Good Old Days May 25

125 years ago

The Commoner

May 20, 1892

Ben Binnard has transferred his interest in the Elite restaurant to Mose Goodman and Dan Binnard, and these young men will henceforth conduct the business at the new location on Main street, directly opposite the public school. They will make family dinners a specialty, and will maintain the reputation of the Elite. Mr. Goodman has long managed the business for Mr. Binnard and the junior member of the new firm is a son of the former proprietor.

***

Colfax has listened to more street music of more various kinds this week than the “oldest inhabitant” remembers to have heard during any like period of the city's history. There have been peddlers of liver pills and vendors of stomach bitters and all that sort of thing, and each combination of patent medicine vocalists has entertained crowds on one of the street corners nightly. Some of the concerts are fairly enjoyable, and those who paid for the music by purchasing the dollar doses of the “royal and only genuine cure-all” have at least contributed to the purpose of public amusement.

***

The local democracy held a rousing meeting in Palouse on Saturday night. The gathering was a warming one to the faithful democratic hearts, enlivened as it was by the presence and speeches of Secretary Hazzard, of the democratic society of Washington, Senator McCroskey, of Garfield; Vice President C. H. Warner, of the state central committee, and Matt B. Kelley, of Colfax, the brilliant young lawyer who, among others, aspires to be prosecuting attorney.

The large hall was well filled, many old democrats being compelled to perch themselves upon boxes in the far rear, upon which they cracked their hells resoundingly when probable presidential nominees were mentioned, or when telling points (of which there were many) were made by the speakers.

William Goodyear, editor of the Palouse News, presided, made a few appropriate introductory remarks and introduced Matt B. Kelley as the first speaker of the evening.

Mr. Kelley in a clear and pleasant voice, rolled out everlasting democratic truths in waves which made the democracy in the room jubilant and rendered the republicanism, which nestled in one corner, decidedly glum.

Chairman Goodyear then called upon Hon. C. H. Warner, introducing him as Whitman County's popular candidate for gubernatorial honors.

Mr. Warner then made a telling, interesting and masterly address, opening with a well-turned acknowledgement of the compliment extended by Mr. Goodyear, but declaring that he was not an aspirant for any office to be given out by the people of Whitman County or of the state.

Notwithstanding this positive assertion of Mr. Warner there is a strong feeling here that the gentleman will be the democratic nominee for gubernatorial duties, and citizens freely express the opinion that the party could do no better, and desire that he will consent to honor and serve his party by acceding to its will. They look upon him as a friend to the common people in need of a friend and want him in the chief executive chair of the grand northwest state.

Senator McCroskey spoke for a short time on railroad legislation and stirred an enthusiastic chord in the make-up of his hearers.

This good democrat was followed by one introduced by the chairman as the hardest worker in the cause, Secretary Hazzard, who alternated between wit, sound democratic sense and republican roasts done to a turn.

He paid a high eulogium to Charles S. Voorhees, of Spokane, and extolled that gentleman's splendid work in congress in most eloquent terms.

He compared the son to the father, “the tall sycamore of the Wabash,” and his utterances with reference to eastern Washington's and sterling young democratic representative were received with marked applause by the audience.

The meeting was an impromptu one, gotten up on but a few hours' notice and with but little time for preparation on the part of the speakers, but the interest shown by the people augurs well for the most glorious result that could be attained – the success of the democracy and a refreshing change to pure government.

***

The waters of the North Palouse swelled by the heavy rains and melting snows of the mountains, arose to a mark higher than had been reached for years last Monday.

A boom of logs owned by the Colfax Milling Company, dammed the river in the northern part of the city, and the waters broke over the boom, and bursting from their proper channel flooded a large district in what is known as the Perkins addition.

Many houses were washed by the submerging tide up to their very thresholds, and the foundations of the new Catholic church were described by the stone-work in a little lake of water.

Firewood which had been corded on the bank of an arm of the Palouse at Codd's mill, was swept down and scattered over an expanse of water.

People in the flooded district were forced in many instances to wade with high rubber boots from their doorsteps to the main road.

The stream from the break in the North Palouse wound into the valley just west of the Pacific Coast Elevator, and covered the foundations of several houses.

The water found an outlet under the county road bridge and, while sweeping over the property in that neighborhood on either side of the highway, found its way to the channel of the South Palouse river.

The creamery just north of the road bridge in question, was cut off from the road by a channel of water several feet deep.

At noon on Tuesday men and boys might be seen getting cows and horses and stored products out of the barns in the line of the flood, and in some cases working up to their knees in water.

In fact, North Colfax enjoyed, or, more properly suffered a regular overflow, and the residents began to think that a levee, like those on the Mississippi, might be a proper idea as a safeguard from damage in future unless the channel of the North Palouse river is improved.

The Colfax Mill and Lumber company are heavy losers by the flood. The great boom of logs, containing over 2,000,000 feet, was broken by the waves, and the heavy timbers were swept with terrific speed down the main channel of the Palouse. From 800,000 to 1,000,000 feet of logs have been lost, according to yesterday's estimate. Last evening the river had gone down several inches and the fears of more damage were allayed.

On Wednesday the rain continued steadily all day and, as a result, when yesterday morning dawned, the South Palouse had risen six inches inside of twelve hours. The waters washed the banks at a height far above the usual tide-mark, and created alarm down the river. A report came over the telephone from Palouse City to the effect that the dam at that place was in a very shaky conditions, and was liable to give way, with the attendant consequence of a damaging flood in this locality. Later accounts set the anxious minds at rest, by the assurance that the dam was still holding its own against the angry waves.

100 years ago

The Colfax Commoner

May 25, 1917

The contractors that have charge of the graveling of the La Crosse-Dusty road have cleaned out the county pit at that point and will start their trucks at work hauling out the gravel this week.

The Seattle Company have their own crew of men and the work will be continued night and day. It is the intention of the company to run three 8-hour shifts. By this method, they claim that less money is invested in trucks, and none of these costly chains lie idle 16 hours a day. The manager in charge of this work was in town Monday and he claimed that the work would be completed on time.

***

The Manning Grain and Warehouse company have a force of men at work this week cleaning out all warehouses belonging to the local corporation. This company closed a deal for all of their grain warehouses in this county some time ago to H. M. Houser. These warehouses were to be turned over to the new owner this week and July 1 every house will be cleared of grain by that date.

Grain has been going out of the warehouses fast the last two weeks but there is still some held by the farmers from last year's crop.

***

One of the largest delegations that has ever attended a road hearing meeting before the county commissioners in this county were present Monday to urge the members of the county board to order a permanent survey made of the proposed St. John-Ewan road.

The delegation was so large that in order that all might be given an opportunity to take part in the discussion, the commissioners adjourned to the court room. Marshall K. Snell acted as spokesman for the visitors and he took up the question of the new road and discussed it step by step.

Mr. Snell told the commissioners that according to the wording of the new road law, to establish this road it would be necessary for Whitman County to pay one-half of the total expense of grading, bridging, and surfacing this twenty-three miles of road, the people who reside in the road districts are required to pay twenty-five per cent of the cost and the other twenty-five per cent must be paid by the residents that reside in the improvement district.

The total cost of the road as given by Mr. Snell would be about $152,000.

This expense would be divided between the county, the road district and the improvement district.

The county's share of the expense according to these figures would be $56,000, the road districts $38,000 and the people who own the property in the improvement district would be required to pay the balance of the cost amounting to $38,000.

Mr. Snell stated that the estimate of the expense of this road had been made by an expert engineer and he called upon the county engineer to substantiate these figures.

County engineer McCaw stated that the figures given to the commissioners by Mr. Snell was similar to his own and that until the permanent survey was made it would be impossible to tell what the exact amount would be.

Mr. McCaw said that his estimate of the cost of the twenty-three miles of road was $57,000.

He was not in a position to say definite that his own figures were more reliable than the figures that had been submitted by Mr. Snell.

The county engineer said that he had spent only a short time in viewing the road, which he said was well located and he recommended that this road be improved and gave as his reasons that the St. John-Ewan road was one of the leading thoroughfares in Whitman County.

Commissioner Manchester wanted to know where the board was to secure funds to build the road if they reached a decision to put the road through. Mr. Snell stated that the present law gave the commissioners the power to issue bonds against the county payable in from five to ten years. These bonds could be issued without the consent of the people as the law placed this power in the hands of the commissioners.

75 years ago

Colfax Gazette Commoner

May 22, 1942

In view of the establishment soon of a pilot training school at LaCrosse, the emergency landing field there was expected to become this week a designated airport by the civil aeronautics authority.

Gordon Millar, whose school equipment was moving inland from Ellensburg as a precautionary defense measure, is expecting a contract with the government for training a starting class of probably 20 selective service draftees seeking wings.

So that it may qualify as a designated airport, Millar this week was busy providing telephone facilities, an alarm system and the deputizing of 24-hour armed guard. Not until these requirements are met can the field receive its designation, which means that no plane can land or department without authority from the C.A.A.

Millar was given police powers by Sheriff Carson Walker here Tuesday, as were Joseph Lee, Mount Vernon, Wash .; John Niertz, John Pyle and Alfred Schweiger, all of Lacrosse. Arrangements for deputizing them were made last week when Millar was here in company with Wm. T. Lovelace, senior inspector for the C.A.A.

Millar has brought in three planes and expects two more. They will be accommodated by the present 60 by 40-foot hangar which is owned by Schweiger's brother. Walter, who plans to bring in his own plane from Yakima, where he has been an air school instructor.

It is understood that the maximum number of student pilots has been set at 50 and since one plane is desirable for each five students, there is the probability that at some future time the Lacrosse field may be flying as many as ten planes.

Cadet aviators will be enrolled in the school until they have had eight hours of solo flying, then will be transferred into various branches of the armed forces.

Besides providing a steady armed guard each airport used for training pilots is required to have a clearance officer who gives authority for each flight that leaves the field.

Chief instructor of staff of three or four will be Stewart Gordon, and the mechanics are expected to include Howard Larem, who will come from Portland, and Joseph Lee.

***

Dedicated to the serious task of winning the war by a united home front effort as well as by arms on far-flung battle lines, Whitman County went all out in patriotic fervor Friday by staging a mammoth victory rally which enlisted the participation of civilians in greater number than in any other public event ever attempted in Colfax.

To the eyes of the comparatively few local townspeople left at the curbs to view the inspiring spectacle, the parade was the longest ever to march on Main street. Even the circus parades of pioneer days were not to be compared as to length. By the hundreds of out-of-town visitors, it was estimated to be 10 blocks long, requiring 20 minutes to pass a given point.

Evidence of thoughtful planning, hard work and untiring enthusiasm on the part of the general committee, and particularly those in charge of the parade, were the more than 45 units that entered the procession to make up a magnificent, colorful demonstration, a forerunner of similar events, it was said, throughout the Inland Empire.

Promptly at the announced hour, 1:15, the parade got under way. While the end of the long line of marchers was still well inside the business district the leaders had reached the Schmuck park athletic field where the afternoon program took place.

***

Following up recent discussions on the proposal to transfer control of the cemetery from the Colfax Cemetery association to the city, Mayor Ripley at the council meeting Monday evening named J. A. Masterson, M. L. Crawford and Guy Irwin a special committee to meet with officers of the association in giving further consideration to the plan, now in its formative stage.

The cemetery association, organized years ago, has been a non-profit organization which has about broken even, the receipts from sale of lots, perpetual care and sexton's services being virtually equal to the operating costs. Under the proposed plan, the cemetery would be managed by the board, named by the mayor. If the cemetery continued to maintain itself, a tax levy would be improbable. More than $8,000 in the perpetual care fund would be turned over to the city should the plan materialize.

50 years ago

Colfax Gazette

May 25, 1967

Planning has been started for the eventual construction of two high speed “put through” grain terminals on Snake river at Lyons Ferry and Central Ferry by a group of about 30 dealer grain-handling cooperatives in Whitman County and surrounding area, William Dawes of LaCrosse, one of the directors of the super cooperative, said today.

Construction of the Lyons Ferry terminal is scheduled first since the pool behind Lower Monumental dam near Kahlotus may be ready for barge transportation by 1969. The Central Ferry terminal would not be able to operate until one or two years later, Dawes said.

Letters of intent have been sent to the port districts which have sites available on both the Lower Monumental and Little Goose pools so that land will be available when the grain dealers are ready to move.

Each of the terminals would have a capacity of less than half a million bushels and would be designed to permit quick unloading of trucks and rapid loading of barges or railroad cars, Dawes explained. “The facilities would be designed more for the rapid transfer of grain from trucks to water or rail transportation than they would for storing grain any length of time,” he said.

He declined to estimate the cost of the facilities or to pinpoint the exact location, pointing out that “too many factors” are involved. The grain men are still undecided whether to build the terminals of steel, concrete of cribbing and are still looking for new ideas and materials in the handling of grain.

***

To help make up for their loss in voice to more populous areas, rural folks can work through cooperating organizations, State Rep. Robert F. Goldsworthy advised Whitman County Farm Bureau Tuesday evening.

He cited the effort which had been made by the organizations cooperating in the “Committee for 25 per cent Amendment” as an example of working together for legislation, even though in this case the legislation had failed to pass.

He recalled that the house had had one chance to vote on a “relatively clean 25 per cent amendment, but even then the votes weren't there. We couldn't get a majority, the vote was 48-47.”

He declined to predict whether the legislation would have any chance two years from now. He said the fight wasn't along either political or urban-rural lines. In areas where 25 per cent meant a loss of revenue, school forces opposed it; in areas where it meant a gain, they generally favored it.

“Tax reform was one thing which should have gotten through this time,” Goldsworthy continued. “I think it would have been good for the people to vote on this. One thing that made me go along with tax reform was that never yet have we been so close to seeing a B & O tax on farmers.”

He added that the agriculture committee had been a hardworking committee and was successful in passing a lot of good legislation, though nothing of great significance to the Whitman County farmer. Legislation included tax-relief for the split pea processing industry, more stringent weights and measures regulations, and handling of pesticides.

A foreign trade commission was established to further promote trade between Washington state and Japan.

25 years ago

Colfax Gazette

May 21, 1992

The May 7 Gazette story of mammoth bones found on the location of the new PGT pipeline near LaCrosse reminded Edith Erickson of other mammoth bones found in the Rosalia region in the 1870s.

Erickson, former long time Colfax resident who now lives in Eatonville, found an article from the Nov. 7, 1930, issue of the Whitman County Farmer about Tom and William Donahue finding an 800 pound skull, foot wide backbone joints and leg bones nearly ten feet long.

Erickson, who has written three historical books and used to write the “Looking Back” column for this paper, said fossilized bones were found north of Rosalia at Hangman Creek and south of Rosalia at Pine Creek.

The Donahues made their find at the bottom of a spring on their property.

Elaine Zinke of Rosalia said the site where the Donahue brothers found their bones is still owned by Donahoe (other spelling) relatives, but no one by that names lives around there anymore.

She said the finding is recorded in a Rosalia history book and at the Rosalia Museum in City Hall, but she has no idea where the bones are now.

Erickson said she heard the man who bought them took them to San Francisco to start a museum, but that the collection finally landed in the Field Museum in Chicago.

***

The granite “monolith” planned for the Codger Park is scheduled to arrive from Georgia sometime next week, according to John Crawford of Studio City, Calif. The monolith will be added to the area behind the brick circle area at the park, Crawford explained.

It will measure six feet high by eight feet wide by eight inches thick and weigh over three tons, including the pedestal, he said.

Crawford hopes to develop some type of mount which will put the stone at an angle that can be read easily.

Inscribed at the top will be “The Codger Pole: The Legend,” followed by a chronicle of the 1938 game, the 1988 rematch and the resulting Codger Pole and Codger Park.

The backside will have “Codger Park on the Boulevard” at the top and will thank the contributors for the efforts which went into building the pole and the park.

10 years ago

Whitman County Gazette

May 24, 2007

Throngs of spectators and competitors are expected to descend upon St. John this July for sprint boat races on Webb Slough.

Webb Slough is the newest course on the sprint boat circuit, being built just west of the St. John Golf and Country Club by Matt and Amanda Webb of St. John.

“It's pretty wild on that course,” said Scott Ackerman of Colfax, who last year began competing on the race circuit in his own sprint boat.

“These things will go 90-95 miles per hour,” Ackerman said.

The boats' hulls encase a 600 to 700 horsepower jet engine. The 1,300 pound boats race one at a time, with the victor determined by whoever completes the course in the shortest time.

After his rookie racing season, Ackerman wanted to build a course to hold a race in the area.

“I couldn't find anywhere to put it, though,” he said.

Then, “over a social” at St. John's annual Taco Trauma, Ackerman mentioned to Matt Webb difficulties he had with trying to site track. Webb jumped at the opportunity.

“I had this land and thought, 'why can't it be in St. John?'” said Matt Webb. “This really is an opportunity to bring lots of people and lots of outside revenue into town.”

So Webb approached the town council, who then waved the green flag.

“We think it's a great deal. It's something exciting that will bring people to St. John,” said Mayor Harold Loomis.

“Take the motorcycle rally for example. Look at what that did for Rosalia,” he said. “It's his own land and they're getting their own water, so that town council was all on board with this.”

Ackerman forecasts around 3,000 attendees for the race this year, and said he expects even more for next year's races. Loomis said the town would be happy with one-third that amount.

Water for the track will come from a well west of the track, owned by the St. John Golf and Country Club. The golf course will provide enough water to fill Webb Slough for race days.

The track, measuring 480 feet long by 200 feet wide, is currently under construction. Morrison Excavation, Port Angeles, broke ground last Thursday, and the canal should be completely dug out by the end of next week.

Contractor Dan Morrison, who recently bought a boat from St. John farmer and sprint boat racer Don Smith, has been to several sprint boat races. Smith has been racing sprint boats for a number of years.

Amanda Webb said that familiarity with the sport is a big asset to construction.

“Having an excavator who has been to other tracks and can lend that knowledge here will help make our track that much better,” she said.

Surrounding the canal will be a 7-foot high fence to corral any boats that may leave the course. Outside of the fence are terraces that will be planted to grass for seating.

“Bring your lawn chairs, your sunscreen and your earplugs,” said Amanda Webb.

There will also be concession stands, a beer garden and other activities to occupy race goers, all of which will be built up above the canal to provide a birds-eye view of the action.

“There won't be a bad seat in the house,” Morrison promised.

The Webbs said they are planning to enlist local non-profit organizations to sell hamburgers, soft drinks or whatever else they wish.

This year's race is scheduled for July 28 and is one of seven points races officially sanctioned by the United States Sprint Boat Association. Ackerman said at least two races are set for next year.