Good Old Days

125 years ago

The Commoner

Dec. 26, 1890

This year now almost at an end has been on the whole a period of advancement and development in Whitman County. Much new land has been broken, the population of the county has increased, and the crops have been unusually large. Every town in the county has grown, some more than others, but all showing a decided advancement. Colfax has kept pace with the general growth of the county, and continues to lead all her competitors. Many improvements have been made in the city, a number of houses constructed, and one of he finest business blocks in the county completed. The year has also witnessed the announcement of work on the new court house, a monument of architectural simplicity and beauty.

Pullman has advanced rapidly and many substantial testimonials to her prosperity have been enacted. The same can be said of Palouse City, Oakesdale, Garfield, Tekoa, Farmington, Colton, St. John, Uniontown and other towns.

The year would have been one of unprecedented prosperity, had it not been for one fact, the inability or disinclination of the railroad companies to move the grain to market.

The prices offered at first were sufficiently high, to insure many of the farmers a generous surplus after they had paid their debts but the failure of the transportation companies to properly perform their duty caused a gradual drop in the quotations until they became so low that there was practically nothing left for the agriculturists.

Those who have been forced to sell at these low prices have therefore been bitterly disappointed in their expectations, and instead of the freedom from debt which they confidently looked forward to, find themselves as deeply involved as they were at the beginning of harvest.

Fortunately, some of the producers harvested and sold early, while others are still holding on with a reasonable certainty of getting fair rates later on.

The remarkable growth of the Farmers' Alliance has been one of the features of the year just closing, and that organization promises to do much to improve the condition of its members during the forthcoming year. Massing as it does almost all the farmers of the county, it will undoubtedly have a powerful influence in economic matters, will do much to remove the grievances and to secure the welfare of the agriculturists. Through its agency relief from the extortion of the railroad and elevator combination is confidently expected and looked for.

On the whole the prospects for the new year are bright for Whitman. A new railroad is likely to enter the field in competition with the Northern and Union Pacific. If so, the present combination to rob the farmers of the produce of their toil will be broken and with a fair harvest and good prices for their products, the farmers will be able to congratulate each other upon their good fortune.

100 years ago

The Colfax Commoner

Dec. 31, 1915

At midnight Friday, Colfax will be dry.

The liquor dealers of this city will lock the doors of their business places for the last time at the hour of twelve when all licenses held in this city expire.

Vast quantities of liquor have been sold in the last few days and the majority of it has been taken into dry territory in a suitcase.

During the first part of the week a number of proprietors of the liquor stores seemed afraid that they would have an oversupply of their goods left on hand but as the crowds increased that came to make their last purchase of wet goods, several dealers run short on some brands of liquor and were forced to borrow from their competitors to supply the trade.

Dry districts this week have furnished the greatest number of buyers.

Many of these shopping visitors making two or more trips.

From one to two gallons of liquor has been the usual quantity that has been carried away.

Every Colfax visitor this week seemed to be the owner of a new suit case and there is less suit cases in Colfax today than has been in the last ten years.

“Few Colfax residents have put aside a supply of liquor,” says the dealers. Those who live in this city and who wish to secure liquor are expecting to supply their demands by making application for permits through the office of the county auditor. The law is very liberal in regard to the quantity of liquor that may be purchased which amounts to more than the average man drinks.

A number of out-of-town residents were boasting among themselves here Tuesday and each one of the group declared that he would secure the first liquor permit which would be issued in this county. The leaders of the dry faction have threatened to publish the names of every man who secures a liquor permit. The prosecuting attorney says that every man in this county must strictly observe the prohibition law which he says will be enforced to the letter.

In the closing hours of the liquor business, not a drunken man has been seen in this city and no arrests for this offense have been reported up to five o'clock Thursday night.

75 years ago

Colfax Gazette Commoner

Dec. 27, 1940

The 17 incorporated towns of Whitman County are called upon to raise $95,954 in 1941 for the purpose of carrying on the expense of municipal government, according to totals compiled by County Assessor Gladys Thomas.

Under the state limitation law, the levy must not exceed 15 mills unless the additional millage is for bond retirement. For this purpose three towns have a levy in excess of 15 mills, Colfax, 16 mills; Pullman, 16.1 mills, and St. John, 17.7 mills. Four towns have a levy under 15 mills; Lamont, 12 mills, Elberton, 14 mills; Garfield, 13 mills, and Tekoa, 13.4 mills.

Assessed valuations are as follows: Albion, $47,866; Colfax, $1,361,517; Colton, $95,875; Elberton, $47,978; Endicott, $155,078; Farmington, $98,595; Garfield, $267,432; Lacrosse, $183,921; Lamont, $60,715; Malden, $103,585; Oakesdale, $212,951; Palouse, $395,826; Pullman, $2,106,849; Rosalia, $241,573; St. John, $198,012; Tekoa, $515,861; Uniontown, $128,471; and total, $6,222,106.

50 years ago

Colfax Gazette

Dec. 30, 1965

Everything is in order for speedy progress towards the building of the new hospital and a renewed spirit of optimism is being exhibited, Chairman Dan Scheideman of the Whitman County Hospital association said today.

The operating contract between the Sisters of Charity of Providence and the association has been finalized and signed by both parties.

The association has been given assurance of federal funds in the full amount needed.

The Spokane architectural firm of DeNeff, Deeble & Barton are proceeding with plans as rapidly as possible and hope a call for bids may be issued in February or March, Scheideman said.

Payment of pledges has “picked up” since the announcement last week of signing of the contract and the recommendation for federal funds, he added. “We are even getting a few payments we hadn't expected.”

Scheideman said the original schedule called for possible bid-opening in February but that this may be delayed a month or so.

Construction of the new hospital will take approximately 12 to 14 months, so that it could be ready for occupancy before mid-1967 if everything goes as planned.

25 years ago

Colfax Gazette

Dec. 27, 1990

The Palouse Soil Conservation District instead of the county will apply for state grants to clean up Paradise Creek, county planner Mark Bordsen told the county commissioners Monday.

The grant probably would have a 75 percent “soft match,” meaning in kind donations and staff time could be contributed instead of cash, Bordsen said.

The application is due in February, and they should hear back from the state in July, according to Jerry Harper from the conservation district.

The Latah and Palouse Soil Conservation Districts met with the counties and cities last week about the waterway.

The state's Water Quality Index rates the South Fork of the Palouse River as 100 on a scale of 1 (cleanest) to 100 (dirtiest). Paradise Creek is tributary.

The Department of Ecology reporting station is located just above Missouri Flat Creek, explained Joe Joy from DOE.

The last five years the South Fork of the Palouse River rated “most extreme” in nutrients, bacteria and turbidity and above normal in ammonia and suspended sediment.

Since the river scored above average in those five categories (out of eight), the water quality standard was not met so the river's rating was 100, Joy explained.

Harper said the cleanup effort will be part of an overall water quality plan for the Paradise Creek watershed, which serves the Pullman-Moscow area.

The plan for monitoring pollution in the waterway should take one to two years to develop, Harper said.

Once the plan is in place the district will be eligible for state implementation funds over a five to ten year period, he explained.

The clean up effort will be part of an extensive information and education program on the creek, Harper explained.

Virtually every part along the waterway contributes to the pollution, Harper said. Recreation in the mountains above Moscow is a factor, he noted, as well as erosion from farming (this is improving, he added) and sewage generated in the urban areas.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency is examining the city of Moscow's permit to discharge sewage into the creek, Joy said.

Residents near the creek have said sewage discharge from Moscow is the only flow in the creek during low water times such as September.

10 years ago

Whitman County Gazette

Dec. 29, 2005

Two county fire departments received grants from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to upgrade their equipment. Wildland Fire Assistance Grants were awarded to the Palouse fire department and Fire District 14, which covers the Colton-Uniontown area.

The Palouse Fire Department received approximately $6,600 from the DNR. Chief Mike Bagott said the money will be spent on updating equipment in order to decrease the amount of manpower needed to extinguish wildfires.

Bagott said it is difficult to have firefighters man the station during the daytime, which decreases the department's ability to respond to fires effectively.

“With the economy the way it is, it's hard for people to come in here during the day,” noted Bagott. “We had a fire last summer where only three people showed, and the fire got out of country on us. We had to request help from the Colfax, Pullman and Garfield fire departments to finally put the fire out.”

Bagott expects the money to come through in the spring, ahead of the fire season. He said the grants will be spent on automatic nozzles for brush trucks, a remote control water turret for the engine and portable water reservoirs for the tanker truck.

The new turret would have the capability to be controlled by the driver inside the cab. The reservoirs can be set up at the fire sit, allowing the tanker to dump water for the other trucks to use while the tanker leaves the scene to refill.

“We're trying to automate as much as possible, so we can roll with fewer men,” said Chief Bagott. “With the new equipment we should be able to put on man in each of the brush trucks, one in the engine and one running the tanker, so we could make do with a smaller force.”

Colton-Uniontown District 14 was awarded nearly $3,000 for equipment upgrades. The money will be spent upgrading a fire truck acquired by the district from a previous DNR grant.