Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington, Part 71

Author:
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Spokane, Wash. : Western History
Number of Pages: 992

USA > Washington > Chelan County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 71
USA > Washington > Ferry County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 71
USA > Washington > Okanogan County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 71
USA > Washington > Stevens County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 71

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With the sensational opening of the "North Half" of the Colville Indian reservation to min- eral entry, February 21, 1896, prospectors flocked into the present site of Republic Camp. and throughout the contiguous territory made many rich mineral strikes. Quickly spread the glad tidings abroad on the wings of rumor. Two months after the opening of the reserva- tion we find that there were sixty-four men in the camp. They were prospectors and miners. They made their homes in tents; their provis-

REPUBLIC, COUNTY SEAT OF FERRY COUNTY.

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HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

ions were freighted in from long distances at costly prices.

But a camp containing sixty-four men, and with a glittering prospect for a large increase of population in the immediate future, could not remain long without a "store." To W. C. Otto belongs the credit of being the pioneer merchant of Republic Camp. With two drivers, a saddle horse and a pack train of twenty mules laden with tools and general merchandise, the enter- prising Mr. Otto threaded his way along the trail which followed up the bank of the Sans Poil river. He had abandoned Almira, a small town in Lincoln county, and was heading in for the new, and then famous, Republic Camp. It was a "Hazard of New Fortunes." Mr. Otto pitched his tent on Eureka creek May 17, 1896, and opened sale of his wares. Thus came the first merchant in the camp; a representative of the interests of the J. C. Keller Company, of Almira.

While the first "business house" was thus established in 1896, it antedated the erection of the first building in Republic by a year. Harry Kaufman, one of the earliest pioneers of the camp, ran up the first edifice. This was a sub- stantial log structure and was located just over the gulch, northwest of where the main portion of the town now stands. Early in July, 1897, Philip Creaser, having secured a valuable and eligible townsite, began the erection of a two- story frame hotel building on the sum- mit of the hill overlooking what is now Clark street, and the principal business thoroughfare of Republic. This was the town's second building. July 22 John Stack opened a store in a tent adjoining Kaufman's cabin. With him became associ- ated some of the most prominent mining men of the camp, and together, they erected a com- modious two-story store and office building, and under the firm name of John Stack & Com- pany, opened out an extensive line of general merchandise October 30, 1897. But there was

not much building activity until the following spring.

The Blue Jacket Development Company, through its officers, James Clark, president, and Charles S. Eltinge, secretary, laid out the town- site March 22, 1898, and the lots were thrown on the open market. This site was later com- bined with North Republic (platted by the Lost Lode Gold Mining Company, by its officers, Hector McRea, vice-president, and Charles S. Griffith, secretary, May 2r), and other town- sites in one large town named for the famous mine which gave it universal notoriety-Re- public.

It is a town with a surprisingly large num- ber of additions. The original one was platted April 29, 1898, by the Tuesday Development Company, by Patrick Clark, president, and Charles S. Elinge, secretary. This plat, how- ever, was vacated by order of the board of county commissioners August 10, 1900. Other additions to Republic were made later, as fol- lows :

Second Addition-June 3, 1898, by J. W. McCann. Third Addition-September 14, 1898, by Philip Creaser. Mono Addition- November 19, 1898, by J. M. Bewley and W. C. Otto. Court House Addition-February 17, 1899, by Fred M. Wells. Delaware Addi- tion-June 12, 1899, by the Delaware Mining Company, by C. C. Woodhouse, Jr., president. Conlan's Addition-December 20, 1899, by Golden Eagle Mining Company, by J. D. Mil- ler, president. School House Addition-De- cember 1, 1899, by C. C. Woodhouse, Jr. Port- land Addition-July 31, 1900, by George W. Woodhouse and Martin A. Mitchell. Wabash Addition-May 10, 1900, by Moses Ediams and George Miller. Erdmann Addition-Oc- tober 29, 1901, by Erdmann Mining Company, by Frederick Stone, president; attest Edward H. Knight, secretary. Finch's Addition-No- vember 23, 1901, by Edward C. Finch and Fred G. Foster. Deer Park Addition-Janu-

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ary 31, 1903, by Grant A. Stewart, W. R. Hughes and James Cottini. Elgin Addition- April 3, 1902, by Elgin Mining & Milling Com- pany, by Joseph Rosslow, president. Erdmann Addition-May 26, 1902, Erdmann Addition to Republic was amended by the same company. Hunner's Addition-June 3, 1901, by Wash- ington Gold Mining Company, A. Hauson, vice president. North Star Addition-April 9, 1902, by C. F. Haine, trustee for Matt Horn, Frank Ritzner, R. * \V. Hunner, John McGee and W. J. Beacom.

The lots comprising these additions were thrown upon the market in the spring of 1898. It was the signal for a general rush to the local- ity. Within the space of two months nearly two thousand people had come in to Republic. Can- vas tents and shacks of hasty architecture and picturesque appearance were made to serve for residence and business purposes, while a few substantial two-story structures "towered above their less pretentious neighbors." Every branch of business that could possibly thrive in a min- ing town was represented. Reports of new strikes daily set people wild with excitement. Stock companies were incorporated at Spokane and quotations were telephoned in twice a day, and as prices steadily advanced mining shares rapidly changed hands. Speaking of this Spring's "boom" the Republic Pioneer, (one of the first enterprises of the town), on April 16 said :

Republic is making progress in the way of building. and adding to its population. Unusual and unpreced- ented energy is displayed by business men in preparing places to be occupied. From one end of the camp to the other is this activity conspicuous. Freight teams are arriving daily by the dozen. They are coming from every direction and the roads are dotted with heavily loaded wagons and light vehicles en route to Republic Camp. At Marcus there is enough freight at the depot to load a hundred wagons, and it is accumulating instead of decreasing. There are dozens of people in Republic waiting for goods and outfits to arrive that they may commence business. They are more than disappointed at the delay and quietly give vent to their feelings. They see the camp is bounding ahead and they are provoked

because they are not yet in the maelstrom of commercial activity.

Friday afternoon, May 6, 1898, Republic Camp was connected by telephone with the out- side world. Local and long-distance wires were united and President Oakes conversed with other members of his company in various lo- calities.

The public schools of Republic are such as awaken pride in any community which takes an active interest in educational affairs. From the date of its establishment the city has made fruitful efforts to maintain an efficient school system. In 1899 the district was bonded for $15,000 for the pupose of erecting and equip- ping adequate and comfortable school houses. With the money thus obtained a large, two- room school building was erected in North Re- public-the oldest portion of the camp-and a four-room, two-story edifice built in a central location in South Republic. This school has been carefully graded and will favorably com- pare with other excellent schools throughout the state. Arrangements have been made whereby pupils may transfer to Republic and continue their curriculum without inconven- ience. During the past three years a high school department has been maintained.

Commercial activity in Republic Camp in 1898 was in the nature of a surprise to every- one. As the Pioneer of May 14 said : "Large quantities of whiskey, flour and other necessi- ties arrived during the week. When the camp is older some of the luxuries will be on hand. One day fifteen heavily loaded wagons arrived. This shows what quantities of goods are com- ing this way. Along the wagon road for eighty- five miles there are freighting teams coming and going. Still, it is impossible to clear the blockade at Marcus. Considerable freight is, also, coming in from Seattle and other Sound cities. It is not an unusual sight to witness a dozen four-horse teams in one block at Repub- lic."

During the month of May. 1898, the jus-

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tice's court room and a jail building were com- pleted. The latter contained two cells con- structed of pine; the walls of 2x4 scantling, laid flat and securely spiked together. While not so impregnable as steel cages, they were sufficiently strong to retain the ordinary crimi- nal a prisoner.

The original church organization in Repub- lic Camp was the Roman Catholic. In 1898 a building for worship was erected wherein regu- lar services have since been held. In June, 1898, Rev. J. E. Stewart, who had for some time previous been holding religious services in Republic, solicited subscriptions to aid in the erection of a house of worship. He succeeded in realizing quite a sum. Meanwhile church services and Sunday schools were held in pri- vate residences. Sunday, June 5, a ladies' aid society was organized with these officers: Mrs. Velma Lomer, president; Mrs. Mason, Mrs. Strong and Mrs. Sprowle, vice presidents ; Mrs. Ediams, secretary ; Mrs. J. A. Pack, as- sistant secretary.

July 16 Rev. F. M. Gunn, D. D., of Se- attle, and Rev. J. E. Stewart, of Loomis, Okan- ogan county, organized a Presbyterian congre- gation with seventeen members. The elders were W. H. Willard and Joseph Hall. The trustees were John W. Seward, R. F. Scott and Mrs. Ora M. Drake. Eligible lots were secured and a subscription paper circulated for the pur- pose of realizing funds with which to erect a church building. Cash to the amount of $67 was collected. But the building project was permitted to drag until the following summer, when more energetic steps were taken to push the matter to a conclusion. Rev. Linn Earhart, of Turner, Oregon was selected as pastor. Al- though lots had been donated and money con- tributed for a church edifice, the building, for some cause, was never erected. The Presby- terians, however, held regular services until 1903, under the pastorate of Rev. E. J. Ear- hart. A Methodist church society was also formed, holding regular services at the "lower

school house," and in various halls. No church building was erected and, at present, 110 Methodist services are being held.

The second house of worship to be built in Republic Camp was that of the Baptists, in 1902. At present the Baptists and Catholics are the only church organizations in town. The former church was organized in December, 1900. Rev. E. G. Barnum was pastor, remain- ing, however, but a short time.

Throughout the summer of 1898 immigra- tion to Republic was sensational. While vast volumes of freight billed for the camp were congested at Marcus, much more which was brought up the Okanogan river by steamboat was piling up at "Republic Landing," on that stream. E. L. Hallenbeck, an Okanogan river steamboat man, was in Republic early in June, and, in speaking of freight at the "landing," billed for this camp, said:

"There are acres of it, all destined for Re- public ; and more arriving every trip made by the steamer. It is piled to the roof of the big warehouse; there are tents full of freight and plenty more stacked up on the outside. It ar- rives faster than teamsters can take it away, al- though the road is springled with wagons. A train of seventy-five wagons could not transport the freight at 'Republic Landing' when I left there."

At this period the Republic Trading Com- pany, alone, had thirty-five tons of merchandise at the landing.

Up to the year 1898 what is now known as North Republic, which was the original location of the camp, was named Eureka. But that year the name of the postoffice was changed to Republic, owing to the fact that there was an- other postoffice called Eureka in the southern part of the state. Mail for the Eureka office was directed to Nelson, now Danville, and was brought to Eureka by a system of mutual ac- commodation sanctioned by the postal authori- ties, where it was distributed to the residents of Eureka. That same year the postoffice of

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Republic was established, named after the fam- ous mine, and soon after the name of the town was changed from Eureka to Republic. The postoffice transactions of a municipality are elo- quent indices of the amount of business done therein ; they certainly illustrate the marvellous- ly rapid growth of Republic. The Pioneer said in July, 1898: "Not only has the mail been enormous for a town of this size, but the sale of stamps has footed up a round sum. From April I to June 30, one thousand and three registered letters were forwarded from Repub- lic. This, in itself, is significant. No other town in Washington of the same size can pres- ent such a wonderful postal showing."

The postal business of Republic Camp con- tinued to increase. In the registered letter de- partment, especially, was the business heavy. In this section, at the opening of the year 1899 the Republic office was transacting more busi- ness than were the offices of Los Angeles, Seat- tle, Spokane, Portland, and other cities in their class. In other departments the volume of busi- ness in the Republic postoffice was proportion- ately voluminous. A dispatch from Washing- ton, D. C., at this period, stated unreservedly that the Republic office was doing more business than any other town in eastern Washington, outside of Spokane. It outclassed Walla Walla a city at that time of from 8,000 to 10,000 in- habitants. But despite the fact that the post- office department at Washingon was fully in- formed concerning the volume of business handled at Republic, it was impossible to se- cure necessary supplies for the office. One time it would be a shortage of stamps ; another regis- tration blanks would become exhausted. Al- though the business transacted fully warranted it, the Washington authorities refused to give Republic a money order office at that time, and not until July 1, 1899, was it raised to an office of the third class and made a money order depository.

The future of Republic was brilliant with promise October 10, 1898. On that day the

Republic Gold Mining & Milling Company de- clared its first dividend. Many miners who had been industriously prospecting on the "South Half" returned to town. The name and fame of Republic Camp resounded abroad and the excitement was intense. Stages arrived daily loaded with passengers and many extra convey- ances were pressed into commission. Hotels and lodging houses were uncomfortably filled. Numerous promoters and mine experts entered the field to procure claims. Hardly a square foot of ground within a radius of eight or ten miles of the Republic mine could be found un- occupied, and every claim that showed a quartz vein of any description was immediately bonded and stocked. Many high assays were obtained from the numerous prospects, and each fresh "strike" reported stimulated development in the camp. Those who were pecuniarily interested became enthusiastic over the "great future;" those who had not yet invested became anxious to do so. As was naturally to be expected, real estate advanced rapidly; choice lots on Clark avenue originally purchased for $200 apiece sold as high as $1,450, and as much as $2,500 was asked a year later.

In December, 1898, we find that the steady inflow of people to Republic which had con- tinued during the preceding summer had not abated with the advent of cold weather. Dur- ing, preceding and following the holiday sea- son, stages to Republic Camp could not accom- modate all of those who were anxious to be- come passengers to the new town. The place was fairly well supplied with hotels and lodging houses, yet it was found impossible to care for all the new arrivals. Tents were utilized for sleeping apartments; they were filled to over- flowing.

Early in August, 1898, Edward Boyce, then president of the Western Federation of Miners, with headquarters at Butte, Montana, arrived in Republic Camp. Thursday evening, August II, he organized a miners' union. This meeting was held at the school-house and was

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well attended. £ Officers of this local union chosen were : Michael Callahan, president ; William Pierce, financial secretary; William Calder, treasurer. The minimum of miners' wages was fixed at $3.50 per day.

During the month of March, 1899, there was a great activity in building operations. Store buildings and private residences went up by the score. Town lots sold readily and at good prices. It was an era of general pros- perity for the camp.

Initial steps toward the organization of a fire department in Republic were taken Satur- day, March 18, 1899. A mass meeting was held in Keck's Hall, where it was decided to organ- ize the fire-fighting force immediately. The town was built almost entirely of wood, and in compact form, and the necessity for protection was realized by every one. The meeting was adjourned to assemble on the Mondoy evening following, at which time the fire company was duly organized by the election of Burt Machley, chief, and Fred M. Wells, assistant chief. Frank Keck was named as treasurer, and O. M. Rose, James Whipps, and C. C. Woodhouse, Jr., composed an executive committee. The chief and assistant chief were named as fire com- missioners and clothed with authority to adopt such measures as were considered necessary to safeguard the town against fire. It was de- cided to purchase a chemical extinguisher, hose- cart, ladders and other fire-fighting apparatus at once, and subscriptions were solicited to de- fray the expense. Within a week the sum of $800 was realized. Following are the names of the members of the company at the period of its organization : H. T. Meyers, J. A. McDonald, F. M. Jeffery, Fred M. Wells, C. C. Wood- house, D. E. Walter, P. R. Burke, M. E. Jes- seph, James Whipps, B. W. Borsan, D. M. Yeargin, A. C. Cook, H. L. Percy, J. K. Orr, Peter McPherson, M. W. A. Miner, John Stan- ley, J. E. Wagerley, Frank Truax, O. M. Rose, J. M. Galvin, G. R. Beard, C. M. Keene, Julius Pfefferle, W. S. Perkins, R. Mulroy, G. H. 27

Ellis, George Umbach, J. A. McEvry, B. S. Harris, E. A. Mackley, James Duggan, J. T. Sullivan, Thomas McKinsley, B. F. Keck, Henry Hatke, H. H. Fritz, T. B. Walsh, W. H. Moore, E. R. Cleveland, W. C. Morris.

A fire-house was at once constructed at a cost of $200. Early the following May the company was reorganized and the following officers elected : H. L. Percy, president ; F. M. Jeffery, vice-president; F. M. Wells, chief; Richard Swan, assistant chief; B. F. Keck, treasurer; M. E. Jesseph, secretary. Messrs. Percy, Woodhouse and Yeargin were selected as trustees. This new fire department was largely volunteer, although the chief was paid a small sum for duties which were imposed upon him by the city council. The apparatus consisted of two chemical engines, hose-cart and one thousand feet of hose, a hook and lad- der truck and a supply of ladders, trucks, ropes and other apparatus. The material was, and is now, housed in a two-story building on Clark avenue. A portion of the upper story is used for the city clerk's office and council chamber. In the first ward of the city, known as North Republic, there is, also, a neat fire-hall. Clark avenue is provided with seven hydrants sup- plied from a 140,000-gallon tank located 135 feet above the street, which is a portion of the system of the Curlew Mining Company, which supplies water for domestic purposes.

The spring of 1899 witnessed a depression in labor circles. There was a serious underly- ing cause for this. Widespread notoriety of Republic Camp had excited considerable inter- est throughout the state, and in other states adjoining. It was recognized every where as one of the richest mining centers in the country, and this fact precipitated an unusual rush to this locality early in the spring. As a conse- quence of this influx of workingmen the labor market became congested. While contiguous mines were being rapidly developed, affording employment to many men, it was estimated in April, 1899, that there were fully two men for

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every "one-man" job. As a result there were many idlers in camp; every stage brought in more.

The first disastrous fire in Republic Camp occurred Saturday morning, June 3, 1899. One hundred thousand dollars' worth of property was destroyed. The recently reorganized fire department did good service in fighting this calamity, but it was seriously handicapped through lack of apparatus. At this period there was not adequate system of waterworks. Two chemical engines of 55 gallons each, which had been ordered by the department, had not ar- rived. Dynamite was the principal weapon employed in fighting the flames. At 6:30 a. m. smoke was observed pouring from the rear windows of the Spiggle building, on the west side of Clark avenue, and in the center of the business portion of the town. Soon after the alarm was sounded flames burst forth and be- gan eating their way along the roofs and sides of the structure. Dozens of men immediately rushed to the scene and began a fierce contest with the flames for the preservation of life and property. Within an hour and three-quarters all the buildings on the west side of Clark ave- nue, from the lodging house of Mrs. Davis to Seventh street, were wiped out. The buildings on the east side of the avenue suffered a less serious fate. Those that were burned were the Montana saloon, the Dewey, Walter's drug store, two restaurants adjoining, and the large log building occupied by Ira Black as a saloon. Other buildings on the east side suffered dam- aged fronts. Owing to heroic efforts on the part of the firemen, and a favorable wind, the flames did not sweep the entire block. Members of the fire department were early at work doing their best to tear down the shacks south of the bank. At the same time the entire population was out assisting in removing goods. While the flames rapidly swept away the Spiggle building, the bank was being emptied of its contents. All valuable papers, the cash

and book accounts were soon at what was con- sidered a safe distance from the fire.

The Eureka News Company's building was the next to succumb to the flames. Some of the goods were removed but a heavy stock had to be abandoned. Ten minutes from the inception of the fire the bank building was a wreck, and the fire swept onward south. So intense was the heat that it was soon apparent nothing could be done to save the buildings on that side of the avenue, and attention was directed to saving those on the other side. The three-story build- ing of Woodhouse & Wells was saved, as was also the office building adjoining. Meanwhile the fire was sweeping southward, consuming everything in its course. A building adjoining the hospital was blown up with dynamite, but the expected good effect was not apparent. At 6:50 o'clock the hospital building was in flames. Threlkeld Brothers' stock of goods was saved in part, but fully two-thirds of the contents of the room was abandoned. The law office of W. C. Morris, adjoining, was emptied of its contents in time to save them. The next build- ing to go was a new one adjoining, occupied by G. V. Alexander as a law office, and Mckenzie, the tailor. A moment later George Brady's store was enveloped in flames. This was a log building. But a small portion of the goods were removed. A light but increasing breeze had sprung up; the flames were carried high in the air, and across Sixth street. H. L. Percy's house was ablaze by 7 o'clock. While it was being rapidly consumed a charge of dynamite was placed within and it was blown to atoms in the hope of checking this terrible calamity. But the effort proved useless; by this time the fire was burning more fiercely than ever. The little frame building occupied by Dodson, the barber, Peter McPherson and Mr. Peterson as offices, and the buildings in the rear used by Manard, the real estate agent, and Scotty's Union Cafe, were quickly reduced to ashes.

Jumping a vacant lot south of Percy's the

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fire commenced to feed on Harris & Company's saloon building. Within five minutes it was completely enveloped, and Keck's two-story building was food for flames. Heat from these buildings ignited the Montana across the way. With this start on the east side it was only two minutes before the Dewey saloon was on fire. To a similar fate succumbed Walter's dry goods store, Simpson's fruit store, the New York and Spokane restaurants, and Umbach & Mar- shall's barber shop. Adjoining the latter place was a 'large log building, unoccupied; it was consumed. There being no other buildings near, the fire exhausted itself on that side of the avenue.

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Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington, Part 71

Author: Publication date: 1904 Publisher: Spokane, Wash. : Western History Number of Pages: 992

Author:
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Spokane, Wash. : Western History
Number of Pages: 992