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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
- 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.
- Olympia Wakes Up: Subpoenas, Telegraph Rates and a Suffrage Amendment
The 1895 Washington legislature moved from political strife to lawmaking, passing investigative subpoena power and jury reform while introducing bills to cap telegraph tolls, save Columbia salmon and give women the vote.
- Who Controls Washington's Tide Flats? A Sweeping Land Bill Lands in Olympia
A new Senate measure would strip power from county appraisers and put the state's school, tide, shore and harbor lands under one powerful board—starting with Seattle's waterfront.
- The State vs. the 'Gigantic Octopus': Washington Votes to Print Its Own Schoolbooks
Olympia's senate passes a bill making Washington a textbook publisher, selling spellers and readers to children at cost to break the American Book Company's grip — 27 to 4.
- A Law to Protect Debtors — or Scare Off Every Lender?
Washington's legislature passed the 'judgment deficiency bill' to shield mortgage debtors from ruinous foreclosures. The Portland Oregonian read it as a recipe for a credit freeze, and begged the governor to veto it.
- The Judge Nobody Saw Coming
Governor McGraw stuns Olympia's legal establishment by appointing T. M. Reed Jr. to the Thurston County bench—just before a bar committee can protest.
- Who Should Judge? Washington’s New Jury Law Under Fire
A Seattle paper defends a legislative overhaul that ended the professional juror and required jurors to be householders, as critics charged it handed the courtroom to property owners.
- The Final Countdown to Statehood
A legal peek into the procedural mechanics of Washington’s impending admission to the Union.
- The Governor Orders a Military Court Martial
A simmering internal conflict within the Washington National Guard reaches a breaking point as a colonel faces formal charges.
- Washington's Boom Was So Furious It Predicted a Million People by 1910
A 1903 state report counted 241,584 new residents in three years, put Everett's growth at 144 percent, and projected a population of 1,347,067 within seven years.
- Cutting the Cost of Keeping Warm
A sweeping new public service commission order promises to slash freight rates for coal from the Roslyn mines, potentially saving state residents $50,000 annually.
- The Health Movement of 1923
Washington State launches a campaign to convince residents that an annual check-up is as essential as a regular dental visit.
- State Agriculture Director Makes His Bid for Governor
E. L. French, architect of Washington's administrative code and farm advocate, officially announces his Republican candidacy for Governor.
- The Territorial Legislator and the Editor’s Ego
A fiery public feud erupts in 1861 between a Clark County representative and the editor of the Washington Standard, highlighting the volatile politics of the territorial legislature.
- The Midnight Roommate Mix-up
A night of drinking turns into a farcical brawl when two roommates accidentally wander into each other’s beds.
- The Public Printer's Stand-Off
A legislative clerk threatened 'foul means' to seize official manuscripts from the printer, leading to a tense standoff over territorial records.
- The Meadow Snake Fiasco
A bashful farmhand’s desperate attempts to avoid the local quilting party result in an unintended, high-speed chase with a black snake.
- Federal Crackdown on Alcohol Sales in Indian Country
New legislation expands enforcement powers to seize wagons, teams, and goods used in the illegal spirit trade on tribal lands.
- Oregon Cavalry Seeks 100 Men for Frontier Service
A recruitment call for the First Regiment of Oregon Cavalry to combat the Snake Indians in Washington Territory.
- Victory for Pacific Trade: Livestock Embargo Lifted
After an intense local lobbying campaign, the President has overruled Treasury officials to allow livestock exports from the Pacific coast.
- The Lieutenant Governor’s Moral Steamroller
Lieutenant Governor M. E. Hay asserts his influence in Olympia, taking a hardline stance on public morality and political accountability.
- Dry Districts, Wet Phone Lines: The Loophole in Washington’s Local Option Bill
An Anti-Saloon League official says the bill targets door-to-door liquor canvassing—not a telephone order from a thirsty household.