USA > Washington > Spokane County > Spokane > History of the city of Spokane and Spokane County, Washington : from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume I > Part 53
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At the council meeting of April 7. 1890, former Councilman Stephen S. Bailey, who had been permitted to address the body on a matter of personal privilege, dashed a glass of water in Councilnan Bettis' face. "causing a wild scene of con- fusion which came very near breaking up the council in a row." In those days the conneil ran nearly all the affairs of the city. personally superintending the buy- ing of supplies. Councilman Bettis had asserted that Mr. Bailey. when in the council, had paid $375 for a horse for the fire department. and the animal was not worth $25. Defending himself, Bailey declared with much spirit that he had acted throughout in good faith, and he challenged any one to bring a single charge of
INSURANCE ADJUSTERS AT WORK AFTER THE GREAT FIRE
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RIVERSIDE AVENUE AFTER THE FIRE OF AUGUST 4, 1889 LOOKING EAST FROM MONROE STREET
ENVIRK LIBRARY
ASIVA, LENOX BIJEN FOUNDATIONS
THE NAME PUBLIC TAKY!
ATOM LINGS
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SPOKANE AND THE INLAND EMPIRE
dishonesty against him while he was a member of the eonneil. He grew personal in his remarks against Bettis, who retorted hotly that Bailey knew that this horse and others he had bought were worthless. Then it was that Bailey, who had drawn a glass of water from the cooler, stepped aeross the room and dashed the contents in Bettis' faee. Instantly the room was in an uproar; sides were taken, and challenges flew back and forth to come outside and fight it out. The police restored order and Bailey was arrested.
CHAPTER XLIV
EVENTS OF 1889 REVIEWED
WASHINGTON ADMITTED TO THE UNION-SPOKANE'S FIRST LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION -- CITIZENS GIVE LAVISHLY TO PUBLIC ENTERPRISES-A BEAUTIFUL AND IRRIDESCENT DREAM-OUR BEGINNINGS IN ART-THE TOWN'S BANKERS-ITS SOCIAL "ATMOS- PHERE" DESCRIBED BY "LADY ALBION"-RECEIVING DAYS ON THE HILL AND IN BROWNE'S ADDITION-REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE-ERA OF RAILROAD BUILD- ING-TEN THOUSAND MEN IN SURROUNDING MINING CAMPS-ORCHARDS STARTED ON "THE GHAVEL -RAPID EXTENSION OF STREET RAILWAYS-FIFTEEN PLACES OF WORSHIP-HARRY HAYWARD'S THEATRICAL ATTRACTIONS.
T HE year 1889 brought Washington into the Union. Appropriately, Presi- dent Cleveland signed the aet providing for statchood on Washington's birthday, February 22, and under its provisions the voters of the territory elected seventy-five delegates who assembled in constitutional convention at Olym- pia, July 1 .* They completed their labors August 22, and the constitution was ratified October 1 by a vote of 10,152 to 11,789.
By presidential proclamation the state came into the Union November 11, the new state officers were inaugurated Monday. November 18, and on the day follow- ing eleeted Watson C. Squire of Seattle and John B. Allen of Walla Walla to the United States senate. Jolin L. Wilsont of Spokane had previously been cleeled as the young state's representative in congress. Elisha P. Ferry of Seattle was the state's first governor.
*Judge .J. Z. Moore of Spokane was elected temporary chairman, and John P. Hoyt of Seattle permanent chairman. John I. Booge of Spokane served as chief clerk. Eastern Washington eonnties were represented by the following delegates: Adams-D. Buchanan. Columbia-M. M. Godman, R. F. Sturdevant. Franklin-W. B. Gray. Garfield-S. G. Cosgrove. Kittitas-J. A. Shoudy, A. Mires, J. T. McDonald. Klickitat-R. O. Dunbar. Lincoln-H. W. Fairweather, B. B. Glasseock, Frank Dallam. Spokane-C. P. Cory, George Turner, J. Z. Moore, J. J. Browne, T. C. Griffitts, H. F. Suksdorf, Hiram E. Allen, Stevens- S. H. Manley, I. J. Travis. Whitman-J. P. T. MeCloskey, C. IF Warner, E. H. Sullivan, J. M. Reed, James Hungate, George Comegys. Walla Walla-Lewis Neace, D. J. Crowley, B. L. Sharpstein, N. G. Blalock. Yakima-W. F. Prosser.
tIn February, 1881, John L. Wilson, then a resident of Montgomery county, Indiana, was appointed by President Arthur receiver in the U. S. land office at Colfax. When the land office was moved to Spokane he came with it. In 1889, as the republican nominee for repre- sentative in congress, he defeated Thomas C. Griffitts, democrat. He was reelected in 1891, and again in 1893, and at the legislative session of 1595-96 was elected to the United States senate for the broken term ending March 4. 1899.
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Spokane's delegation to the first state legislature, elected in November, 1889: Senate-HI. W. Fairweather, H. E. Houghton, E. B. Hyde, B. C. Van Houten. House -- J. S. Brown, A. K. Clark, E. B. Dean, J. W. Feighan, J. E. Gandy, S. G. Grubbe.
Feighan was elected speaker of the house, thus weakening the senatorial pros- peets of George Turner and making easy victory for the Allen-Squire combina- tion. S. C. Hyde of Spokane was also a senatorial aspirant, but withdrew in expectation of securing the appointment of United States district judge, an honor which later went to C. H. Hanford.
When the year was reviewed in its closing month, it was seen that 1889 had been profitie in event and progress. Sales of city property from December 1, 1888, to December 20. 1889, reached the amazing aggregate of $18.756.323. The railroads brought that year a grand tonnage of 49,733 and were paid about $2.000.000 in freight rates.
Seven banking houses had an aggregate capital of $857.660, and total bank deposits, exclusive of two savings banks, were $3,212,832. County and city as- sessment on real and personal property totaled $15.131.928. The year's ore ship- ments from the Coeur d'Alenes aggregated 72.000 tons, of an average value per ton of $60 -a total yield in excess of $1,000,000.
The value of buildings constructed and under construction since the great fire of August 1 was given as $3,020.500. The year's lumber ent was 30.000,000 feet within the city. Total amount expended on public and corporation work, $2 .- 510,150.
Some of our property owners and business men think they are hard hit these modern days in calls for public funds to carry forward the fuller exploitation of the country's resources. To such we offer in consolation the stupendous record of subscriptions in 1889:
To the Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern, $175,000.
To the Spokane Falls & Northern. $100,000.
To colleges and seminaries, $230,000; lo lodges, $36.000: to churches, $100,000. A grand total of $611,000.
"In 1885," wrote Major Routhe in review. "we had 3,000 souls; in 1886. 4,000; in 1887. 7.000: in 1888, 13,500; in 1889 we have 25,000. This ratio will give us, at the end of 1890, 33,000; at the end of 1891. 50.000; in 1892. 65.000: in 1893 80,000; and at the close of 1891, 100,000."
It was a dream-beautiful. irridescent and alluring as the gates of paradise: but a dream. The gallant steamer Spokane had on a full head of steam. her fire- box "chock full o' rosin and pine, and a nigger squattin' on the safety valve;" every- body dancing in the ladies' cabin, and between dances the men lined up four deep at the bar; but just around the bend were fatal reefs and shifting bars, and count- less hidden "sawyers" waiting for their prey. "At the close of 1894." quoth kindly, genial, hopeful, noble old Major Routhe. Ah. that direful, dreadful year. 1891! Incomparably worse even than the fever and excitement of 1893, for hope's candle then had quite burned out for many a brave and worthy soul, and black despair had settled in its place.
But we interrupt the brave old major in his charming dream. "Some may smile at this counting of chickens." he went on to say. "but the eggs are here: now
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who will dare to say they will not be hatched?" Right you were, major, after all. The eggs were here-the country's potential resources loomed even then, big and sure, and the 100,000 chickens have been hatched, and more; and you were spared to see the vision come real and true, before they laid you to rest, with the old sword of the Union by your side, in a soldier's grave within the shadow of the California mountains that look down upon the southern seas.
We had then our beginnings in art. "Miss Maria J. C. aBecket," observed the Review, "whose studio is in the Sherwood building. is one of the most inter- esting members of the artist colony. Miss aBecket has a natural gift for rifle shooting, and keeps her skill with very little practice, or none at all. She is an enthusiastic canoeist and camper also, and though nowadays she is too much absorbed in her art for recreation, can shoot a rapid like a hunter or a veteran guide. Few painters are more indefatigable. All through last winter she rose early, went to church, breakfasted, then painted without rest till a six o'clock din- ner; resumed work after that and often remained in front of the easel till one or two o'clock in the morning." As the soulful cowboy would say, "that sure was some art."
In Spokane's banking world these men loomed large:
First National-President, James N. Glover; directors, Frank R. Moore, H. W. Fairweather, James Monaghan : eashier. Horace L. Cutter.
Spokane National-President, W. H. Taylor; vice-president, Charles Hussey; directors, W. H. Taylor, C. R. Burns. Fred. D. Chamberlain, H. I .. Tilton, B. Loewenberg: cashier. Warren Hussey.
Traders' National-President, E. J. Brickell; vice-president. D. M. Drum- heller; cashier, M. M. Cowley.
Exchange National-President. Jacob Hoover; directors. G. Lauman, J. E. Gandy, A. J. Ross. George W. Odell, Charles E. Kingman ; cashier, E. J. Dyer.
Citizens' National-President. B. C. Van Houten ; vice-president, John L. Wil- son: cashier, J. F. MeEwen.
Browne National-President. J. J. Browne: vice-president. F. Heine; cashier. Theo. Reed.
Washington Savings Bank -- President, H. L. Tilton; vice-president. A. M. Cannon : cashier, K. J. L. Ross.
Spokane Savings Bank-President. Horace L. Cutter; vice-president, James Monaghan ; cashier, J. L .. Priekett.
Bank of Spokane Falls-President. A. M. Cannon ; cashier. B. I .. Bennett.
In addition to the foregoing. Strobach & Munter conducted a savings bank that was a close, limited corporation.
The business of the postoffice doubled in all departments after the fire. De- cember 1, 1889. two carriers were added to the service and provided with horses and carts. T. B. Warren had been postmaster since September 8. On December 15 the postoffice was moved from its quarters in the old M. E. Church to the Granite bloek. Over 1,000 lock boxes were rented in December. The revenue above all expenses was $935 in October and $2,315 in November.
The records of the United States land office showed that in 1889 settlers filed on 302,682 aeres: 596 homesteads were entered, 702 preemption filings were made
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on 89,000 acres; final proofs were made on 62,000 acres; 190 cash entries covered 20,000 aeres, and under the timber act 261 filings were made on 11,000 acres.
Of course the town had a social "atmosphere," and Mrs. W. A. Mears, who wrote under the nom de plume of "Lady Albion," gives it expression. "Water, earth and air unite to crown Spokane the ideal, the peerless queen of cities," says she in rhapsody. We are told that "the Hill is very aristocratic, and receives on Wednesdays, when carriages and coupes, hansoms and gurneys (those dreadful gur- neys, happily now long extinet), elimb the spacious streets and throng the wide avenues with their fair freight. (Now, oh, cruel hand of time, "fair, fat and fifty!") "The heavy portiere is lifted," continues "Lady Albion," "and the smiling visitor glides into the perfumed presence of the mistress of the mansion, where, clad in classic robe or dainty empire gown, she nestles mid downy pillows, silken soft. Coals glow in the brazier, and anon a gentle aroma floats through the room from the Russian samovar where the tea is brewing, while fingers like rose leaves stray softly, yet busily among the dainty cups."
"Mr. J. N. Glover, one time the sole owner of all Spokane, is just completing a home which will be a source of pride to all the town. Built of granite. it is baronial in the magnificence of the stately rooms, wide halls, broad stairways, great libraries and spacious conservatories.
"Right on the verge of the cliff the Northern Pacific has laid out a magnificent addition. Cliff avenne follows the natural windings of the landscape. Out of the center of this addition a thirty-aere park will be given to the city, and a huge boulder will form a natural reservoir for the water which will have to be pumped there for the city's use. This, I predict, will be the very choicest residence por- tion of town.
"West from the Hill rise softly swelling hills, covered with trees except where beautiful airy streets have been eut through them. Hundreds of lovely homes on these hills, with other hundreds of lovely homes running down to the level land and beyond, almost to the river, are known as Cannon's addition. A palatial home in the midst of perfectly kept and highly ornamented grounds is Mr. Can- non's residence. Where one home stands thousands will cluster on the hills, back, back to the south and west-homes of peace and plenty.
"Thursday is reception day in Browne's addition, and this center of wealth and fashion is just as gracious in its dispensation of pleasant hospitality as the Hill.
"The northern part of the city is building up wonderfully, and probably 10,000 people live on that side of the river. The cable road crosses the river at Monroe street, and goes out across the boulevard, and crosses the river again at Twicken- ham, a delightful suburb where many pretty homes have been built, and where the baseball park is located and the meetings of the gun club are held."
From perfumed hostesses and Russian samovars to noisy. utilitarian sawmills is somewhat of a fight, but we must make it. The output of Spokane's mills is given in dollars :
SAWMILLS
Spokane Mill Company $1,100,000 G. P. Dart 60,000
REVIEW OFFICE, CORNER RIVERSIDE AND MONROE STREETS IN 1889 Frame shack in front was used as business office and editorial room. First Presbyterian church in the rear housed the mechanical department. Low frame on the left was the city hall and police station
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
AUTUM. LEROI TLOEN FOUNDATIONS
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Falls City Company
216,000
Chattaroy Lumber Company
135,000
Russell, Parker & Co.
300,000
W. R. Marvin
120,000
Smith, King & Co
60,000
Sexton & Merryweather
149,000
Dart Bros
90,000
FLOUR MILLS
C. & C. Mills
$328,000
Echo Mills
250,000
Centennial Mills
265,000
Prof. David Bemiss, who afterwards retired to his farm near Marshall Junc- tion, and who died several years after his retirement, was superintendent of the eity schools. E. A. Routhe, J. B. Sargent, E. H. Bartlett, G. B. Dennis and Theodore Reed constituted the board of education. In evidence of growth it was pointed out that while, in 1883, one building of four rooms served the town's educational needs, "now five regular schoolhouses and five rented buildings are used for school purposes. Then the enrollment was less than 225; now the total en- rollment for the year to December 6 is 1,756. and the average daily attendance 1,083." A new eentral high school of twelve rooms, to cost $75.000, was eontem- plated.
W. II. Taylor was president of the board of trade, and W. S. Norman, seere- tary. The annual report held out confident expectation of the early establishment of a woolen mill. The eity had enjoyed within the year a commercial growth of 100 per eent, its population had inereased from 15,000 to 25,000, and its freight payments from $125,000 a month to $250,000. The O. R. & N. was completed into Spokane in August. D. C. Corbin, with a promised bonus of $100,000, had built the Spokane Falls & Northern to Colville, eighty-eight miles north, and trains were running regularly. "Next spring," said the report, "communication by steam- boat will be opened between the S. F. & N. and the Canadian Pacific, and Mr. Corbin has already taken steps to make an extension of his system which will ultimately end in giving to Spokane Falls direet railroad connection with the Canadian Paeifie and in opening up the immense mining regions which lie to the east, north and west of this important artery of our growth. This road has long been the hope and aspiration of our citizens. Back in '84 a few of our citizens organized a corporation with the intention of building a road to the Columbia river. In 1888 a second corporation, with Mr. A. A. Newbery as president, again stepped into the breach and carried out surveys and made preparations for the work. This latter corporation interested Mr. Corbin in the undertaking, and to them belongs the eredit and glory of its sneeess.
"Railroad building west of the city also has progressed considerably. The Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern company have completed their road to Daven- port, a distance of five miles from its termination last year, while the Northern Paeifie have pushed the Washington Central road some forty miles from Daven- port into the Big Bend country. On the twentieth of this month the
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Coeur d'Alene branch of the O. R. & N. will be opened for passenger traffic, and trains will be put on between Spokane Falls and the Coeur d'Alenes, making the round trip each day.
"The boast which was made some seven years ago, when Walla Walla was a city of 3,000 people and Spokane Falls a hamlet of 500. that the day was coming when the wheat of the Walla Walla valley would be brought up to the mills on the falls of the Spokane river. manufactured into flour and carried back and sold in the market of its growth, is now more than a possibility.
"As near as can be ascertained. the total loss by the recent fire was in the neigh- borhood of $5.000,000. Of this sum 50 per cent was covered by insurance, mak- ing the net loss about $2,500.000. This loss. however, has been materially redneed in the enhancement of values which has taken place in the land by reason of the removal of improvements which had outgrown their usefulness.
"Since the fire the total number of buildings on which construction has been commenced in the fire limits is about 500, representing an expenditure of $1,211 .- 000, of which about 15 or 20 per cent has now been expended. There are already under construction one mile and three-eighths of street frontage in the fire limits of Spokane Falls, in solid brick or stone, from three to seven stories high.
"The Spokane Falls & Northern has cost $1,250.000; the O. R. & N. spent a similar amount : the Northern Pacific. $300,000 or $400,000; the Seattle & Lake Shore, $150,000; the terminal company about the same; cable railroad company, $150,000; Ross Park Electric Railroad company, $125.000; Washington Water Power company, $125,000; Spokane Water Power company, $50.000; cleetrie light company. $60,000; and the city on its water works, nearly $113,000. The city has now completed in the last nine months eleven miles of street grading. the total contract price being $197.150. The water works of the city have been greatly improved during the past year. Two Holley pumps have been added. giving a combined capacity of 6.000.000 gallons per diem. and 12,182 feet of water mains have been laid.
"Five new bridges have been built across the Spokane river in the past year : two by the Cable Railroad company, at a cost of $68,000; one by the city (the Washington street bridge), and two by the Ross Park Electric Railway company."
The city assessment in 1888 was $3.686,138; in 1889, $8,735,856. The terri- torial and county tax was $222,117.
It was stated by Vice-president Oakes of the Northern Pacific that more busi- ness for his company originated from Spokane Falls the previous fiscal year than from any other point on their 3,500 miles of line. The total number of passen- gers arriving in the city in the year ending November 30 was 50,091.
About 10,000 men were working in the mining camps surrounding Spokane- in the Coeur d'Alenes. the Pend d'Oreille, Metaline, Kootenai. Colville, Kettle River. Rock Creek, Okanogan and Chloride camps. There were completed in 1889 in the Coeur d'Alenes seven concentrators, four of them the growth of that year. The Coeur d'alenes were then producing more than one-fifth of the entire lead consumption of the United States.
Three thousand horse power had been developed in Spokane. about a tenth of the net efficiency of the power of the Spokane river here. The board of trade was urging factories-linseed oil mills to manufacture. "from the flax which is
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SPOKANE AND THE INLAND EMPIRE
grown so abundantly in the Palonse country; a pulp and paper mill which would have the spruee and poplar groves of the Coeur d'Alenes and Spokane and Stevens counties for its supply; a box and barrel factory, carriage shops, tanning indus- try and a distillery." A distillery was subsequently built at Trent, nine miles up the valley, but was not a sueeess.
E. E. Alexander, G. P. Dart, E. P. Gilbert, W. H. Marshall, Benjamin H. Lewis, E. P. Warren and a few others had started orchards on the gravel east of Spokane, and Mr. Alexander thought that Spokane gravel was "the natural home for grapes." "Beginning four and a half miles east of the Northern Pacifie depot (then at Railroad and Monroe)," wrote Mr. Alexander, "we have arrived where will be the future homes, surrounded by fruits of all varieties suitable to the eli- mate. W. H. Taylor's place is the first, with about five acres planted to trees which have had little care, having changed hands too often. The next must be mentioned, even though it does belong to the writer, who preempted only three years ago and planted four aeres of a variety of fruit trees, some of which bore this season. Surface irrigation," warned Mr. Alexander, "is found by experience to be a damage to trees. And the way to irrigate from beneath is to keep the weeds down. stir the soil after every rain to prevent baking. and also mulch each tree. not too heavy or too close to the trec. as heating of the manure will dry out the soil as well as seald the tree."
The boast was made that "Spokane Falls has the very best electric street rail- way in America, with the most perfect and complete equipment of rolling stock." Sixteen and a half miles of street railway were in operation January 1, 1890.
The Ross Park electric line. the first in Spokane, lind been in operation about six weeks. G. B. Dennis was president, and Charles L. Marshall secretary, and the chief stockholders were H. N. Belt, who later served two terms as mayor ; G. B. Dennis, C. R. Burns, Cyrus Bradley, I. S. Kaufman, E. J. Webster. S. Heath and R. W. Forrest. The company had four miles of double tracks.
The Spokane Street Railway company, oldest in the city, had three and a half miles in operation, and were still using horse ears. H. Bolster was president. and C. Herbert Moore, afterwards to become mayor, secretary, and the list of stockholders ineluded W. O. Nettleton, Henry Brook, Alfred S. Moore, Herbert Bolster, J. D. Sherwood. F. R. Moore and Horace L. Cutter.
The Spokane Cable Railway company had invested $250.000 in its plant. J. D. Sherwood was its president. Frank R. Moore vice-president. and C. Herbert Moore secretary. The cable line began at Monroe and First, ran north across the river to Boone, and then west and crossed the river at a point near Natatorium park, having its terminus on the present drill grounds of Fort Wright. Three miles of track were in operation.
The Spokane & Montrose Motor line, which subsequently became the neleus of the present Graves system, had been built by Franeis H. Cook. president and principal owner. It operated two miles of line, from Front avenue by way of Washington to Fifth. out Fifth to Saxon street, and then on through Cook's addi- tion. It ran one car with a steam motor, but later the line was extended and more ears added.
There were fifteen places of worship -Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian. Con- gregational, Baptist. Unitarian. Episcopalian. Methodist Episcopal South, German
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SPOKANE AND THE INLAND EMPIRE
Lutheran and Christian. The First Baptist church had a woman pastor, Rev. May C. Jones, who had just completed her second year of service. Rev. Jona- than Edwards had been pastor of the First Congregational church for about four years.
Theatrical attractions, under the management of Harry Hayward. were played in old Concordia hall, Second avenue west of Monroe. Manager Hayward an- nouneed that he had contracted for the following star features:
Frank Mayo, the Duff Opera company, Vernona Jarbeau, Goodyear, Cook & Dillon's minstrels, Joe Murphy in "Kerry Gow" and "Shaun Rhue," Maggie Mitchell, Sol. Smith Russell. Augustine Daly's company, Bill Nye and James Whitcomb Riley, Levy Concert company, Paul Kauvar, Aronson's New York Casino Opera company in "Erminie" and "Nadja." and the Nellie MeHenry Com- edy company.
"To be followed in rapid succession by Demman Thompson's New York sue- cess. "The Old Homestead,' which has made the longest run ever perpetrated in New York city and Cllie Ackerstrom in 'Still Aların.' the Webster-Brady com- pany in 'She' and 'After Dark,' the great melodrama, "The Stowaway.' the Emma Abbott Opera company, Frank Daniels in 'Little Puck.' and Donnelly & Girard in 'Natural Gas.'"
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