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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1903 | 15 |
15 stories matching tap
- New Rail Expansion Coming to the Peninsula
Surveyors are mapping a route from South Bend toward the Columbia River, sparking speculation about the Northern Pacific's long-term infrastructure plans for the Washington coast.
- The City Takes Over the Tap
A judge appoints a receiver for the Chehalis Water Company after the utility threatens to cut off the city's supply over unpaid bills.
- The Walla Walla Water War
As the city population swells, local business leaders and engineers butt heads over the cost and feasibility of securing a gravity-fed water system.
- City Council Battles Over Future Water Source
Walla Walla officials debate a costly Mill Creek pipeline versus tapping the Thomas ranch springs to quench the city's growing thirst.
- The Long-Delayed Railroad Link
Speculation mounts that the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company is finally moving to finish a 100-mile rail line through the Nez Perce country.
- The Battle for Walla Walla’s Tap
In 1903, hydraulic engineer Otto Weile presented a landmark report to the city council, arguing that the future of Walla Walla’s growth depended on securing the waters of Mill Creek.
- 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.'
- 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.
- Railroad Rumors Rattle Walla Walla
Speculation mounts as a local rail line prepares to shed its aging equipment for a mysterious new venture into the Blue Mountains.
- Prospectors Strike Natural Gas Near Kahlotus
A deep-well driller finds natural gas, copper quartz, and mica nine miles southeast of Kahlotus, fueling hopes for an oil boom in Franklin County.
- A Presidential Coincidence in Walla Walla
A local G.A.R. commander surprises Theodore Roosevelt by presenting a letter the President had written to him twenty years prior.
- 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 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 Chief Knew Seattle’s Dance Halls Were Selling Beer. He Had One Question.
A Post-Intelligencer investigation found liquor flowing openly in variety theaters despite state law and police orders—then the police chief asked reporters whether it was true.
- Walla Walla's Water War: Springs, a Bank, and a $250,000 Bond
In December 1903, an editorial backed Councilman Glasford's plan to use Thomas Springs rather than buy bank-owned ranch land or bond for Mill Creek water.