The Tacoma Times Challenges a Media Blackout
The fledgling newspaper accuses local rivals of suppressing news about a mysterious transcontinental railway deal involving tide-flat lands.
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.
When The Tacoma Times made its first appearance about six months ago, it promised the people of this city that it would print all of the news. How well this promise has been kept, the readers of The Times know. Other newspapers have deliberately suppressed news of the utmost interest to the community, acting in the interests of corporations like the T. R. P. and the Northern Pacific, which believe it isn't good for the people to know too much when franchise or street-grabbing schemes are on the tapis. Recently, The Times exclusively reported that a new transcontinental railway was seeking entry into Tacoma and quietly securing options on tide-flat lands. While Seattle papers corroborated the scoop, Tacoma dailies remained silent, leading citizens to stream into The Times office to buy back issues. The Tacoma Eastern railroad is reportedly involved, with rumors swirling about a sale to the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul company.
“They are the only persons in Tacoma today who are posted up on all that has happened in this city during the last six months.”
Tacoma’s long history of tide-flat industrial development often happened behind closed doors, away from public oversight. Today’s debates over the Port of Tacoma’s expansion and industrial zoning echo these same turn-of-the-century battles over who holds the keys to the city's waterfront.
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