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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1872 | 1 |
| 1876 | 8 |
| 1877 | 2 |
| 1878 | 3 |
| 1880 | 1 |
| 1882 | 1 |
| 1883 | 6 |
| 1885 | 2 |
| 1886 | 2 |
| 1887 | 5 |
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| 1923 | 2 |
| 1929 | 1 |
187 stories matching defect
- Defective Brick in the Courthouse? The Former Superintendent Says Yes
Former superintendent W. A. Rogers says the county courthouse contains defective brick that can be crushed by hand, disputing the county attorney's claim that only the architecture is at fault.
- The Logging Hazard: Court Rules on Hidden Dangers
A landmark state supreme court decision shields lumber merchants from liability for hidden defects in timber that cause mill accidents.
- Almshouse Report Blames Commissioners for Defective Construction
A committee investigation reveals gross negligence and poor construction at the new county almshouse, prompting calls for a grand jury probe.
- The Mayor’s Chimneys Are on Fire
Two separate blazes in Tacoma’s South End prompt a frantic response from the city fire department, revealing that even elected officials are not immune to the dangers of defective flues.
- Defective Flue Claims New Fruitvale Home
A newly constructed farmhouse is reduced to ashes in a district with no fire protection.
- A Farmhouse West of Newport Burns to the Ground
A defective flue is blamed after A. E. Tiss's Grandview Acres home and nearly all its contents were lost. Insurance covered the contents but not the building.
- Inspector Blames Defective Boiler in Mukilteo Wreck, Urges State Locomotive Inspection
A state railroad inspector disputes the coroner's jury and asks lawmakers to adopt New York-style inspection of locomotives.
- Fire Destroys Port Townsend’s Marine Hospital
A defect in a flue triggers a blaze that consumes the upper floor and roof of the government hospital, forcing the evacuation of eighteen patients.
- The Fire Hose Scandal
Mayor Phelps files official charges against Fire Commissioner George T. Masel, alleging incompetence and corruption regarding the purchase of defective fire equipment.
- Hotel Iowa Lost to Fire in Cunningham
A defective flue causes a blaze that destroys the Hotel Iowa and nearly spreads to the rest of the town, which lacks fire protection.
- Fire Aboard the Steamer Newport, Caught Before It Spread
A defective steam-pipe covering sparked a blaze at the Newport docks that damaged two staterooms and cost crew members their clothes, but the boat left on schedule.
- The Great Temperance Schism
Over 1,000 Good Templars defect from their order to join the Sons of Temperance amid internal discord.
- The Crumbling Bulkhead of Front Street
A legal standoff between a property developer and the City of Seattle reveals the precarious state of the city's waterfront infrastructure in 1892.
- Winter House Fire Destroys Family Home
Community efforts save neighboring barn and garage after house fire likely caused by defective flue in White Bluffs.
- Explosion Rocks Rooming House on Pacific Avenue
A defective chimney sparks a blaze in a three-story rooming house, leading to a mysterious explosion that shook the entire structure.
- City Faces Lawsuits Over Crumbling Sidewalks
A pedestrian seeks damages for a broken leg on Commerce Street, highlighting the persistent danger of unmaintained municipal infrastructure.
- The Union Block Collapse: A Mason's Fall Through a Defective Staging
A plank gave way during construction at Union Block, sending one mason into the cellar with a broken collarbone and a second man tumbling to the ground floor.
- Fatal Industrial Failure at Toutle River
A logger is struck and killed by a runaway shingle bolt, highlighting the extreme dangers of manual timber work.
- The Struggle for Yakima’s First-Class Reputation
Local hop grower R. J. Mackison outlines the necessary industrial upgrades to compete in the global market.
- The Lineman and the Trolley Line
A worker's damage suit against a telephone company is thrown out after the court decides infrastructure shouldn't have to withstand streetcar accidents.
- Runaway Interurban Car Terrifies Passengers
A defective switch at Puyallup Avenue triggers a near-disaster as a transit car breaks away from its train.
- Defective Sewer Construction in the Third Ward
Accusations of corruption and shoddy craftsmanship arise as city officials are caught using undersized rods and poor brickwork on public projects.
- The Playground Liability Panic
When a legal ruling turned the simple joy of school swings into a site of municipal fear, the school board in North Yakima moved to tear it all down.
- Yesler’s Waterfront Battle Reaches the Supreme Court
A landmark property rights case regarding Seattle’s harbor lines is dismissed on a technicality.
- The Great Rail Strike Cripples Pacific Northwest Logistics
Defective equipment and massive delays plague the Harriman system as the national strike by railway workers intensifies.