City Council Denies Chinese Community's Request for Firecrackers
During a meeting regarding city licenses and infrastructure, the Seattle City Council rejects a petition from local Chinese firms to celebrate their new year with traditional fireworks.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Council met pursuant to adjournment. Present—Councilman Collins (acting Mayor), Cosper, Clancy, Garth, and McDonald. The applications of John H. Horrell, Joseph Francisco, and Tran Ackley for liquor licenses were laid over. The report of the committee on the new city building, showing that the contractor had failed to carry out his contract in a few instances, was adopted.
Wa Chong and other Chinese firms asked permission to fire fire-crackers on certain streets, from the 9th to the 12th inst., provided the Chinese would pay for extra policemen to guard the property of citizens; rejected. City Surveyor Whitworth submitted plans for a stone wall along Front street, in front of blocks A and L, showing that the cost would be about $1,350 for the entire job; consideration postponed.
“Wa Chong and other Chinese firms asked permission to fire fire-crackers on certain streets... rejected.”
This brief mention captures the rising anti-Chinese sentiment in Seattle three years before the violent expulsions of 1886. The casual rejection of a cultural request by the City Council demonstrates how local governance was used to systematically alienate and restrict the rights of Chinese residents.
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