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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1882 | 4 |
| 1883 | 38 |
| 1884 | 12 |
| 1885 | 19 |
| 1886 | 11 |
| 1887 | 9 |
93 stories
- Olympia Prepares for the Rail Boom
As the territorial legislature pauses, a correspondent observes Olympia shaking off its sleepy, pioneer atmosphere in anticipation of a new railroad to Gray's Harbor.
- The Bureaucratic Feud Over a Federal Appointment
A bitter letter to the editor exposes a local Seattle political scandal involving broken promises and secret applications for a federal office.
- The Speaker’s Gavel Clash
In the Territorial House, a subtle procedural error leads to a public confrontation over how legislation is truly passed.
- A Governor's Buggy Ride Through a Wall of Fire
Gov. Newell and Rev. J. K. Thompson returned to Olympia after a forest fire closed in on both sides of the road, scorching their faces and nearly dropping a tree across their path.
- A Kerosene Lamp Burns Olympia's Only Good Hotel to the Ground
An exploding lamp gutted the Carleton House on Monday evening, killing the capital city's chief lodging house and leaving the town almost without a place to put up travelers.
- The Argument for Washington Statehood in 1883
An editorial from the Pacific Chronicle argues that the territory’s rapid growth and wealth entitle it to immediate admission to the Union.
- The Great Puget Sound Footrace of 1883
A high-stakes match between two local runners in Olympia promises to shake up the sporting fraternity with $1,000 on the line.
- A Political Dispute Over Railroad Taxes
A legislative records search settles a political feud between C.H. Warner and his critics.
- Territorial Supreme Court Paralyzed by Missing Law
A confusion of jurisdiction leaves the highest court in the territory unable to convene, forcing an adjournment until September.
- The Saloon Question in Olympia
Olympia's City Council moves to curb the prevalence of saloons through steep fee hikes, a move that the P-I suggests Seattle should replicate.
- The High-Tech Logging Boom on the Deschutes
A glimpse into a massive 1882 timber operation near Olympia, where steam power and railroad infrastructure were transforming the Pacific Northwest forest into an industrial machine.
- The Price of a Capitol Seat
When the Territorial Legislature convened in Olympia, residents hiked rent to price gouge the lawmakers, sparking a legislative push to abandon the capital city.
- The High Price of Lawmaking in Olympia
Members of the Territorial Council scramble for housing as local hotels burn down.
- The Day a Witticism Knocked the Stuffing Out of the University Debate
A classic legislative quip in Olympia reveals the intense regional rivalry between Seattle and Tacoma over the location of the Territorial University.
- The Death of the Egg Law
A peculiar piece of legislation from 1875 mandating the sale of eggs by weight is finally repealed after years of being a 'dead letter'.
- Olympia's Shifting Rail Line
The Olympia branch railroad plans a major reroute to avoid dangerous trestles and prioritize the lucrative logging trade.
- The Forgotten Youth of Washington Territory
A minister's impassioned crusade to establish the territory's first state-funded school for the deaf, blind, and feeble-minded.
- The Unspoiled Wilderness of the Cowlitz
A scenic journey along the Northern Pacific Railroad reveals a pristine landscape of rolling prairies, rich farmland, and the challenges of carving a home from the forest.