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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1888 | 15 |
| 1889 | 52 |
| 1891 | 42 |
| 1892 | 61 |
| 1893 | 100 |
| 1894 | 135 |
| 1895 | 176 |
581 stories matching whether
- The Police Chief Who Couldn't Keep Order
For two years, Seattle's police force has been mired in incompetence and apathy under a Chief who avoids the law.
- The Makah Sealers’ Schooner Controversy
A bureaucratic fight over whether tribal sealers can legally use schooners as refuge during dangerous Bering Sea storms.
- The landlord's dilemma when the building burns
Legal experts debate whether tenants are entitled to a rent refund when their rented rooms are destroyed by fire mid-month.
- Seattle Voters Weigh Debt Bonds and Sewer Tunnel
Seattle voters head to the polls to decide whether to refinance the city's floating debt and complete the critical Lake Union sewer tunnel.
- The Mayor's Power Under Scrutiny
A dismissed public works official sues to reclaim his seat, setting the stage for a legal battle over municipal authority in 1892 Seattle.
- The Corpse in the Drifting Boat
A body found in an open boat in the Strait of Juan de Fuca leads authorities to a sealing schooner and a missing companion. Was it murder, or did both men drown?
- Debating the Future of the Nooksack River
Engineers and newspapers clash over whether the Nooksack River is filling the harbor with silt, potentially threatening the maritime economy.
- The Industrial Army's Women's Relief Corps
Working women gather at Third and Cherry to provide aid to the destitute during the economic collapse of 1894.
- The Ghost of the Chicken Ranch
After E.G. Radloff faked his own death by burning another man's body in his home, the insurance company he tried to defraud is finally coming for his property.
- A Broken Heart, Then a Wedding: Port Townsend's Breach-of-Promise Plaintiff Marries Again
Mary E. Bellinger sued James Craswell for $10,000 over a broken engagement; now, while the appeal is pending, she has married Albert E. Stevens of Vancouver, B.C.
- The Mayor's Veto of Arbitrary Police Power
Mayor Ronald strikes down a vehicle regulation ordinance, arguing that delegating absolute control to police officers oversteps the law.
- Seattle Fights for the China Trade
Local business leaders scramble to ensure Puget Sound, not Portland, becomes the primary terminus for a new trans-Pacific steamship line.
- The Ghost of the Burned Cabin
A suspected insurance fraud case grips 1892 Seattle after a mysterious fire leaves charred remains and a missing man in question.
- The Water Wars: Why Seattle Should Settle with Benezette Williams
As the city prepares to sue a private developer for rights to its own water and sewer plans, this editorial argues that compromise is cheaper than litigation—and essential for public health.
- The Struggle for a Central Union Depot
As Seattle rapidly expanded, competing railroad interests vied for the prime waterfront site at the foot of Main Street, mirroring modern battles over urban infrastructure and transit hubs.
- Street Preacher Faces Trial for Pioneer Square Sermon
A street orator's right to speak on public planking sparks a debate over whether the Salvation Army's influence creates a double standard for public space.
- A Woman Claims the School Office — and the County Lets Her Keep It
Miss Ella Guptill takes the superintendent's records while the state Supreme Court decides whether a woman may hold office in Washington.
- The Price of Independent Journalism
The Post-Intelligencer faces a libel suit for investigating city contract corruption.
- The Dynamite Murder of Tacoma: A Mob’s Verdict
In the early hours of January 1890, a Tacoma man was dragged from jail and hanged by a vigilante mob for blowing up a house and killing a sleeping family. The Seattle press offers a chilling reflection on whether such 'swift justice' is ever truly justified.
- The Battle for the City Charter
Seattle's charter revisers spar over whether to maintain a two-house council or consolidate power, highlighting deep tensions over political cliques and mayoral authority.
- A Captain's Reputation on the Line at Vancouver Barracks
Witnesses at the court-martial disagreed over whether Capt. Goodwin had been drinking—and whether he could still command his company in a riot.
- Seattle's Great Fire Safety Debate
City officials clash over whether to invest in expensive new fire engines or build a radical new system of salt-water mains for the business district.
- The Fight Over Seattle’s Streetcar Franchises
The Seattle City Council debates whether 50-year streetcar monopolies should be extended without public bidding, raising questions about corporate influence and municipal control.
- The Brutal Arena: Is Prizefighting Dying Out?
An editorial reflection on whether America’s growing appetite for athletics is being corrupted by the 'tigerish' violence of professional boxing.
- The Right to Offset Benefits in Land Seizures
A landmark Washington Supreme Court decision settles a heated dispute over whether the city can lower compensation for seized land by claiming the public improvement adds value to the owner's remaining property.