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part 2, pp. 90-95 TABLE OF CONTENTS Ch. 3, pp. 99-105
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p. 95 (continued)
During the fall of 1896 another abortive attempt was made to remove the capital of Stevens county from Colville. This scheme was on a most elaborate and magnificent scale. It included the complete organization of a new town to be called Stevens, located near Kettle Falls, which Phoenix like city was to embrace both Kettle Falls and Marcus as suburbs, the erection of a $10,000 court house, and the establishment of a smelter and water power to supply nearly the whole county. This plan was under the auspices of "The Stevens County Land & Improvement Company," capitalized for $500,000, and officered by Colonel I. N. Peyton, Former Senator George Turner, Colonel W. W. D. Turner, Chris McDonald, of Rossland, Custom Collector Martin J. Malony, of Northport, Mark P. Shaffer, of Springdale and Eber C. Smith. The latter was to be general manager of the company. A weekly newspaper, "The Stevens Standard," was started in furtherance of the project. The town of Stevens was platted and it was the announced purpose of the company to adopt a liberal policy toward all persons who might decide to locate there, not only by the donation of lots but by making the prices for real estate and water power reasonable. But on October 9, 1896, the county commissioners decided in the matter of Mark P. Shaffer, and others, petitioning for a submission of the proposition of removal to the people, that the petition had not been filed in time for the county auditor to give the required statutory notice to the electors of the county, and accordingly dismissed the petition. Only one building in the proposed new town of Stevens was erected. Some of the original projectors, however, still own a portion of the land. "The Standard," which published only a few issues, was printed in Kettle Falls. Thus passed into history the last effort to remove the capital of Stevens county.
During the same year an area of country comprising about twelve square miles of territory, including the Flat Creek country, on the Indian reservation, was the scene of a most disastrous forest fire. The locality was heavily timbered and the loss in valuable forestry was great. So dense and threatening were the flames that a number of miners, the Ledgerwood Brothers. Frank Goodwin, E. D. Miner
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and others, were driven to places of safety, many losing heavily in buildings, camp supplies and implements.
The following spring, 1897, the Colville river broke from its banks and created considerable havoc among the settlers along the lower levels of the valley.
In the fall of this year a new county court house appeared a desideratum devoutly to be wished. Accordingly a meeting was held at Colville, Saturday evening, October 9, for the furtherance of the plan. The following committee of representative business men was appointed, and the project was in full swing: Jacob Stitsel, C. W. Winter, Fred Hoss, H. G. Kirkpatrick, E. M. Denny, C. R. McMillan and John Hofstetter. Subscribers to the stock of the new enterprise were:
Fred Hoss, $200; J. M. Stevens, $100; F. Barman, $250; Jacob Stitzel, $100; John B. Slater, $100; R. E. Lee, $100; Frank B. Goeter, $125; J. P. Hessel, $75; G. M. Welty, $100; Frank Habein, $50; Julius Pohle, $50; Louis Perras, $50; V. Lemery, $50; C. A. Mantz, $50; Thomas Aspend, $40; Charles Lutt, $50; W. D. Allen, $50; H. G. Kirkpatrick, $50; P. H. Graham, $10; C. R. McMillan, $50; Mrs. L. Flugel, $50; Mrs. J. M. Mohney, $100; Swan Nelson, $10; J. U. Hofstetter, $150; L. Rusch, $60; R. M. Thomas, $20; George Thomas, $120; Henry Oakes, $100; George Theis, $50; Edward Gibson, $25; H. W. Sacher, $25; W. Schmalzer, $15; J. G. O. Mayer, $50; E. J. Layton, $25; Paul Battrich, $15; John Hoist, $25; J. D. Burris, $15; Frank Rutter, $25; John Rickey, $50 ; James Fee, $25; Gardner & Baker $25.
With this nucleus for a fund for the proposed new edifice ground was broken Tuesday, November 2, 1897, and work was pushed as rapidly as possible. It was evident that the people were in earnest and contributions to the fund continued to come in. Permission to build the structure and turn it over to the county for official purposes only was secured from the commissioners, the building to be erected on block 14, in the town of Colville, to be a two-story building, of brick, in size 40x80 feet. The building was destined, however, to be turned over to the county before completion. August 18, 1898, the following proposition was made by the projectors and promoters of the plan:
"The undersigned, citizens of Colville and committee on court house building, would respectfully submit the following: That the citizens of Colville and vicinity have contributed in cash, subscriptions, material and labor sufficient to erect a court house for Stevens county on block 14, original town of Colville, the title of said block being vested in said county; we would further represent that we have a sufficient amount of means to enclose said building and that the roof will be complete; that we are not in a position to finish it at the present time; that we estimate the cost of finishing the building according to plans and specifications, including plastering, painting, and windows and work necessary, at about $1,600; that knowing the great need of a building for court house purposes, we are now ready to turn over the same to your honorable body, for Stevens county, aiming to place on the roof, as stated, by a proper effort; that the building can be completed within the next sixty days or sooner; that we have lath sufficient for the building and $100 paid toward the flooring; that all bills contracted by said committee for material and labor will be paid in full, except the bill for windows and doors that have not yet been delivered; and that all subscriptions remaining unpaid after all payments of indebtedness contracted by said committee will be turned over to the county.
"C. W. Winter.
"(Signed) "Fred Hoss.
"Jacob Stitzel."
"(Signed) "Fred Hoss.
"Jacob Stitzel."
This proposition was accepted by the county, John U. Hofstetter, C. W. Winter, Fred Hoss, H. G. Kirkpatrick and Jacob Stitzel
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named as a committee to take charge of the completion of the work, and the same season the court house, a handsome edifice in the central portion of the town of Colville, was occupied by the county officials.
In this connection it is well to indulge in a retrospective glance at the old town of Pinkney City, the original county seat. For many years the town of Colville had been in possession of the capital. An item from the Statesman-Index, of date October 8, 1897, puts in a short space the obituary of Pinkney City:
"The residence of Adam Arnold was totally destroyed by fire at about ten o'clock to-day. Only a portion of the household goods were saved. This is the last of the historic 'Old Town,' the little burg near old Fort Colville, Mr. Arnold's house being the last habitable building there."It will have been observed in the perusal of this and the preceding chapter, devoted to the material progress of Stevens county since its earliest days, that such progress has increased in a most gratifying ratio each successive year. There has been no backward step. Monetary depression in 1893-4 was not greater, and the recovery more sudden, than in many other of her sister counties in the state. Great natural resources and immediate proximity to what might be termed the local markets of the Canadian mineral fields have largely contributed to these conditions. The subject of current events has been treated with rather close attention to chronology, but the object in so doing was, mainly, to avoid any confusion of dates in the mind of the reader. Nothing so embarrasses the student of history as an abrupt relapse to former incidents which might, with ordinary care and foresight, have been carried along in their proper chronological order. The same increasing ratio of advancement and prosperity will be noticed in the successive chapters and the wonderful improvement in a large variety of industries will be treated as fairly and candidly as careful research and painstaking verification can accomplish.
The humane and judicious care of the poor of any community should invariably appeal to all county and municipal officials. Until the spring of 1899 no suitable provision had been made by the Stevens county commissioners in the way of a poor farm; the exclusive property of the county. These unfortunates had in nowise been neglected so far as their personal comfort was concerned. But as yet land for poor farm purposes had not been secured. In April the commissioners purchased 160 acres of land three miles northeast of Colville. The price paid was $1,800. It is bench land, well watered and adapted to the growth of various grains, fruits and vegetables. W. A. Harbison, of Clugston, was employed as superintendent who, assisted by Mrs. Harbison, received a salary of $700 per annum. Buildings were subsequently erected and the greater portion of the land placed under cultivation. In the fall of 1899 the treasury of the county was increased by the payment, from Ferry county, of $16,872, being her share of joint indebtedness at the period of the formation of Ferry, that territory having been the last to be amputated from the once magnificent domain of Stevens county. The summer of 1900 was made notable by a succession of forest fires throughout the Colville valley and in other sections. From these the vicinity of Springdale suffered to a greater extent, perhaps, than other localities. The Chewelah district, also, lost heavily. The origin of these fires was attributed to the carelessness of campers and sparks from railroad engines. Fortunately the advent of welcome rainfalls contributed to the subjugation of these devastating flames.
The statutes of the state classifying counties according to population provide that a county having a population of 10,000 and less than 12,000 shall be known as a county of the fifteenth class. To such a station had Stevens county attained in December, 1900, having
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been raised by the census from the nineteenth class. The same law provides that salaries of county officers shall be increased accordingly, and they were fixed as follows: Auditor, $1450; Clerk, $1350; Treasurer, $1450; Sheriff, $1450; Attorney, $1300; School Superintendent, $1100.
The census of 1900, by precincts, accorded Stevens county the following population:
Bossburg, including Bossburg village (247) 471; Boundary, 74; Calispell, 219; Chewelah, 614; Clayton, 189; Clugston, 295; Columbia, 297; Colville, including Colville town, (594) 1160; Daisy, 295; Deep Creek, 65; Diamond Lake, 125; Fertile Valley, 117; Flat Creek, 52; Forest Center, 74; Harvey, 185; lone, 9; Kettle Falls, including Kettle Falls town, (297) 404: Lake Creek, 131; Little Dalles, 63; Loon Lake, 280; McLaughlin, 227; Marcus, 219; Metaline, 12; Meyers Falls, 370; Mt. Corbin, 120; Newport, 453; Northport, including Northport city, (787) 845; Old Dominion, 11; Riverside, 217; Rock Cut, 39; Springdale, 267; Spring Valley, 809; Stensger, 395; Theris, 356; Walker's Prairie, 94; White Lake, 330; Williams Valley, 71; Spokane Indian Reservation, 589; Total, 10,543.
The initiatory efforts in the way of a county fair association were made in May, 1902. With the many and varied industries in this county and the recognized enterprise of her residents, it is a matter of surprise that the project so long lay dormant. The unqualified success of the fair held during the closing days of September, 1903, addressed by Governor Henry McBride, accentuate the truth of this proposition. But the original "fair meeting" which imparted an impetus to these agricultural, stock and industrial expositions was held at Colville in May, 1902. Jacob Stitzel was made temporary chairman and W. H. Sparks secretary. To incorporate the association and act as trustees until a permanent organization could lie effected Messrs. Oakes, Knapp and Teeple were named as a committee. It was the sense of this meeting, subsequently carried into execution, to incorporate the association with a capital stock of $20,000, with shares at $2 each. The organization was named the "Stevens County Producers Association," and the trustees were authorized to receive bids from the different towns in the county for the place of holding the fair. Thus the matter remained until August 9, when it was decided to hold the initial exposition at Meyers Falls, September 26, 27, 28, which was accordingly done, and the first annual fair of the Stevens County Producers Association passed into history. Exhibits of every description were above the average in quality, the fruit display being especially fine. Throughout the three days' continuation of the fair the attendance was fully up to the expectations of the most sanguine.
In August of this year, 1902, one of the most important industries of the county met with a great disaster. The story is graphically told in the columns of the Stevens County Reveille:
As a result of fire which suddenly engulfed the big saw and planing mill of the Winslow Lumber Manufacturing Company, situated three miles south of Colville, last Tuesday, August 12, all that is left of the largest lumbering plant in eastern Washington is a pile of smouldering ruins — a chaos of iron and steel machinery warped beyond repair.
The origin of the fire is not known, but it is believed to have been due to spontaneous combustion. The mill had been shut down for the noon hour and the men had had scarcely time to comfortably seat themselves at dinner when the alarm of fire was sounded. The employees are thoroughly organized into a very efficient fire department, but before they could reach their posts the flames had enveloped the entire machinery building. Access to the engine room was cut off and pumps disabled, leaving the men helpless to combat the terrible heat. The sun was intensely hot, and it seemed impossible to stay the tide of impending conflagration. Less than two hundred feet away, piled over acres of ground to the westward was nearly three million feet of lumber. The men rushed into a veritable fiery furnace, without water and other protection, and by sheer force and determination tore away the broad wooden tramways of lumber upon the yards. Within one hundred and fifty feet of the burning mills stood the dry kiln which was, also, saved from destruction. There is no telephonic communication between the mill and
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Colville, and the first known of the fire were reports brought in by passengers on the northbound train. Immediately every available conveyance hurriedly carried people from the city to the scene of the fire, but help from this source came too late. Within twenty minutes from the time of the first alarm of fire the building was in ruins.This mill was subsequently rebuilt.
The mill is owned by the Winslow Lumber Manufacturing Company, a corporation capitalized at $50,000, and was built about two years ago at a cost of $25,000. It had a capacity of 75,000 feet of lumber per diem. Insurance on the machinery is said to have been less than 25 per cent of the cost, but a larger portion covered the lumber in the yards which was uninjured.
Since the admission of Washington as a state the subject of a Pioneers organization in Stevens county has been agitated throughout the successive years, but without result. As there were no annual county fairs there were, consequently, no meetings of any great number of the earliest settlers at one time and at one place. Concerted action could not be taken. At the fair at Meyers Falls, unquestionably, the subject was rejuvenated, and this is the testimony of a number of the oldest residents of the county. Enthusiasm begets enthusiasm, and the attrition of a number of the more prominent pioneers of the county awakened an interest that finally found expression in practical results. On Wednesday, September 30, 1903, the pioneers of Stevens county assembled at the fair grounds in Colville and organized the "Stevens County Pioneer Society." Jacob Stitzel was selected chairman of the meeting and S. F. Sherwood, secretary. A temporary organization was formed and a committee appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws to be submitted at a later date, when the organization should be made permanent. It was decided that all persons were eligible to membership who were residents of Washington at the time of its admission to statehood and who were at present residents of Stevens county. The committee on constitution and by-laws selected were C. H. Montgomery, Chewelah; Fay Ledgerwood, Columbia River; Mrs. C. B, Ide, Colville; John Rickey, Colville: Mrs. Ida Fedder, Meyers Falls; G. W. Harvey, Harvey; John Keough, White Lake; John B. Slater, Colville.
At a subsequent meeting the organization was made permanent, and the county now has a society which will contribute greatly to the preservation of historical data of this most fertile and productive succession of valleys.
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part 2, pp. 90-95 TABLE OF CONTENTS Ch. 3, pp. 99-105
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