Surviving the Bitter Cold in Eastern Washington
Settlers in the Palouse country are forced to burn their fences for warmth as sub-zero temperatures threaten both livestock and families.
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.
The Walla Walla Statesman describes a recent trip of Gen. T. R. Tannatt through a portion of Eastern Washington as follows: The General left here some ten days ago taking the train for Riparia or Tosohat Ferry. From that point he was compelled to go to Penewawa on a stone boat. From the latter place he, in company with another gentleman, chartered a private sleigh and started across the country to Colfax, a distance of nineteen miles. It was bitter cold—the thermometer marking 22 degrees below zero. Upon arriving at Colfax it was found that both Mr. Tannatt’s and his companion’s feet were frozen. At no time during his entire trip through the upper country did the thermometer rise above 19 degrees, and he reports much hardship among the farmers for the want of wood. In several cases he knew of the settlers tearing down their fences and burning them for stove wood. This was necessary to prevent extreme suffering. The stock as yet are doing nicely, though had it not been for the O.R.N. Co., there would have been a great mortality. Hay in the Rebel and Union Flats is selling for $17 per ton, though the O.R.N. Co. can’t afford to let theirs go for that figure, preferring to loan it to the needy than to sell.
“In several cases he knew of the settlers tearing down their fences and burning them for stove wood.”
Extreme winter weather remains a challenge for infrastructure in the Palouse region, though today's residents rely on electrical grids and natural gas rather than fence rails for heat. This account highlights the transition from open-range stock grazing to the more structured agricultural development that eventually defined Eastern Washington.
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