Railroad Agent Disputes Spokane Fire Loss Estimates
A freight agent reports on the aftermath of the devastating Spokane fire, highlighting the community's resilience in the face of immense loss.
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.
Samuel G. Fulton, assistant general freight agent of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, returned yesterday from Spokane Falls whither he went last Monday upon receipt of the news of the destruction of the city. 'The company's loss by the fire has been placed at $1,000,000, but that is really exaggerated,' said Mr. Fulton. 'I cannot say just how much the loss is, but it will not exceed $250,000. Our passenger and freight depots were burned, but all the baggage and a great deal of freight was saved.' When asked if the city's total loss reached $10,000,000, he responded, 'Those figures are greatly exaggerated. I talked with well informed men and they were confident that the value of property destroyed would not exceed $5,000,000. The total insurance was about $2,500,000. The people of Spokane Falls are plucky and full of business and confidence. I did not find a discouraged business man in the city.'
“The people of Spokane Falls are plucky and full of business and confidence.”
Spokane's rapid recovery following the 1889 Great Fire is a cornerstone of the city's history. It mirrors the resilience seen in communities responding to modern disasters today.
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