The War on the Lincoln House
A local wagon manufacturer seeks an injunction against nearby saloons and brothels, claiming they are driving away their customers.
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 West Coast Wagon Company has filed an application for an injunction to suppress Peter Sandberg's resorts in the vicinity of 14th Street and Pacific Avenue. The complaint alleges that the 'Lincoln House,' situated opposite the factory, has driven away business, particularly female customers who once felt safe coming to the factory for carriage repairs. The company claims the building houses two bars and a house of prostitution, and that workers at the resort often harass passersby and behave in a lewd manner. The City of Tacoma is named as a party to the suit for allegedly permitting the business to continue in exchange for monthly fines.
“Since the opening of the 'Lincoln house' there have been prevented from patronizing the company.”
This reflects the ongoing friction between the industrial-commercial uses of Tacoma’s downtown and the illicit 'red-light' economy. It highlights the role of the city as a participant in collecting revenue from activities it officially labeled as nuisances.
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