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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1854 | 2 |
| 1859 | 2 |
| 1861 | 1 |
| 1862 | 3 |
| 1863 | 1 |
| 1872 | 3 |
| 1876 | 14 |
| 1877 | 9 |
| 1878 | 10 |
| 1879 | 3 |
| 1880 | 5 |
| 1882 | 2 |
| 1883 | 25 |
| 1884 | 12 |
| 1885 | 12 |
| 1886 | 7 |
| 1887 | 6 |
| 1888 | 5 |
| 1889 | 21 |
| 1890 | 6 |
| 1891 | 28 |
| 1892 | 30 |
| 1893 | 29 |
| 1894 | 46 |
| 1895 | 60 |
| 1897 | 4 |
| 1898 | 4 |
| 1899 | 9 |
| 1900 | 1 |
| 1902 | 1 |
| 1903 | 29 |
| 1904 | 14 |
| 1905 | 4 |
| 1907 | 1 |
| 1908 | 12 |
| 1909 | 27 |
| 1910 | 1 |
| 1911 | 1 |
| 1912 | 1 |
| 1914 | 3 |
| 1915 | 6 |
| 1916 | 10 |
| 1917 | 3 |
| 1918 | 1 |
| 1922 | 1 |
| 1923 | 1 |
| 1924 | 1 |
| 1929 | 1 |
478 stories matching exceed
- The Price of Reckless Growth
When Lewis County hit its constitutional debt limit, local officials were left holding worthless warrants—a sharp reminder of the pitfalls of municipal overreach in 1891.
- Spokane Cuts Itself a New County — and Expects the Courthouse
The Territorial legislature carves a new county out of Spokane, placing Spokane Falls near its center. The town is 'exceedingly happy,' and already counting on the county seat, the land office, and the records that come with them.
- The Battle Over the Public Purse
A legal challenge threatens county infrastructure funding, exposing a rift over how the town calculates its own wealth and debt.
- The Hustlers of the Waterfront: Regulating Seattle's Hotel Runners
In 1878, the Seattle City Council cracked down on the aggressive solicitors who haunted the docks, requiring them to wear badges and pay a quarterly tax for the right to hawk boarding houses.
- Aberdeen’s Battle Over City Debt and Private Property
The City Council clashes over who pays for street improvements and whether to exceed legal debt limits to fund municipal growth.
- The Loophole in the City Limits
A technicality regarding state versus city law leaves police empty-handed in a speeding crackdown on Pacific Avenue.
- The Price of Graft in Seattle’s Sewers
Mayor Ronald accuses the previous Democratic administration of massive financial deception regarding city sewer construction costs.
- The City Council’s War on Inflammable Storage
New regulations restricted the storage of petroleum, naphtha, and gasoline, mandating fireproof construction and buffer zones from the waterfront.
- Walla Walla to Build New County Poor House
After inspecting neighboring Whitman County, local commissioners decide to move from a contract-based system to a county-owned brick facility.
- The Marshal Who Wouldn't Let Go
A fugitive wanted in Cheney for robbing the sheriff's own office is caught at the Spokane depot—after a very undignified struggle.
- Railroad Agent Disputes Spokane Fire Loss Estimates
A freight agent reports on the aftermath of the devastating Spokane fire, highlighting the community's resilience in the face of immense loss.
- Seattle's Plan to Slash School Interest Rates
Local school officials draft legislation to move from high-interest debt toward a more stable, bond-funded model.
- Yelm’s Business District Destroyed in Double Blaze
A catastrophic fire destroyed twenty buildings, leaving the local economy in ruins with losses exceeding $100,000.
- The High School Building Scandal
A legal opinion alleges the Walla Walla School Board acted illegally by building a new high school without taxpayer authorization and exceeding constitutional debt limits.
- The Income Tax Comes to Seattle: Men of Means Ordered to Report
Deputy Collector S. P. Gleason is preparing to summon about 100 Seattle-area individuals and corporations for sworn income returns under the new federal tax.
- Puyallup Families Finally Win Title to Their Land
While the President ordered land titles for the Puyallup people in 1884, a corrupt 'ring' of speculators held up the process to seize the property for profit.
- The Fight for the Sound’s First Dry Dock
A century before Puget Sound became a hub of naval power, local politicians battled Congress for federal funding to establish a permanent dry dock at Port Orchard.
- Seattle’s Million-Dollar Water Gamble
Facing a growing population and urgent infrastructure needs, city leaders propose a massive bond measure to build a municipal water system, aiming to secure control over the city's future.
- City Council Balks at High Cost of Traffic Signals
Tacoma's effort to modernize street safety hits a snag when bid costs far exceed original estimates.
- The Price of a Wagon Road: Financing the Frontier
A look at the logistical grunt work of early King County, from building roads to settling school district boundaries in 1878.
- State Supreme Court Rules Police May Search Cars Without Warrants
A landmark decision affirms that officers need not secure a warrant if they have probable cause to suspect liquor law violations.
- The Justice Who Made the Complainant Pay
When a man filed an assault charge in the local courts, a sharp-witted justice turned the tables on him—and sent him to the county boarding house.
- The Thief With Two Left Feet
A burglar targeting a downtown clothing store learned the hard way that his loot was perfectly useless.
- The Price of Policing the 'Unfortunates'
A budget report reveals that Seattle’s municipal court revenue plummeted after a policy change regarding how the city policed its marginalized citizens.
- The Loss of a Landmark: Cyrus Walker’s Port Gamble Home
A catastrophic early-morning blaze consumes one of the finest residences in Port Gamble, resulting in a loss valued at over five thousand dollars.