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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1888 | 34 |
| 1889 | 65 |
| 1891 | 31 |
| 1892 | 246 |
| 1893 | 259 |
| 1894 | 239 |
| 1895 | 182 |
1,056 stories
- Tacoma's Water and Light Bonds Survive Their Day in Court
Judge Stallcup's suit to invalidate the city's light and water bond issue was dismissed in superior court; the case will go to the state Supreme Court.
- Tacoma's Tide-Land Shake-Up
Governor McGraw replaced two Pierce County tide-land appraisers seen as politicians, and Tacoma dared to hope the waterfront would be valued fairly.
- The Grocery Company That Cooked Its Own Books
Tacoma Grocery Company’s president is accused of falsifying minute books and hiding assets from the receiver, creditors and stockholders.
- A Principal on Trial Behind a Closed Door
Tacoma's school board barred reporters, witnesses and both professors from its 'war chamber' inquiry into charges against high school principal Roberts, where teachers described a temper and an implied threat.
- A Waterfront Captain's Sudden Death, and the Suicide Rumor That Didn't Hold
Capt. J. H. O'Hara died at his wharf office in Tacoma; a post-mortem found no truth to talk of suicide, while friends remembered a hard-drinking but well-liked waterfront figure.
- The Courtroom Crowd That Cracked the Doors
Two women accused of lifting hats, silk and underwear from a Tacoma dry-goods store drew a crowd so large the doors cracked and a window broke.
- Tacoma Declares War on Filth—and Tuberculosis in the Milk
Tacoma’s board of health launched a summer cleanup campaign, ordering property owners to clear filth and dairies shipping milk into the city to submit cattle for tuberculosis inspection.
- The Thirty-Mile Dream: A New Air Line Between Seattle and Tacoma
Promoter Henry Bucey revived a plan for a broad-gauge railroad linking Tacoma and Seattle, promising a shorter route—if he could secure the right-of-way and land subsidies first.
- A Domestic Siege in Tacoma
A man files for divorce, claiming his wife and nine stepchildren waged a campaign of harassment, including teapot-throwing.
- Tacoma Bets Its Streets on Brick and Bonds
The council approves bonded paving for Pacific Avenue — Tacoma's first block of hard pavement — while quietly asking whether the mayor still legally holds his office.
- A Bible in Every Schoolroom? The Epworth League's Careful Campaign in Western Washington
Meeting in convention, Methodist delegates moved to demand Bible reading in the public schools — then softened the demand, and asked the legislature to put a constitutional amendment to a vote.
- Tacoma Moves to Fill Its Tide Flats
The Tacoma Land Company prepares to reclaim the mudflats under the state's tide-land law, with a Philadelphia backer footing the bill.
- Is There Gold Under Tacoma's School Land?
A federal geologist is sent to sample the gravel of school section 16, where John G. McElroy claims a fortune in placer gold and the state says it is ordinary school land.
- The Great Fourth of July Exodus: Tacoma’s Streets Empty as Seattle Claims the Holiday
While Tacoma lay quiet and deserted on Independence Day, its residents flocked to Seattle for steamers, picnics, and political meetings, leaving behind only a few 'pocket pickets' and a marching army of women.
- The Day the Streets of Tacoma Went Dark
Burglars cut through the rear door of the city's post office in the Masonic Block, only to be foiled by a vigilant night watchman who heard the glass shatter.
- The Boomtown Race: Puyallup Stakes its Future on Banking
As the population surges, local business leaders in Puyallup rush to establish a formal financial institution, mirroring the rapid civic growth of late 19th-century Washington.
- Centennial Holiday Brings Excursions to Seattle
While the nation observed the Washington Centennial with parades and solemn ceremonies, Tacoma residents flocked to the docks for a holiday excursion to the bustling city of Seattle.
- The Gold-Flecked Foothills of Puyallup
While major industries dominated the city’s economy, one prospector found that turning over stones in the local wilderness could yield a surprising fortune.
- The Express Messenger Who Borrowed the Company’s Cash
A Wells Fargo messenger in Tacoma finds himself in a pickle after a 'borrowed' funds scandal lands him in hot water with his superintendent.
- A Terrifying Mountain Encounter
A visiting tailor from Tacoma fled for his life after a face-to-face confrontation with a cougar in the hills near Hot Springs.
- Spokane Shut Out in Tacoma Baseball Blowout
A combination of pitching woes, defensive errors, and a fined player turned a highly anticipated match into a lopsided victory for Tacoma.
- Smallpox Quarantine Lifted
After local health officers determined the measure was a detriment to business, Seattle residents were once again permitted to travel to Tacoma despite the lingering smallpox outbreak.
- The Pen and the Fist: A Political Brawl
A physical confrontation between two local political figures in Tacoma ends with a heated, yet unresolved, public exchange.
- Victoria Cricketers Fall in Tacoma
A representative gathering of cricket critics watched the Tacoma Cricket Club best their Victoria rivals in a high-stakes return match.
- The Failed Disruptor of Tacoma
A political agitator attempts to shout down a Republican rally, only to find himself performing for an empty street.