Good Old Days

125 years ago

The Commoner

Feb. 13, 1891

In September 1885 there was one newspaper in Colfax. It was the Palouse Gazette. It was a good weekly at that time, and its proprietors used to boast that no journal started in opposition to it could live. There were a few gentlemen who thought, however, that a paper which would represent and advocate the principles of the great national Democratic party could find patrons enough to keep it alive. As a result a stock company was formed, comprised of James Benton, W. J. Hamilton, C. H. Warner, F. M. Wade, David Marsh and E. C. Warner, and on October 2, 1885, the first number of the Commoner made its bow before the world.

It was a modest sheet enough, an eight column folio, patent outside, printed on a Washington hand press and publishing about eight columns of live matter. Three months after the first number appeared, Beriah Brown and E. C. Warner bought up all the stock and thereby became sole proprietors. Some improvement was made upon the paper during the succeeding nine months, but it was not until October 1886 that the first great step forward was taken. In that month a power press was purchased and for the first time all of the Commoner was printed at home. The size remained the same but three columns additional of news were given its readers.

The next advance took place on July 15, 1887, when the paper was enlarged to a six column quarto giving its subscribers 28 columns of reading matter. In May 1888 E. C. Warner bought out Beriah Brown and remained sole proprietor until three months ago when George W. Larue purchased a half interest.

The Commoner in the announcement of its policy in the initial number stated that it would ever endeavor to uphold the right and attack the wrong.

To this line of conduct we have tried to adhere, and to our efforts in this direction we largely attribute the paper's success.

Indeed, how could it otherwise have grown from a circulation of 200 copies to be the largest and most influential paper in a great county? How could it have passed, and left in the rear its local contemporary which was to it, at the outset, as a giant is to a pygmy? Honesty, courage and unswerving championship of the people's best interests always pay a paper in the long run, and the Commoner is a witness to the correctness of the theory.

100 years ago

The Colfax Commoner

Feb. 18, 1916

The Colfax Manufacturing company has been busy this week moving their machinery and factory to the company's new home which is located on the corner of Main and Thorne street. The new building is just completed and the painters are busy putting on the last coat of paint. The machinery is being moved under the supervision of W. E. Nelson. The company has booked a large number of orders for their concrete mixer and the officers are anxious to get the machinery of the plant under way.

The new home of the company is located on one of the best factory sites in the city and they expect to have a substantial payroll.

75 years ago

Colfax Gazette Commoner

Feb. 14, 1941

Urging cooperation in a program designed to restore parity prices for wheat, R. D. Flaherty, secretary of the Washington Wheat League, addressed more than 200 farmers at the courthouse here, gathered Wednesday afternoon at the call of the Whitman County Wheat league. The meeting was one of six in the county during the week, at which Mr. Flaherty talked to more than 700 farmers.

Pointing out the objective of the league, he stressed the need for farm organizations to get together on a uniform plan if they are to be effective in bringing about legislation which would be for the best interests of the wheat growers.

The speaker made a comparison of four proposed plans to improve the wheat farmers' income, indicating the desirability of keeping the machinery provided in the present soil conservation and domestic allotment act, but asserting that parity payments should be financed through other means than by appropriation from the federal treasury.

A high loan program, two certificate plans, and a two-price plan were all reviewed by Mr. Flaherty.

A majority of the farmers present seemed to feel that the Pierce certificate plan, to bring parity to the domestically consumed portions of the wheat crop, would be the most satisfactory.

Mr. Flaherty indicated that the export market of the United States had largely disappeared and that a successful wheat plan would probably require that farmers adjust production to meet domestic plus a small export demand.

50 years ago

Colfax Gazette

Feb. 17, 1966

Union Pacific will make every effort to retain its water-level, all-weather railroad route from Lewiston down the north bank of the Snake river to Riparia and beyond.

The railroad company's “official position” in the current controversy over relocation vs. abandonment of the tracks was set forth in firm language Tuesday before a luncheon meeting of the Pullman Chamber of Commerce by Roland E. Haacke of Portland, district engineer for the Union Pacific.

“The company wants its tracks relocated as near as possible to their present location,” Haacke said, and urged agencies and individuals in this area to let congressmen know how they feel by individual letters and resolutions.

“The Union Pacific was assured in earlier negotiations that the track of the Union Pacific-Camas Prairie would be replaced along the Snake river as they have been on the Columbia river,” he said. “In September 1965, the Corps of Engineers was still dragging its heels and the railroad was finally notified that the corps intended to 'reevaluate' the relocation.”

Haacke believes that rail traffic down the Snake river will not decrease when barge transportation becomes available, and added that he has no quarrel with the Walla Walla district corps, but referred to “military men in Washington, D. C.” who would probably make the final decision concerning the railroad. He said that the Interstate Commerce Commission, not the Corps, has the final authority.

“In the past, the planning of the corps has been for an additional transportation facility, not a transportation barge system which would replace the railroad,” he said, and emphasized the taxpaying feature of the railroad company.

Haacke criticized assumptions that all grain from this area would be shipped by barge. “The railroad will continue to be competitive,” he said. “It would be unsound to have only one system of transportation on the river, consisting of barges, because of the complex system required and the vulnerability in time of war.”

25 years ago

Colfax Gazette

Feb. 14, 1991

A local economic development study has concluded that Colfax could support a motel with at least 30 units plus meeting space and organizers now are looking at possible sites.

The report was “very positive,” said Kevin Kragt, assistant manager for the Port of Whitman.

It concluded that based upon the traffic count Colfax could support a facility of about 18-21,000 square feet.

The size and features of the facility are flexible so as not to discourage developers, Kragt explained.

The port now is looking for interested owners and potential sites. No candidates have been named yet to avoid land speculation.

Once a site is determined interested developers and hotel chains can be approached, Kragt said.

The port is not getting into the motel business, emphasized manager Jim Weddell. They are just trying to facilitate the process for a private company.

The Port of Whitman commissioners agreed in December to fund the $3,000 feasibility study proposed by the Greater Colfax Economic Development Council.

The study stated that Colfax was “underutilized” based upon its traffic counts and that potential existed for such businesses.