Good Old Days: April 16, 2020

125 years ago

The Commoner

April 19, 1895

Wm. Webster and John Stinson have returned from their mining claims on the Snake River above Almota, expecting to return there after making arrangements for the necessary machinery to enable profitable prosecution of the business of mining. Mr. Webster in talking with the Gazette reporter, said: "y mining claim is about four miles above Almota, and the gold bearing gravel deposit is back from the river some distance and above it about 40 feet. The gravel lies under an alkali coat from three to six feet in thickness and the bar itself is fully three feet thick. The gravel holds bright flake gold to the value of 50 cents and perhaps more a ton, which can all be saved if water can be obtained in sufficient quantity. Mr. Stinson and myself, who are together, believe that if we can get a current wheel running a heavy pump the alluvial deposit can be washed away and the gold gravel sluiced at a profit, and if we can get funds sufficient to get the machinery we will return to the river and prosecute our mining work. There are a number of other claims on the river in that vicinity, and there is talk of organizing a joint stock company which would improve and work them.

***

The passenger train from Spokane on Thursday did not arrive until 4:30 in the afternoon. The delay was caused by the wreck of the up freight train that morning near Latah, in Spokane County. In the smashup, which is reported to have been a bad one, Brakeman Atchison was slightly injured and two tramps quite seriously. The track was torn up to an extent compelling the transfer of passengers, the up-train doubling on the run between Pendleton and Latah.

100 years ago

The Colfax Commoner

April 16, 1920

The members of the Pullman chamber of commerce refused to go on record in favor of investigating the charges preferred by the professors of the W.S.C., that Pullman is said to be the highest priced town in Eastern Washington. The students of the state college are echoing these charges in the letters which are being sent home from the institution to their parents and they are asking that more money be sent them so they can continue to pay their living expenses in the highest prices town in Eastern Washington.

These charges have gone broadcast throughout the entire state unchallenged and Attorney M. S. Jamar, one of the active members of the chamber of commerce attempted to secure the appointment of a committee to investigate these charges in order to determine whether or not they are true.

***

The Whitman County Fair is to be placed under the management of the business men of Colfax and other towns of the county, and these men are to be aided in the work of management by the farmers and the livestock raisers.

In assuming management of the county fair, the members of the club went on record as assuming no obligations that might be held against those who have conducted the fair in past years, but that all contracts and debts that might be incurred while the management is in charge of the commercial club will be paid by that organization.

It is the intention of the members of the club to make the county fair one of the best agricultural fairs and stock shows that is held in this section of the state. The live stock men of the county have pledged their individual support to the proposition and a number of these individuals have asked that an annual live stock sale be held during the time that the county fair is in progress.

75 years ago

The Colfax Gazette-

Commoner

April 20, 1945

Frank Stuart and some of his neighbors obtained virtual assurance at the council meeting Monday evening that the city would clear several vacant lots at East and Poplar streets in order that the location might be converted into a children's playground, equipment for which, it was reported, would be provided by the parents whose children would be benefitted.

On the lots, the property of the Williams Bottling company, has stood the Silver Dome tabernacle for the past several months. It is soon to be razed, the council was told. The site will be available for playground purposes until the Williams company is ready to construct its proposed bottling plant, which will not be for at least two more years, it was said.

***

The city police department, with the assistance of the sheriff's office and state highway patrol, Tuesday started an automobile brake and light testing campaign to continue until the end of June.

On evidence that a car's brakes or lights are defective, the operator will be given an inspection slip on which the defects are listed. The date by which time he is supposed to have the corrections made are given and there is a place for the mechanic's signature showing that the work has been done.

50 years ago

The Colfax Gazette

April 16, 1970

Colfax school board members voted 4-0 Monday night to trim a special levy request to $225,000, a cut of $26,440 over the previous proposal which was rejected by voters last month. The decision to cut the levy amount reversed a move two weeks ago to hold firm at the first amount, $251,440.

"We are doing this because we feel at this time the voters in the district are asking for a reduction,"Board Chairman David Morgan explained.

After announcing the amount of the levy cutback, the directors voted to advance contracts to 37 teachers without listing the amount. The other 14 teaching positions in the Colfax system will depend on approval of the levy at the May 12 election. These 14 positions consist of six teachers who have resigned and eight teachers who were notified April 3 that their jobs depended on the levy.

***

Grand opening of the LaCrosse Cafe, a community project, will be held Saturday. The return of the cafe to LaCrosse after six months came about through volunteer donations of time and money. A total of $2,500 was collected to provide new equipment for the cafe building from donations by 97 persons.

Remodeling of the restaurant, including wall-to-wall carpet, was paid by LaCrosse branch of the Seattle-First National Bank. New panel work is also included in the cafe which opened doors last week after some support by a volunteer crew.

25 years ago

Whitman County Gazette

April 20, 1995

By a 4-0 vote Monday night, the Colfax City Council decided to remove consideration of the native grasses from critical areas which need to be weighed under the state's growth management act.

The vote came after Travis Brock, who has purchased some of the hillside area above Schmuck Park, continued his push to have the grassland segments bumped from the listing.

Brock's request was supported by Larry Pfaff of Colfax, one of the directors of the new Whitman County Property Owners Association.

***

Malden's last business, Deckard's Service Station, has been closed, a casualty of the same environmental regulations which have put small stations out of business in Colfax and other parts of Whitman County.

Last month's shutdown marked the end of 33 years of business at the site by the Deckard family.

"It isn't good, but with any luck, we're going to get it going again,"Maxine Deckard reported.

She said she now faces a stack of forms to fill out before she can attempt to get to the next step.

10 years ago

Whitman County Gazette

April 22, 2010

Spring is in the air, and the proof is in St. John this weekend, as the town's annual Stock Show and Community Fair kicks off today.

The big St. John show typically strikes up Whitman County's spring fair season.

The annual festival of all things St. John begins with the town's artisans, crafters and florists entering their work in the Home Ec. Building today.

***

As of April 19, 1,034 of 2,400 mailed ballots on the Colfax School levy election have been received back on the Colfax school levy proposal. The levy is up for a vote after the district's first levy proposal failed in the Feb. 9 special election.

The votes will be counted the night of April 27, deadline day for return of the ballots.

Voters are asked to vote on a $950,000 levy for 2011 and a $970,000 levy for 2012. The figures are sharply decreased from the district's first levy proposal of $1.3 million.

This new levy came in the wake of a series of public meetings in which voters turned out to ask the district about the failed levy and voice opinions on what they wanted in the new levy.