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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1903 | 730 |
| 1904 | 60 |
790 stories
- The Fight for Walla Walla's Subterranean Water
City officials and private landowners clash over the future of the municipal water supply at the Thomas Ranch.
- Political Fraud and the Russian Colony
A local politician faces federal perjury charges over citizenship papers for Russian immigrants in the wake of a bitter municipal election.
- Federal Agents Scour Walla Walla for Voter Fraud
A secret service investigator arrives to build a case against Adam Schmidt, accused of falsifying naturalization records to influence city elections.
- Grabbed on Main Street: The Naturalization Fixer and the Senator's Promise
Already awaiting federal trial over the too-quick swearing-in of Russian immigrants, Adam Schmidt was arrested a second time — and Senator Ankeny shook his hand in the street and vowed to see him 'down the line.'
- The Water Monopoly
Critics allege the First National Bank is steering the city council toward an expensive water project to inflate the value of land it holds in escrow.
- Walla Walla Council Backs Test Wells for City Water
The City Council votes to move forward with tapping the Thomas springs, rejecting a controversial Mill Creek plan that critics fear could lead to bankruptcy and litigation.
- The Anatomy of a Municipal Graft Scandal
Walla Walla looks to Ballard's sewer corruption and the failures of contractor H.E. Worley to warn citizens about municipal incompetence.
- Newspaper Presses First National Bank on Water Deal
The Statesman accuses local banking interests of attempting to force an overpriced land deal onto the city through the municipal council.
- The School Board's Secret Ledger
Taxpayers in Walla Walla are fighting for financial transparency as the local school board repeatedly ignores state law to hide its spending.
- Andrew Carnegie's $25,000 Gift for Walla Walla
After persistent lobbying by the local Commercial Club, the industrialist agrees to fund a new public library—if the city commits to ongoing maintenance.
- The Great Walla Walla Water War
A fiery public debate erupts over the future of the city's water system, pitting an existing investment against a controversial expansion plan.
- The Shadow of the Railroad King
Walla Walla business leaders face a harsh reality: their local economic destiny is now entirely controlled by E.H. Harriman, the transcontinental rail magnate.
- The Fight to Unlock Eastern Washington’s Water
Walla Walla leaders push for state irrigation reform to access millions in federal reclamation funding.
- Walla Walla Commercial Club Protests Fort Abandonment
Military brass eyes closure for the historic post, sparking a civic campaign from the Commercial Club to keep the soldiers in town.
- Walla Walla Committee Asks General Funston to Keep Fort
A committee from the Commercial Club met with General Funston to lobby against the military's plan to abandon the local garrison.
- The Secret Census of Incarcerated Aliens
Federal agents conduct a quiet, month-long sweep of Washington’s state institutions to identify non-citizens for deportation.
- Walla Walla Weighs Water Rights Against Costly Lawsuits
A legal dispute over riparian rights forces the city to weigh the cost of a new gravity system against the risk of massive damages.
- The Seven Titans Controlling the West
A new 'community of interest' among seven massive railroad syndicates threatens to choke competition and consolidate total power over Western freight routes.
- Walla Walla's Year of Fire
The local fire department reports a record-breaking 104 alarms for the year, including three major blazes that leveled local businesses.
- The End of the Garrison
Despite efforts by the Commercial Club, the Secretary of War confirms the permanent closure of Fort Walla Walla.
- The Marriage Defense
A lawyer attempts to delay a murder trial by arguing that the defendant is still legally married to the state's star witness.
- The Secret Land Deal Exposed
Allegations emerge that Mayor Hunt attempted to bypass a public vote to acquire the Thomas land for municipal use.
- The Machine Under Fire
An anonymous letter-writer accuses the local political establishment of corruption, illegal registrations, and voter suppression.
- The Myth of the Great Land Scandal
A federal official dismisses widespread rumors of a $50 million land fraud, even as regional timber speculators continue to exploit loopholes in the law.
- Tapping the Hidden Valley Water
A consulting engineer advises the Walla Walla city council to look underground for a water supply, comparing the Mill Creek valley to a 'huge sponge.'