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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1888 | 34 |
| 1889 | 65 |
| 1891 | 31 |
| 1892 | 246 |
| 1893 | 259 |
| 1894 | 239 |
| 1895 | 182 |
1,056 stories
- The Fight for Transparent Government
A Tacoma citizen challenges the centralization of power in Washington’s early governance, warning against the 'mercenary' influence of political rings and trusts.
- The Narrow Escape of Tacoma
A painting shop blaze threatened to raze a downtown block, but a fast-acting fire department and a bit of luck spared the city from a worse catastrophe.
- The Great Firemen's Brawl of 1889
A regional firefighting tournament in Tacoma dissolved into a chaotic dispute over prize money, accused dictators, and local pride, forcing Seattle firemen to offer a do-over on home turf.
- The Rent Crisis of 1891: Tacoma Merchants at a Breaking Point
As local business owners faced a contracting economy and 'money stringency,' the Chamber of Commerce debated whether high commercial rents and utility costs were driving them toward insolvency.
- The Governor’s Dilemma: The Hand-Me-Down Prison
When Washington became a state, the federal government tried to offload the McNeil Island Penitentiary and its prisoners to state control—but Governor Elisha Ferry wasn't having it.
- The Business of the Ballpark: Baseball's Early Labor Disputes in the Northwest
In 1891, the Pacific Northwest Baseball League met in Tacoma to institute strict player contracts and salary caps, signaling the end of the 'wild west' era of professional athletics in Washington.
- The Shadowed Streets of Old Tacoma
A late-night robbery on Jefferson Street leaves a local man penniless and sparks public outrage over a surge in city crime.
- Tacoma Votes to Expand City Infrastructure
Citizens approve a massive bond issue to fund a new City Hall and retire outstanding warrants.
- Ejected from the train and left to freeze
Two men sue the Northern Pacific Railway for $20,000 after being thrown into the woods without tickets.
- The Indigent Shuttle: Seattle's 'Loathsome' Dumping Scandal
A 1892 report reveals a bitter inter-city blame game, as Tacoma officials accuse Seattle of shipping its impoverished and sick residents south to dodge medical costs.
- The Eight-Hour Fight in Old Tacoma
In 1892, Tacoma laborers mobilized to abolish the contract system and secure a living wage, setting a stage for century-long debates over municipal labor.
- A Mangled Dynamo, A Crippled Provider
A young Tacoma motorman loses his arm while performing a dangerous maintenance task on a moving streetcar.
- The Violent Eviction at the Medical Offices
A landlord's dispute over unpaid rent turned into a street brawl in downtown Tacoma, with professional men resorting to brute force to secure the premises.
- The Shingle Trust’s Long Arm
A Snohomish mill owner is hauled to Tacoma under arrest, accused of defrauding a powerful shingle trust over a single carload of lumber.
- The Tacoma Scandal That Turned Domestic
After filing for divorce and suing for damages, a wife launches a criminal adultery prosecution against her husband and his new business partner.
- The Skating Rink Panic of 1892
When a local major tried to shut down a Tacoma skating rink after a scandal involving his stepson, the local press defended the rink as a space for social independence rather than a den of iniquity.
- Tragedy in the West End: A Double Loss in Tacoma
A well-digger is crushed by a falling bucket, and his neighbor dies of shock upon hearing the news.
- Redirecting the River: Reclaiming the Stuck Valley
Pierce County engineers cut a new channel through the Stuck River to drain 2,000 acres of farmland and end the cycle of sand-choked floods.
- The Unsafe Penitentiary at McNeil Island
Repeated escapes from the government facility lead to complaints that the island's prison buildings are dangerously insecure.
- The Boss Who Wouldn't Be King
When Tacoma Democrats tried to draft a reluctant Tom Carroll for mayor, the local political machine collided with the city’s complex web of 'boys,' saloons, and backroom deals.
- The Day Tacoma’s Streetcars Stood Still
When the streetcar workers of Tacoma laid down their tools to demand fair pay, a showdown at the rail house sparked a tense labor confrontation.
- The Divorce Case of the Pipe-Smoking Bride
A suburban Tacoma man files for divorce, citing his wife’s preference for tobacco over domestic obedience and her alleged indiscretions with neighbors.
- Tragedy in Tacoma: A Lover’s Final Act
A heartbroken teenager dies by suicide after the death of his sweetheart, leaving a note requesting they be buried side-by-side.
- Seduction Scandal Rocks Tacoma
A wealthy businessman faces arrest after being accused of enticing a 14-year-old girl into his private office, though he claims the case is a calculated blackmail attempt.
- The War on the Hop Louse in Puyallup
As growers struggle with a partial crop failure and a late season, local farmers debate the best scientific methods to save the region's hops.