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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1882 | 1 |
| 1883 | 15 |
| 1884 | 8 |
| 1885 | 21 |
| 1886 | 12 |
| 1887 | 9 |
66 stories matching instruct
- Labor Unions Demand Action on Border Enforcement in 1886
An exchange of letters between the Seattle Knights of Labor and the Collector of Customs highlights early local anxieties over immigration policy.
- The Knights of Labor Demand Action on the Border
A fiery 1885 exchange reveals deep tension between Seattle's labor unions and federal officials over the lax enforcement of Chinese immigration restrictions.
- Federal Directive Protects Indigenous Land Occupancy
A government order instructs land offices to refuse entries by white settlers on land already cultivated by Indigenous people.
- The 1883 Classroom Reform
Before the public school system in Washington was fully established, teachers gathered in a Seattle church to debate the future of education, temperance, and the radical idea of 'character' over rote memorization.
- The Price of Forced Payment
A local court ruling clarifies the legal weight of a promissory note signed under the duress of property attachment.
- The Seattle Daily Post-Intelligencer's 1886 Protest Against Executive Overreach
A fiery editorial argues that the Cabinet, led by Secretary Bayard, is systematically ignoring acts of Congress and undermining democracy itself.
- Seattle’s Chamber of Commerce Grapples with Anti-Chinese Riots
In the wake of the 1886 anti-Chinese expulsion, the city's commercial leadership convened to discuss the city's reputation and its stance on 'law and order.'
- The City Council vs. The Slaughterhouses
In an early effort to clean up the city's streets, the Seattle City Council orders the immediate abatement of butcher-shop nuisances.
- The Bitter Exit of an Editor-turned-Politician
After being unceremoniously replaced as Territorial School Superintendent, C. W. Wheeler of the Waitsburg Times vents his frustration in a bizarrely candid editorial.
- The Fight for Seattle's First High School
An 1886 public debate over the 'luxury' of secondary education mirrors the modern struggle to fund public infrastructure.
- Suspects Released in Murder Case
After two weeks of investigation, Sheriff McGraw and the Prosecuting Attorney release three men accused of murder due to a lack of evidence.
- The Decalcomania Confidence Man
A group of Seattle women expose a predatory art instructor who used a 'transfer work' scam to swindle local households.
- The Ironclad Oath of Labor
When the founder of the Ancient Order of United Workmen visited Seattle in 1885, he brought a philosophy of 'paternal' cooperation to reconcile the brewing tensions between labor and capital.
- Women Serve on Grand Jury in Chehalis
A landmark moment in Washington Territory as women take their seats in the courtroom.
- The Great Opera House Escape
A suspected swindler slips his guard and vanishes from a Seattle building mid-construction.
- The Jury's Defiant Verdict
A Port Townsend courtroom is stunned when a jury ignores the judge's instructions and acquits a defendant, leading to an immediate judicial rebuke.
- City Council Launches Investigation into Police Judge
Corruption allegations involving the 'bartering' of justice lead to a formal probe by Seattle officials.
- Seattle Business Leaders Condemn Railroad Monopoly
Local merchants organize to protest the Northern Pacific Railroad's mishandling of local commerce and their shift from rail service to land speculation.
- The Sheriff vs. The Reservation Agent: A Neah Bay Standoff
When a federal agent refused to obey a district court order, a deputy sheriff took a midnight steamer to enforce the law—only to be met with a threat of the guardhouse.
- The Courthouse Mud Trap
A dangerous quagmire on Third Street leaves citizens stuck in the clay on their way to justice.
- A Sudden Real Estate Windfall
A Seattle property owner sees a hundred-dollar investment turn into a massive profit, highlighting the city's sudden speculative boom.
- The Railway vs. The Town: A Forcible Relocation in Yakima
When the Northern Pacific Railroad tried to bypass the original town of Yakima to force residents and businesses to relocate to a new site, the citizens formed a committee to resist—and were met with cold corporate indifference.
- King County's Missing $61,000: Treasurer Accused of Embezzlement
A committee's report reveals that former County Treasurer George D. Hill is indebted to King County for over $61,000; the board orders legal action against him and his bondsmen.
- The Deed, the Railroad, and the Piles in North Seattle
A waterfront owner blocks railroad crews from driving piles in front of his North Seattle property while a right-of-way deed sits unsigned in New York.
- The Race to Build the Cedar River Railroad
Seattle property owners are urged to close a $14,000 funding gap to finish a critical standard-gauge rail line.