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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1854 | 53 |
| 1858 | 2 |
| 1859 | 6 |
| 1860 | 12 |
| 1861 | 60 |
| 1862 | 65 |
| 1863 | 44 |
| 1871 | 1 |
| 1872 | 14 |
| 1876 | 10 |
| 1877 | 12 |
| 1878 | 8 |
| 1879 | 4 |
| 1880 | 1 |
| 1882 | 4 |
| 1883 | 39 |
| 1884 | 12 |
| 1885 | 19 |
| 1886 | 11 |
| 1887 | 9 |
| 1888 | 6 |
| 1889 | 58 |
| 1890 | 8 |
| 1891 | 218 |
| 1892 | 194 |
| 1893 | 111 |
| 1894 | 19 |
| 1895 | 112 |
| 1897 | 2 |
| 1899 | 1 |
| 1902 | 1 |
| 1903 | 24 |
| 1904 | 6 |
| 1905 | 1 |
| 1908 | 1 |
| 1909 | 95 |
| 1910 | 7 |
| 1911 | 11 |
| 1912 | 4 |
| 1914 | 11 |
| 1915 | 8 |
| 1916 | 11 |
| 1917 | 3 |
| 1919 | 1 |
| 1922 | 1 |
| 1923 | 13 |
| 1924 | 4 |
| 1925 | 10 |
1,327 stories
- Harnessing the Falls for a Harbor
An ambitious plan to use Tumwater Falls to power harbor dredging and tide land reclamation in Olympia.
- State Land Board Begins Overhaul of Public Records
A newly formed commission finds local records missing and incomplete, setting the stage for a Supreme Court battle over tide land rights.
- The Brutal Robbery at Long Lake
A victim is tortured and throat-slit by highwaymen in a shocking Kitsap County attack.
- The State’s Missing Death Records
A scathing report reveals that county officials across Washington are failing to report thousands of deaths, leaving the state’s vital records in a state of 'gross negligence.'
- The Capital Cut Off
For twenty-four hours, the state capital of Olympia was completely erased from the Northern Pacific maps, leaving residents to wonder if their train line had simply ceased to exist.
- The Boomtown Rhythms of Olympia
A report on the rapid industrial growth, real estate speculation, and social life transforming the capital city.
- The Smoke of the Season
Forest fires burn through Tumwater timber, impeding travel and damaging infrastructure.
- The Struggle for an Inland Connection
Citizens of Olympia gather to fund and build a new rail line toward the Pacific to break the town's isolation.
- Tumwater Secures Its Future With Railroad Deal
Local committee reaches agreement with railroad company for depot, water rights, and machine shops.
- The Fight for a New County: Skagit vs. Whatcom
Legislative debate over splitting Whatcom County highlights the perennial struggle of managing geography and infrastructure in the growing Washington Territory.
- The Ethics of the Free Rail Pass
A territorial representative is caught accepting a railroad pass while charging the government for travel expenses, prompting a sharp rebuke on political corruption.
- The Uninvited Territorial Appointment
Citizens of Washington Territory rail against meddlesome outsiders and the President’s power to appoint their governor.
- Catholic Order Plans Expansion in Olympia
Religious orders in the territorial capital announce plans for a new academy for boys, the platting of Priest's Point, and the construction of a much-needed hospital.
- The Olympia Senate Fight: Ankeny vs. Wilson, with a Seattle Lawyer as Spoiler
A last-minute candidacy by Allen threatens to split the Ankeny vote and hand the U.S. Senate seat to Wilson, in a behind-the-scenes battle that has Olympia buzzing.
- Mount Rainier Was Smoking, and Olympia Noticed
In January 1895, a correspondent watching through a glass saw great volumes rising from the summit — and wondered whether the mountain had awakened.
- The Midnight Saloon Bill Fails in Olympia
Washington state legislators reject a proposal to force saloons to close at midnight, with some arguing that patrons should be allowed to stay warm by the fire.
- The Capitol Job: Seattle’s Union Trades Beat a $3 Wage
A bricklayers’ letter recounts how union men, backed by stonecutters, forced contractors at the Washington State Capitol to hire union labor at $4 for an eight-hour day.
- The Wedding of Necessity in Olympia
A couple from Columbia County traveled to Olympia for the fair, found no vacancy in the local hotels, and sought a creative solution from the local Esquire.
- The Marriage Mill: Is Olympia a Haven for Runaways?
Legislative divorce bills in 1860 are turning Washington Territory into a 'by-word and reproach' as lawmakers bypass the courts to dissolve marriages for political favors.
- The Firebrand of the Legislature
How Ole Hanson, a future mayor of Seattle, made his name by fighting party bosses and winning on the house floor.
- Washington’s New Industrial Insurance Program Hits Its Stride
A progress report from the state’s Workmen’s Compensation Commission reveals a busy start, thousands of claims, and the curious realities of the injured worker's experience.
- The Senatorial Backroom Deal
After his defeat in the race for the U.S. Senate, Judge George Turner reveals the 'combination' of political maneuvering and broken promises that cost him the seat.
- School Directors Barred from Self-Dealing
The Supreme Court rules that school directors cannot bypass competitive contracts by doing the work themselves and billing the district.
- Classroom Discipline or Cruelty?
A principal faces an ethics investigation after parents allege he whipped a 12-year-old student until he was bruised.
- The High-Stakes Gamble to Legalize Gambling
A legislative challenge in Olympia tests a state ban on gambling, backed by a shadowy, well-funded coalition of operators.