of its management, has brought benefits to all the regions it has touched, and its pres- ence in this county is a proper subject of grati- fication.
Though Walla Walla has at times been embarrassed by not being on either one of the main lines, and though the connections have not at all times in the past been the most con- venient, there has been a steady improvement during the past two years and we may look forward with confidence to a future of cheaper. more convenient and entirely satisfactory transportation service.
CHAPTER XVI.
THIE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
The larger portion of this work is occu- pied with facts in respect to the political and industrial and military history of the county. But although these in the nature of the case are the most obvious and apparently import- ant. it does not follow that there may not be other agencies of deeper import. One of the great foundation ideas of American states, an idea which underlies all that we have and are as a people to distinguish us from others, is the great thought of popular education. Amid all the eager bustle of business and experiment which have characterized the west, there has ever been the eager determination that facili- ties for education should be afforded the chil-
dren of the state. It need not therefore sur- prise us to find that the western states in gen- eral surpass older ones in provision for schools. Some of the people of the Atlantic states, ac- cutomed to look with something of a patron- izing disdain upon the supposedly uncultured communities of the west, are greatly surprised when they discover from statistics that the average of freedom from illiteracy is greater in the west than in the east. The three states with the least percentage of illiterates are Iowa, Nebraska and Washington. While we thus claim a very high standard for our state and for the west in general, we should not arrogate to ourselves an equality with some of
175
HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
the picked communities of the eastern states in the organization and equipment of our schools. It takes time to accomplish the great results of a complete educational system. It is not yet possible that Washington should have schools equal in all respects to those of Ohio, Massachusetts or Michigan.
But this we of the state of Washington can claim, that the people of no state surpass ours in general intelligence or in a disposition to accord the highest opportunities for edu- cation for their children. We have been lay- ing. broad and deep, the foundations for pop- ular education. Our schools, while not yet fully developed, contain within themselves the latent resources of a life and power equal to the best.
What is true of the schools of the state in general is also true of those of this county. Considering the time that they have had, the schools of this county are a just source of pride to the citizens. Walla Walla city has become within the last few years an educa- tional center, perhaps beyond any other place in the state. Aside from the excellent public school system, at the head of which stands the high school, we have here Whitman College, Walla Walla College, St. Paul's Academy, St. Vincent's Academy, La Salle Institute, the Walla Walla Business College, and a privately conducted kindergarten.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
The following brief sketch, prepared by Superintendent G. S. Bond, gives an accurate impression of the public schools as now organ- ized :
It is the primary object of the writer, in preparing this statement, to present to the public a brief recital of the present condition of the educational facilities of W'alla Walla county, rather than attempt to give any account of
the history and growth of those facilities. Were it even desirable to do so, it would, for two reasons, prove a somewhat difficult undertaking. The records compiled by the earlier school officers are quite incomplete, if com- pared with present requirements, and the subdivision of the original county into the present counties of Columbia, Garfield, Asotin and Walla Walla, occasioned many changes in the various school districts, and led to a com- plete re-districting and re-numbering. This, the records in the county superintendent's office show, was done be- tween the years 1879 and 1886.
In 1891, the county superintendent, by order of the county commissioners, brought together in one book the plats and boundaries of the various districts, numbered consecutively from 1 to 53. Since that date, to meet the requirements of the constant increase in population, many changes in boundaries have been made and 13 new districts bave been formed, making a total of 66. Six of these are joint with Columbia county.
The subdivision of the county into 66 school districts brings nearly every section within easy range of school fa- cilities. Especially is this true of the eastern and southern portions where the county is most densely populated. With but few exceptions these districts have good, comfortable school houses, furnished with modern patent desks, and fairly well supplied with apparatus. Six new school houses were built, and a considerable amount of furniture was purchased last year.
A movement which is receiving considerable atten- tion and which is proving of great service to the county is the establishment by private enterprise, entertainment or subscription, of district libraries. About twenty have received their books, which are eagerly read by both pupils and parents. Others are preparing entertainments to raise a library fund. It is greatly to be hoped that our legislature may pass some law at this session to encour- age the district library. It is one of the measures most needed to improve our rural schools.
Another feature that is proving of benefit to the country schools is common school graduation. An op- portunity to take an examination for graduation is given at various times, to eighth-grade pupils in any of the schools. The diplomas admit to high school without further examination. Many take pride in having finished the common school course, and are induced to remain in school much longer than they otherwise would.
Eight districts are at present maintaining graded schools. There seems to be a growing sentiment in some of the more densely populated sections to gather together their pupils for the superior advantages of the graded school. Walla Walla, No. I, provides an excellent four year high school course. No. 3 (Waitsburg) also has a high school department.
Were all the schools in session at the same time there would be required a force of 116 teachers. The districts, employing more than one teacher are: Walla Walla 30 Waitsburg 7, Prescott 3, Seeber 3, and Dixie, Wallula' Harrer and Touchet 2 cach. Of those employed at this
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1
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
time, seven hold life diplomas or state certificates, 18 normal diplomas, 25 first grade certificates, 21 second grade, and 15 third grade. Twenty applicants failed last year. If the present crowded condition of the Walla Walla and Waitsburg schools continues next year it will necessitate an increase in the teaching force of five or six at the former place and of one at the latter.
The Teachers' Reading Circle was reorganized in January, and meetings have been arranged for the more central points throughout the county. The sessions are well attended, the exercises carefully prepared. About 50 teachers have purchased one or more of the books and enrolled as members. All teachers have free access to a library of about 75 volumes, treating principally on theory and practice, or the bistory and philosophy of educa- tion.
Our school districts never began a year on a more solid financial basis than they did the present one. Fifty- one of the sixty-six had a good balance to their credit in the hands of the county treasurer. A comparison of the last financial statement with that of previous years is given to mark the increase.
RECEIPTS. 1897.
1898.
1900.
Balance in the hands
of county treasurer. $ 9,521 43 $ 9,297 24 $ 25,838 81 Amount apportioned
to districts by coun-
ty superintendent .. 32,104 54
56,210 31
58,574 66
Amount received from special tax ...
11,761 62
26,346 81
26,503 99
Amount from sale of
school bonds ...
500 00
1,410 00
500 00
Amount transferred
from other districts
Amounts from other
sources.
131 54
82 69
2,212 15
Total. .$54,019 13
$93,347 05
$113,629 61
EXPENDITURES.
1897.
1898. 1900.
Amount paid for
teachers' wages. . . . $.
$ 47,278 95 $ 38,691 71
Amount paid for rents fuel, etc. . ...
38,027 39
10,697 78 13,653 06
Amount paid for sites, buildings, etc.
2,902 68 32,152 61
Amount paid for in- terest on bonds ....
2,578 00
2,645 55
4,301 00
Amount paid for in- terest on warrants.
4,113 75
5,649 78
1,650 94
Amount reverting to general school fund
2 75
For redemption of bonds
500 00
Amount for other dis-
tricts
Total 844,721 89
$69,173 94
$90,962 18
Balance on hand .. 9,297 24
24,173 11
22,667 43
The hard times experienced two or three years ago materially affected teachers' wages in this county. The average amount paid male teachers, according to the annual report of the county superintendent in 1898, was $56.57; for female teachers, 839.54. For 1900, male teachers, 862.50; female teachers, $52.40. There seems, however, to be dawning a brighter future for the consci- entious teacher. Rigid examinations for two years have lessened the competition from those who entered the work only because they had no other employment; the districts are able to hold longer terms and pay larger salaries now. The minimum salary this year is 840.00; other rural districts pay $45 and 850. Salaries in the graded schools are from £55 to 8100 per month. The average length of term in 1898 was six and one-half months; the average for 1900 is seven and three-fourths months.
The estimate in the county superintendent's annual report for 1898 places the total value of school houses and grounds at $162,080; of school furniture, $15,317; of ap- paratus, etc., $3,871; of libraries, 81,690. Amount of in- surance on school property, $79,605; of bonds outstand- ing, #45,300; warrants outstanding, $41,274. The last enumeration of children of school age shows 4,275 resided in the county June 1; of these 3,621 were enrolled in the public schools, and made an average daily attendance of 2,076.
For 1900, school houses and grounds, $194,060; fur- niture, $16,350; apparatus, 84,000; libraries, $2,450; insur- ance, $100,650; bonds outstanding, $75,800; warrants out- standing, 882,721.16; children of school age, 4,767; children enrolled, 4,102; average daily attendance, 2,322.
Special mention should be made of the in- stitution which is the crowning feature of the public school system, that is, the high school.
THE WALLA WALLA HIGH SCHOOL
Was inaugurated in the year 1889, under the superintendency of Professor R. C. Kerr, who also acts as city superintendent. The high school was located at the first in the Baker school, but in 1890 was quartered in the Paine school, and there it still continues. Its first class was graduated in 1893. The total num- ber of graduates to 1900 was eighty. The course, which at first required three years, now gives four years of thorough study, which en- ables its graduates to enter Whitman College or any of the first-class colleges of the state. The number of students has increased rapidly
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
until at the present time there are enrolled about one hundred and sixty pupils. The present faculty of the high school consists of Professor R. C. Kerr, Miss Rose Dovell and Professor J. W. Shepherd. Miss Amy B. Richards, Miss Blair and Mrs. Minnie Cohn were at different times on the faculty. The school is acquiring a considerable quantity of apparatus, and a well-selected, though not large, library. The high school is a just cause of satisfaction to the people of the town, and it plainly contains within it elements of growth and improvement which will make it in time one of the best in- stitutions of the kind in the state.
As we consider our present excellent pub- lic school system, our minds are naturally turned toward the schools and the school build- ings of the old days. It is said that the first school-house was within the present limits of the garrison reserve, and the teacher was Harry Freeman, of troop E, first dragoons. The year has been said to have been '56, though it must have been '57, inasmuch as the fort was not provided with any buildings until that year. This school was attended by several persons afterwards well known in Walla Walla. Among these were James and Hugh McCool, and their sister Maggie, afterward Mrs. James Monaghan, mother of the gallant Lieutenant Monaghan, who perished recently in the Sa- moan islands. Robert Smith, Mrs. Mike Kenny, Jolın Kelly, and the Sickler girls, are also said to have attended this school. The next school was started by Mrs. A. J. Miner. Her school was at first a private one, conducted in 1861-62 in a house on Alder street near the corner of First street, about where Mr. G. W. Babcock's house now stands. J. H. Blewett was also one of those early private teachers.
Up to this time there had been no public 12
schools. A school clerk had, however, been appointed, together with other officers, on March 26, 1859, in the person of William B. Kelly. J. F. Wood was elected superintendent of schools at the election of July 14, 1862. In that year district No. I, embracing thie whole city, was organized, a room rented and a teacher employed. No building was put up for school purposes, and little attention seems to have been paid to education until the fall of 1864. At that time there were two hundred and three children in the district, of whom but ninety-three were enrolled. On December 12, 1864, a school meeting was held, in which it was determined to levy a tax of two and one- half mills for the erection of a school house. The block of land upon which the Baker school house now stands was donated by Dr. D. S. Baker, and a building costing about two thousand dollars was erected.
The new building proved inadequate for its purpose, and a new district was organized in 1868 in the southwestern part of the town. A site having been secured on the corner of Willow and Eighth streets, a building was erected, which, with some additions, served its purpose until 1879. In that year the pres- ent Park street school was erected at a cost of two thousand dollars. In 1881 the two school districts were consolidated by act of the legislature. The members of the consoli- dated board of directors, consisting of the di- rectors of the two separate districts, were H. E. Johnson, D. M. Jesse, B. L. Sharpstein, N. T. Caton, William O'Donnell and F. W. Paine. E. B. Whitman was clerk.
By a vote at a school election of April 29, 1882, it was decided to levy a tax of seven- teen thousand dollars for the purpose of erect- ing a brick building upon the block occupied by the first public school building. This build-
.
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
ing was accordingly constructed in 1882, and very appropriately, from the name of the donor of the land, became known as the Baker school building. The elegant Paine school building appeared in 1888. the College Place public school house was added in 1897, and the Sharp- Stein school building was erected in 1899.
Among the citizens of Walla Walla who have contributed much of their time and thought to the burdensome duties of school directors may be found some of the busiest and most active men. The names of two especial veterans in the service, Paine and Sharpstein, are fittingly preserved in two of the public school buildings.
District No. 1 is now organized under the new system of cities of the second class. This provides for five directors. These five directors are at present N. G. Blalock, Frank Dement, W. R. Criffield, J. B. Wilson and John Mun- .tinga.
. . \ perusal of the facts given in the preced- ing paragraphs will convince any one that the public schools of Walla Walla are in a highly satisfactory condition.
WHITMAN COLLEGE.
We have followed in an earlier chapter the thrilling and tragic events which made Waii- latpu memorable in the history of this state; the Whitman mission, the struggle for posses- sion, the planting of industry, the rallying place of the slowly incoming American immi- gration, the midwinter ride of the hero Whit- man, and then the yielding up before Indian tomahawks of those noble lives, the massacre, the war, and then the long period of desolation and loneliness.
During the era of danger the whites, with the exception of an occasional daring adven-
turer, disappeared from the Walla Walla country.
Silence at last rested on the fair valleys which had for ten years resounded with sav- age warfare. The Cayuses, the Walla Wallas, the Umatillas and the Yakimas yielded the scepter, and the stars and stripes waved from the Pacific to the Bitter Roots.
.As it became safe to venture into the land of battle, there came back land-hunters, cattle men, miners, explorers and adventurers gen- erally, eager to seize some advantage among the bountiful resources which had been seen by the immigrants of the 'forties and the sol- diers of the Indian wars. But among the crowd of money-seckers there was at least one soul-seeker, and that was Father Eells.
From the time when in the tragic year of 1847, he, with the rest of the missionary band, had fled from the murderous natives, he had cherished the purpose to return. When twelve years had passed the time seemed ripe. In 1859 Father Eells stood beside the grave at Waiilatpu in which the dust of the fourteen martyrs was mingled indistinguishably, and as he there contemplated the past, with its sad- ness and apparent failure, his mind turned to- ward the future with its hopefulness and cer- tain triumph. He made then a solemn vow that he would found a school of higher learn- ing for the youth of both sexes, a memorial which he was sure his martyred friend Whit- man would prefer, if he could speak, to a mon- ument of marble.
In pursuance of his plan Father Eells pur- chased the section of land on which the mis- sionary tragedy had been enacted and there he prepared to erect the building and start Whitman Seminary. It soon became evident, however, that the town was going to grow about the fort, six miles east, and there, Father
179
HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
Eells decided, would be the proper place for his cherished enterprise. Father Eels was en- tirely alone in his work, except for the equally devoted and faithful efforts of his wife and his two sons. They plowed and reaped, cut wood, raised chickens, made butter, and de- voted the proceeds, aside from that necessary to the essentials of life, to accumulating a fund for starting the seminary. It was a slow, disheartening task, with every external circum- stance against them. It is hard to conceive of a more pathetic history than that of Father Eells and his family, slowly, patiently, saving every scrap secured by their wearisome toil, in order to give it away for this purely un- selfish purpose.
In about five years they had accumulated four thousand dollars, and then the seminary was located on ground donated by Dr. D. S. Baker. It was two years later, however, be- fore the building was completed. That first building was dedicated on October 13, 1866. Though the few people of Walla Walla did not then realize it, that was the greatest event in the history of the place up to that time.
Space is not sufficient to describe here the seminary. It did a sort of work necessary, but very trying to teachers, being ungraded, irregular, and without support, aside from the tuition. During that period Father Eells, Rev. P. B. Chamberlain, Professor William Mar- iner and Professor W. K. Grim were the chief teachers, though there were many others who taught for short periods. Among these may be named as principals Professor Crawford, Mrs. Jennings, Miss Simpson, Professor J. W. Brock, Professor Horace Lyman, Professor W. D. Lyman, Professor Rogers and Rev. Mr. Beach. Of assistants may be named Mr. Sam- ucl Sweeney, now a well-known business man of Walla Walla; Miss Mary Hodgden, Miss
Sylvester, Miss S. I. Lyman, Horace S. Ly- man, Miss Clara Bergold, Mrs. M. A. Gustin, Mrs. Beach and W. A. Jones. It was a hard struggle to keep the life in the institution dur- ing that period, but devotion and patience, such as has seldom been seen, triumphed, and in 1883 the next great step was taken; for in that year the seminary was made a college. Dr. A. J. Anderson, who had been one of the foremost educators of the northwest and had been for several years president of the State University, was elected to the head of Whit- man College, and entered upon his nine years of faithful and efficient work.
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