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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1903 | 1,264 |
| 1904 | 106 |
1,370 stories
- Plumbers Strike and Demand Wage Hike
Spokane master plumbers face a complete work stoppage as journeymen strike for better pay, sparking fears of a broader construction crisis.
- The Fight for the Valley's Water
North Yakima and Ellensburg join forces to block a deal giving a private irrigation company exclusive control over mountain lake water.
- Plumbers’ Strike and the Battle Over Licensing
Spokane master plumbers lobby to repeal state trade laws, sparking a conflict over the right to work and the cost of services.
- The Fight for Utility Regulation
Following the city's costly struggle with a water monopoly, the Statesman warns that a new, loosely-worded electric franchise will lead to predatory billing.
- The Blacksmith Who Wasn't: A Stranger’s Fatal Mistake in Walla Walla
S.F. Olson, a visitor from Touchet, died after being struck by a hack in downtown Walla Walla. His identity was only confirmed by a receipt from a local hardware store, leaving his family and origins unknown.
- The Taxpayers' League vs. The Railroads: A Battle for Fair Valuation in Columbia County
In May 1903, local citizens and tax experts challenged the massive capitalization of the Oregon Railway Navigation Company, arguing that its true value warranted a higher tax assessment to fund public services.
- The Electric Robe Wars: A Spokane Doctor’s Threat and a Walla Walla Professor’s Defense
In the early days of electrical therapy, two men clashed over patents and health claims in the pages of the Evening Statesman.
- The Walla Walla Man Who Wanted to Buy the Rails
In 1903, B.D. Crocker—former collector of internal revenue and local favorite—shocked railroad executives by offering to buy the Columbia River & Northern line, sparking rumors of a secret deal with the powerful Oregon Railway & Navigation Company.
- The Scandal of the 'Ragged One': How Pendleton's Victory Sparked a Riot in Walla Walla
When the local team lost to Colfax and Pendleton took first place, the crowd’s frustration boiled over into violence against a theater patron.
- The Electric Robe Wars: A Spokane Doctor’s Patent Battle in Walla Walla
Two physicians engage in a public spat over who invented the 'electric bath robe,' turning a local newspaper's letters page into a courtroom for medical innovation.
- The Governor’s Gamble: McBride Pledges War on Corporate Corruption
In the wake of Teddy Roosevelt’s fiery Spokane address, Washington Governor Albert E. McBride declares his intent to uphold the law against wealthy corporations, signaling a shift in state politics.
- The Empire Builder’s Pacific Dream
Railroad tycoon James J. Hill argues that the future of Northwest agriculture depends not on Europe, but on aggressively securing trade routes to China.
- Road Supervisor Jailed for Embezzlement
A local official faces charges after allegedly pocketing road tax cash and failing to perform the required public works.
- City Saloons Flouting Curfew and Liquor Laws
Walla Walla parents report minors drinking at local bars, raising concerns about the city's 'wide-open' policy.
- A Horse Driven to Exhaustion
A young man is fined after driving a stable horse twenty-five miles in extreme heat for a joyride.
- The Bank and the High School Tax Feud
A local bank refuses to pay school taxes, sparking a fierce debate over civic duty and the funding of Walla Walla’s newest school.
- Convicts to Pave the Way?
Walla Walla's Commercial Club debates a new state law to employ penitentiary inmates in road construction.
- Drought Threatens Walla Walla's Wheat Harvest
Farmers and weather observers warn that a record-breaking dry spell is devastating crops in the Walla Walla Valley and Garfield County.
- The Day Gambling Died in Walla Walla
New state legislation turns the tide on local gaming as businesses scramble to pull slot machines and shut down tables.
- The Rain That Saved the Harvest
A week of torrid heat and nervous anticipation ends as drenching rains sweep across the Inland Empire, securing the wheat crop.
- Smallpox Returns to Walla Walla
City and county officials establish a new health board as cases emerge at the local pest house.
- Minor League Baseball Team Folds Mid-Season
The Dayton baseball team disbands after failing to meet the salary limit, leaving local fans and the Inland League in flux.
- The Navy’s Selective Morality in Bremerton
A local publisher argues that the Navy Department is unfairly targeting Bremerton for anti-alcohol crackdowns while ignoring similar conditions at major East Coast yards.
- A School Teacher’s Brush with Death in the Skokomish
While attempting to reach the hotels at Lake Cushman, a young educator was swept away by a flooded river in a terrifying ordeal.
- An Armed Mistake on the Road to Walla Walla
Two young boys herding cattle from Starbuck were held at gunpoint by deputies who suspected them of being rustlers.