USA > Washington > Walla Walla County > An illustrated history of Walla Walla County, state of Washington > Part 37
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
after yard of peaches, apricots, cherries, pears and apples, whose flowery treasures in spring attract the buzzing bees by myriads, and whose branches how in summer with the nectareous distillations of the matchless soil and sunshine of the Valley of Many Waters. In short, it
was possible thirty years ago for one of not even a very prophetic soul to foresee some- thing of the verdure and brightness and lux- ury which these years of industry and growth have created upon the old-time desert.
CHAPTER XXIV
WALLA WALLA CITY IN 1901.
We have presented in the preceding pages of this history the essential features of both the past and present of Walla Walla county and Walla Walla city. We have shown the evolution of the wild Indian country of forty years ago into the productive and orderly homes of civilized men. We have exhibited the present industries and the intellectual and moral instrumentalities of the region. We have taken a journey throughout the length and breadth of the county, viewing its towns, its villages and its farms. To complete the picture it remains only to visit Walla Walla city and examine it as a stranger might, seek- ing a permanent home for himself and family. In doing this we do not propose a repetition of facts already stated, but rather a series of such pictures of the town and such facts of its life as would present themselves to the eye of the traveler and investigator.
A traveler approaching Walla Walla by the Northern Pacific and Hunt line encounters some risk of that strange and dreadful expe- rience sometimes known as being "pascoed." It occasionally happens that the trains east or west are behind time, and as the Hunt line trains run on schedule time. the belated trav-
eler finds himself left. He then has no re- course but to remain in Pasco until the train leaves for Walla Walla on the following day. It is said that some have walked rather than pass through that ordeal. But though Pasco has become. in the minds of Walla Walla peo- ple a synonym for all that is "weary, stale, flat and unprofitable." it would not be sur- prising if some time in the near future is should become a beautiful and attractive place. It is admirably situated at the conflux of the two great rivers, the Snake and the Columbia, the soil in the vicinity is fertile, there is an area of prairie land of thousands upon thousands of acres adjacent to the place, and all that is necessary to make a town is water. Many schemes have been proposed for getting water upon these great Pasco plains. The magnitude of the undertaking has thus far staggered pri- vate enterprise, but when the United States government undertakes the work of irriga- tion on a great scale, as it doubtless will. the Pasco plains will furnish one of the most hope- ful fields for development. A widespread scene of verdure will then greet the eyes of the traveler bound to or from Walla Walla, and he may then find a day or more spent at
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6
STATE PENITENTIARY AND WARDEN'S RESIDENCE.
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Pasco a pleasurable experience. Franklin county is at present having a boom of land- filings, and some time there will be a town.
Walla Walla is unfortunate at the present time in not being on the main line of either road. There are, however, sleeping-cars upon both lines which convey the traveler directly to or from Walla Walla without change.
If we come to Walla Walla by the O. R. & N. line, we find ourselves disembarked at a station in the northern part of the town. If it be daytime when we leave the train, we shall see on all sides around a level plain so thickly covered with trees that the city is hardly visible. This dense foliage is the most noticeable characteristic of Walla Walla to the stranger who has been making his way over the vast treeless prairies which lie between the Cascade and the Blue mountains. Our eyes are speedily attracted to a large group of brick buildings immediately north of the sta- tion, and these we learn constitute the Wash- ington State Penitentiary. The author once observed a party of strangers viewing the peni- tentiary from the car windows and remark- ing, "They have fine school buildings in Walla Walla, don't they?"
As one of the most prominent public in- stitutions the penitentiary must be accorded a visit by every one who would thoroughly "do" the Garden City.
The penitentiary became a Walla Walla institution in 1887, having been removed to this place from Seatco. It was largely due to the persistent interest of Mr. Frank Paine that this step was taken. Walla Walla people raised five thousand dollars toward expenses of removal. Governor Squire was favorable to it. The various wardens in charge in their order of service, are as follows : John Justice,
F. L. Edmiston. John McClees, J. H. Coblentz, Thomas Mosgrove and J. B. Catron.
We meet a most courteous reception from Warden Catron, and from him and from an inspection of the ground and the buildings we soon gather more matter than our present space admits of presentation. We find in the first place that the state has made a generous appropriation of space to the uses of the peni- tentiary. A farm of one hundred and fifty-five acres, with forty acres additional to be deeded to the state by the federal government, is now devoted to the uses of the institution. On this farm is raised a considerable part of the food supply of the penitentiary. The value of the products raised during the last year was $6,- 646.20. Had it not been for an unfortunate attack of hog cholera, it is estimated that the income of the farm would have amounted to about $9,000.
We find within the enclosure of the peni- tentiary a large number of well-equipped and well-furnished buildings, together with a jute mill and brick yard, the output of which con- stitutes a great item in the income of the peni- tentiary.
The approximate valuation of the state's property here is $447,215.75, divided as fol- lows: Farm real estate, $8,225.00; farm for- age, stock and implements, $3.768.55 ; perma- nent improvements, buildings, etc., $241,- 578.68; engine, boilers, light, etc., $9.497.28; jute mill, $144.704.00; brick yard, $5,- 930.23; store house, $2.569.19; steward's department, $11.556.46; hospital, $1,072.40; armory, $676.95; office furniture, $603.25; warehouse, $15,375-35; furniture, etc., war- den's residence, $1,658.41.
We discover the population of the prison on February 21, 1901, to be four hundred and
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fifty. About three-fourths of the entire num- ber are white males. During the past two years there have been but five females con- signed to the penitentiary. Nearly half of the convicts are between the ages of twenty and thirty. Of four hundred and five convicts on September 30. 1900, thirty-two only were illit- erates. There were two college graduates and one graduate of a theological seminary. Of the same four hundred and five two hundred and five were temperate, one hundred and ninety-six intemperate, and four were moder- ate drinkers. In view of the fact that the great majority of the convicts are less than forty years old, it is a somewhat melancholy fact that, of but one hundred both parents are liv- ing. Of the four hundred and five tabulated on September 30, 1900, a hundred and five are farmers and laborers, twenty-four are min- ers, and twenty-nine are sailors. This seems to disprove the somewhat common idea that contact with nature and the physical occupa- tions is conducive to an upright and honest life.
So far as we can judge, the whole ten- dency of the prison discipline and manage- ment is humane and sympathetic. Discipline is of necessity firm, and, when occasion de- mands, severe. The state has been liberal in appropriations for comforts and conveniences in the penitentiary. The most important struc- ture made during the past year was the new dining hall and kitchen. This cost but six thousand dollars, and the results are truly sur- prising. We find a brick building, first-class in every respect, one hundred and sixty-one feet long and forty-three feet wide. with a ceil- ing of panelled steel, both substantial and ar- tistic. This same building is also employed as a prison chapel. On January 7, 1900, it was dedicated to this purpose, with appro- priate religious and musical services. We find
an excellent hospital and a prison library of seven hundred and seventeen volumes. The convicts also have the conveniences of bath- rooms and suitable lighting and heating.
One of the most interesting features of the penitentiary is the parole system. This system, now of two years existence, consists in the temporary and experimental setting at liberty of convicts whose record seems to offer hope that they are thoroughly reformed. While under parole each convict is obliged to have some person of standing in the state named as his first friend and advisor. The paroled prisoner is required to be at all times under the knowledge of this first friend and ad- visor, and to be at any time subject to the call of the prison authorities. As a disciplin- ary measure this system has yielded good re- ults. The governor has paroled, under the terms of the law, fifteen prisoners. Two of these ran away, of whom one has been recap- tured and will be compelled to serve out his full time. The remaining thirteen have care- fully observed the requirements of the law and have in the main been steadily employed with good wages.
The most important industrial feature of the penitentiary is the jute mill. This is the result of the thoughtful observation of Messrs. F. Paine and W. K. Kirkman, who observed the evil effects on the prisoners of lack of exercise and occupation. Messrs. F. Paine. P. Preston and London were the commissioners at that time, and to them is due the jute mill. This is one of the most completely equipped manufactories of grain bags and other jute fabrics in the country. When operated to its full capacity the jute mill employed two hun- dred and fifty-five hands. The output of the mill averages about one hundred and forty thousand grain bags per month, at the same
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time considerable quantities of hop cloth, mat- ting, special bags, twine, etc. For the period of two years ending September 30, 1900, the sales of jute fabrics, together with stock on hand, amounted to a total of $142,195.07, be- ing a profit of $10.548.37.
The output of the brick-yard was for the same two years $3,854.39, representing a net profit of $647.64. The state has now discon- tinued making brick for public sale. One kiln of four hundred thousand brick was burned last year for the use of the penitentiary itself.
The penitentiary is justly regarded as one of the best managed public institutions of the state.
Having visited the penitentiary first of all (a certain proportion of the citizens of Wash- ington register first in this institution and never visit any other), we will, if you please, proceed "up town." It is literally up town in this case, for, although Walla Walla seems to be upon a level plain, it is in reality upon a slope of about fifty feet to the mile.
One of the advantages of this sloping site becomes apparent even to a stranger, for he sees evidences from workmen and from accumula- tions of material that Walla Walla is build- ing a sewerage system, and the natural slope of the town site gives it a special advantage in the construction of such a system. Among many improvements which have marked the growth of Walla Walla during the past two years we find none so great as that of the city ownership of the water works, and the con- struction of a sewer system. The question of this great step in the history of the city was for several years the burning subject of Walla Walla city politics. While we are mak- ing our way to a hotel we may very properly notice a few of the interesting facts leading to this important consummation.
In the year 1867 Mr. H. P. Isaacs, J. C. Isaacs and J. D. Cook undertook what seemed to most of the inhabitants of Walla Walla the extraordinary project of building waterworks. Their works were located on the present site of Armory Hall. The "outfit" consisted of a large pump, a huge wooden tank, and a quantity of wooden pipe. The water supply came out of Mill creek. The pipe consisted of logs, bored lengthwise by hand with augers. This water system seems not to have been altogether satisfactory, through its habit of working only occasionally when it felt like it. Mr. Isaacs, with his usual energy, soon be- came dissatisfied with such an inadequate equipment, and abandoned the Mill creek en- terprise, turned his attention to the higher land on his own place east of town. He saw that on account of the rapid slope, a gravity system would be entirely feasible. Accord- ingly, in 1877 he constructed reservoir No. I 011 his property, the same which now supplies the part of the town north of Mill creek. The water supply was derived from some of the large springs which abound in that region. Mr. Isaacs also built on the south side of Mill creek reservoir No. 2, which was in ex- istence until 1898, when it was succeeded by the present large reservoir in the same place. Thus it will be seen that the general plan of the waterworks of Walla Walla was designed by Mr. Isaacs and has remained essentially unchanged, except for enlargement, to this day.
In 1887 Mr. Isaacs sold out his interest in the waterworks to the Walla Walla Water Company. The company at once made great enlargement and improvement in the works. and in that same year made a contract with the city, by which they were to have exclusive right, under certain conditions, to provide the
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
city with water for twenty-five years. As time passed on and the city grew, there de- veloped a strong popular desire that the city own the waterworks and establish in connec- tion with them a suitable system of sewerage. The pressure for this plant grew to overwhelm- ing strength in the year 1893. On July 10 of that year, under the mayoralty of John L. Roberts, a special election was held upon the question of issuing bonds by the city for the purpose of constructing a city system. The result was an overwhelming majority in favor of city ownership of water. Plans were at once inaugurated by the mayor and city coun- cil to enter upon the construction of a new system. Negotiations between the city and the Water Company for the purchase of the ex- isting system having failed, the Water Com- pany brought suit to restrain the city from building a new system. Their ground of action was the contract previously made, giving them exclusive rights for twenty-five years. After long litigation in the state courts, the case finally reached the supreme court of the United States. The Water Company won the suit. This left the city in a demoralized condition. It had failed in its purpose and had moreover expended several thousand dollars in the main- tenance of a losing suit. Nevertheless, the purpose to secure possession of the water- works and to carry out the plan of the sewer- age system did not flag. By public meetings, frequent articles in newspapers, and general agitation, the necessity of municipal owner- ship of these vital instrumentalities of a whole- some and prosperous town, was kept impressed upon the public mind. . And at last in 1899 a proposition was submitted by the water com- pany for the sale of their entire property, land and waterworks. Accordingly on the twen- tieth of June, 1899, a special election was held
to determine the question of the purchase of the water system and the issuance of bonds for the establishment of a sewerage system. The affirmative won by an overwhelming ma- jority. The purchase price of the water works was two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. In part payment the city issued municipal bonds to the value of one hundred and thirty- three thousand dollars. These bonds are to run for twenty years and bear four and a half per cent interest. It is a fine evidence of the standing of Walla Walla in the money mar- kets that these bonds were taken at a premium of one thousand two hundred and fifty dollars on the issue. In addition to those municipal bonds, bonds for the construction of a sewer- age system, secured by the income of the water works, bearing five per cent interest and sub- jeet to be called in by the city, were issued. It was a source of satisfaction to Walla Wallans that a number of responsible bidders appeared to make offers for these bonds. Both series of bonds were disposed of to Morris & White- head, of Portland, Oregon. These indispensable prerequisites having been attended to, the city proceeded at once to advertise for bids for the construction of the sewerage system. A large number of bids were received from vari- ous places, and it was decided by the council that the offer of G. H. Sutherland & Company of Walla Walla was most advantageous. .Accordingly articles of agreement were en- tered into, and in the spring of 1900 the con- tractors began active work. The contract calls for twenty-three and one-third miles of sewers. A large part of the task is now completed, and it is expected that the entire work will be ac- complished by August, 1901. This will be considerably ahead of the contract time, which is October 15th. The sewer system is being constructed of first class material, and the work
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is being done in a manner to command the con- fidence of the city. One of the important features of the system is the disposal of the sewage. This has been settled by a contract with the Blalock Fruit Company, by which they agree to receive and dispose of the sewage in such a manner as to render it innocuous, and free from further expense to the city. The Bla- lock company have given heavy bonds for the faithful discharge of their agreement, and in consideration thereof have the privilege of the exclusive use of the sewage for a period of fifty years.
It is appropriate that we complete this part of our observation of the city by reference to the condition of the water works under municipal ownership. An extract from the Walla Walla Union of December 18. 1900, presents, in a better way than can otherwise he done, the condition of the system at that time. It may be added that there has been a steady gain since that time.
"H. H. Turner, registrar of the Walla Walla waterworks, has submitted his first report for the fiscal year ending November 30, 1900. This report being the first since the city acquired possession of the property it is of considerable interest as it shows how the business of this department has been con- ducted and its present financial condition. From all appearances the property is in an ex- cellent condition. The report will be submitted to the council for its approval tonight.
"The report shows that from all sources the revenue has been $34,443-77, which in- cludes water rents, rents of water power, prop- erty and the profit on material. Miscellaneous rents brought in $20.339.08; irrigation . $5,- 665.10 and metered water $4,370.90.
"The operating expenses and repairs amounted to $1,304.78, and general expenses
$619.69. The net gain for the year is given as $30,301.74. The expenditures of the distributing system amounted to $709.50 and $17,787.73 has been paid in to the city treasurer. The cash statement shows receipts of $34.169.78, and disbursements of $31,072.32, leaving a cash balance of $3 .- 097.46.
"A total distance of 25 miles, 3,500 feet of water mains are shown to be laid in the city, being an extension since the beginning of the year of 5.7011/2 feet. 1 total of 95 meters are in operation which have been maintained at the rate of 41 cents per meter for the entire year, and the amount of water metered at 16,512,625 gallons.
"The report goes on to state that the stand pipe formerly connecting with reservoir No. 2 near the Odd Fellows' home has been moved to the reservoir near Whitman street and lo- cated on the hill. 'Your committee,' the re- port says, 'has wisely adopted the policy of declining to extend mains unless sufficient business is in sight to pay a liberal return on the cost. Several applications have been re- jected on this ground.
" 'Some of our water rates are considerably higher than the neighboring cities of larger size, but our schedules compare favorably with those of cities in the northwest whose population is about the same as ours.' It is then recommended that as soon as busi- ness will warrant that the schedule be revised. On the other hand it is suggested that exten- sions of mains will have to be made to out- lying districts, notably Bryant's addition, so as to supply families living there."
We have been proceeding in a very leisure- ly manner to our hotel, while taking notes upon the water and sewerage systems of the city. But at last we reach the business part
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of town and between the three principal liotels, the State, the Palace, and the Dacres, we re- pair to the last named. This well equipped and comfortable hotel occupies the historic spot held for many years by the Stine House. The Stine House was one of the fixed insti- tutions of Walla Walla. It had held its po- sition for so many years that no one had dreamed of the possibility of its being de- stroyed by flood, fire, pestilence, or any other agency. When therefore on July 22, 1892, the Stine House deliberately went to work and burned up. the people of Walla Walla rubbed their eyes in astonishiment, thinking it quite possible that the next event would be the burning of Pike's Peak. This unfortunate fire being in the very midst of the hard times, the owners felt little encouragement to re- build, and hence the unsightly ruins of the historic old Stine House remained for years an eye-sore to the æsthetic and a menace to the timid. For the former could not look at it without danger of strabismus, and the lat- ter could not pass it, especially at night, with- out suspicion of foot-pads lurking within. Finally in the year 1899, which thus far may be considered the champion year for building, George Dacres, one of the moneyed men of Walla Walla, purchased the property and by erecting an elegant, first-class hotel, with all the modern improvements, supplied one of the greatest needs of the town.
Having satisfied the inner man with the excellent menu provided at the table of the Dacres, and having rid the external man of some of the surplus dust which is sure to gather upon the traveler from Wallula to Walla Walla, we sally forth in search of further ex- perience.
The streets of Walla Walla give the stranger the impression of business solidity and
activity, but it must also be confessed that they give the impression of a plentiful lack of cleanliness. For, during the greater portion of the year, the streets of the otherwise fair city are in such a condition from mud, dust, or other defilement, that sales of blacking are said to have ceased except to superlative dudes, and only the leisure classes make a regular practice of keeping their hands and faces clean. It should in justice, however, be noted that the past two years have seen a consider- able improvement in the condition of the streets.
For a city of a little over ten thousand in- habitants, Walla Walla shows evidence of a very large amount of business. This is due to the fact that it gathers to itself the trade of a comparatively well settled region, over an area of probably a thousand square miles. The streets are therefore thronged with coun- try people and those from adjoining towns.
This concentration of business has made Walla Walla a very wealthy city. It is said to be surpassed in per capita wealth by only three cities in the United states. These are Hartford, Connecticut, Helena, Montana, and Portland, Oregon. It is therefore without surprise that we see evidence of the stability and largeness of transactions of the banks. There are three banking institutions in the place. Two of these, the First National and the Baker-Boyer bank, may justly be called pioneer banks. The third, the Farmers' Sav- ings bank, is of later origin. The first of these banks was the Baker-Boyer, established in 1870. At first a private bank, it became re- established as a national bank. Dr. D. S. Baker and J. F. Boyer for many years con- stituted its management. At the present time ex-Governor Miles C. Moore is president, W. W. Baker, vice-president, H. E. Johnson,
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cashier, and John M. Hill, assistant cashier. The deposits of the Baker-Boyer bank on Sep- tember 5, 1900, were $670,090.83. The First National bank was established in 1872 as a private bank by A. H. Reynolds, Sr. The management was known at that time under the firm name of Reynolds & Day. It subse- quently became a national bank and became largely the property of Levi Ankeny. At the present time Levi Ankeny is president, A. H. Reynolds, Jr., vice-president, A. R. Burford, cashier, and P. M. Winans, assistant cashier. The deposits of this bank on September 5, 1900, were $791,378.89. The Farmers' Sav- ing bank was founded in 1889 and has contin- ued to be a savings bank to the present time. Its president is W. P. Winans ; vice-president, G. W. Babcock, and cashier, Joel Chitwood. The average deposits of this bank at the pres- ent time may be stated in round numbers at $300,000.00. Thus it may be seen that the average deposits of the banks of Walla Walla are about one and three-quarter million dol- lars, an immense showing for a place of the size of Walla Walla.
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