STEVENS COUNTY, ch. 2, pt. 3, pp. 95-99

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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."            

      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.
      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.

      This mill was subsequently rebuilt.

      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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STEVENS COUNTY, ch. 2, pt. 2, pp. 90-95

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part 1, pp. 85-90        TABLE OF CONTENTS        part 3, pp. 95-99

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      The forthcoming opening of the World's Fair at Chicago, in 1893, created considerable patriotic interest in Stevens county, and it was almost universal opinion that the mineralized deposits within her boundaries should be suitably represented at the great international exposition.  May 6, 1892, an appropriation of $1,200 was made for the purpose of enabling George Pfunder to transfer various specimens of ores from the different mines of the county to the Spokane Falls & Northern depots.

      The initial agitation for removal of the county seat from Colville was in 1892.  At the commissioners' meeting of August 20, a petition was presented for removal of the capital of Stevens county from Colville to Chewelah, the question to be submitted at the next general election.  October 6 a petition signed by one hundred and twenty-four voters was filed with the board praying for removal of the county seat to Kettle Falls, the question to be passed upon at the same election.  This latter petition was opposed by Commissioner A. T. Williams, who advanced the cogent reasons that election notices, including the Chewelah proposition were already posted and that in his opinion the petition did not carry the requisite number of signatures.  Throughout the day the matter was debated with no little animation by the commissioners, and on the 7th, the day following, a coup was sprung by a combination of

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Colville and Springdale people, in the shape of a petition signed by fifty-one voters praying for removal of the county seat to Springdale.  Concerning this critical moment in county affairs Mr. John Rickey says:

      "After Chewelah and Kettle Falls entered the race for the county seat Colville, fearing that the necessary three-fifths votes might be secured in favor of Chewelah, induced the town of Springdale to enter the race and thus draw votes from the southern portion of the county which otherwise might go to Chewelah.  The
people of Springdale were loyal to Colville and promptly entered the race."

      Consistency demanded of Commissioner Williams that he, also, oppose the Springdale petition, although it is quite probable that he saw and sympathized with the strategic movement in behalf of Colville.  He was, however, outvoted in the board, and November 8 the general election was held with the following result:

      At a subsequent meeting of the Commissioners November 15, C. K. Simpson and E. W. Weston, a majority of the board, assumed the position that Kettle Falls had won the county seat at the polls.  To this Commissioner Williams dissented. Simpson and Weston urged that Kettle Falls had received a three-fifths vote as between that town and Colville; Williams insisted that a three-fifths vote of the entire poll was required.  Kettle Falls was declared the county seat and preparations were made to remove the records.  Then John Rickey and Harry Young, in behalf of Colville, began suit against the county commissioners to set aside their decision, and they secured from the superior court a restraining order of which the following in a syllabus:

      It is ordered that the above named defendants do absolutely refrain from in any manner removing or attempting to remove any of the public records, public books and appurtenances of said county from the present county seat to the city of Kettle Falls in said county, or elsewhere, and to absolutely refrain from establishing or attempting to establish the county seat of said county of Stevens at the said city of Kettle Falls, or elsewhere, and to refrain from moving or attempting to remove said county seat and all papers, books, records, offices and files from the city of Colville, in said county, to the said city of Kettle Falls, or elsewhere, or in taking any steps or making any contracts in furtherance thereof, or from doing any of the matters or things contemplated of in plaintiffs' complaint, until the further order of the court; and that they show cause before this court, at the hour of 10 o'clock a. m., on the 25th day of November, 1892, why this order should not be continued until the final hearing of this cause.

      This order was signed by R. B. Blake, judge.  The hearing of Colville's motion to make the restraining order permanent against the commissioners was heard December 2, 1892, by Judge Blake, and was by him sustained. The city of Colville was represented by T. C. Griffitts; Kettle Falls by Post & Avery.  The complaint filed with the restraining order set forth the facts of the election and the grounds upon which the order was based.  One of these was that the petition upon which Kettle Falls entered the race in no particular complied with the law, and setting forth further that Chewelah was the only legal contestant for the county seat.  The case was carried to the supreme court of the state. Here it remained until March 29, 1894, when the court handed down a decision, brief as could be desired, stating that the whole proceedings were a nullity from their very inception.  The notices were irregular and the county commissioners had not the right to submit the Kettle Falls proposition upon the showing presented.

      December 19, 1892, the census returns of Stevens county returned a population of 5,543.  Under provision of the state law it was then declared by the commissioners to be a county of the twentieth class, and salaries of officials were raised accordingly.

      Monday evening, May 10, 1893, Colville

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Valley was visited by the most disastrous flood ever experienced in its recorded history.  Its main force was spent near the station of Sherwood, on the Spokane Falls & Northern Railroad, ten miles south of Colville.  It is estimated by residents in the neighborhood of this sudden inundation that had a city the size of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, been situated in the path of this destructive element the resultant loss of life and property would have been little less than that of the unfortunate town in the Keystone State.  The circumstances were remarkably similar.  A short time prior to this flood in the Colville Valley an earth-avalanche from the north side of Iron Mountain had fallen into the canyon at a point four miles east of the Colville river, forming a dam across the ravine nearly one hundred feet high.  Along the bottom of this ravine flowed the waters of a small creek, and thus arrested by the natural dam formed by the landslide, they soon assumed the magnitude of a mighty lake, nearly ninety feet in depth.  The consequent heavy pressure against the dam caused a sudden break of the imprisoned waters, and what was once a peaceful, rippling brook, became an irresistible torrent that swept all before it, covering the surrounding country with four feet of mud, and debris, destroying the crops of many farms and sweeping away the homes, fences, and out-buildings of the inhabitants.  Huge boulders were rolled along by the on-rush of waters, snapping large trees like pipe-stems in their furious race down the ravine.  Thomas J. Patton, a well-known and industrious farmer who lived on the beautiful spread of prairie that widens out at the lower end of the canyon to a width of a mile and a half, escaped with his family, but was compelled to witness the complete destruction of his spring's crop.

      At seven o'clock in the evening parties in the vicinity of the disaster heard a distant rumbling which was not thunder, but might be a seismic disturbance.  At first the direction from which the detonations proceeded was not located, but as they became more distinct and at frequent intervals the awful truth burst upon them that an avalanche of timbers, rocks, debris and turbid water was pouring down upon the pretty pastor valley.  Scarcely had the family of Mr. Patton reached safety on the side of a hill when a wall of water forty feet in height poured past them, breaking from the timber a quarter of a mile above their house, and spreading over the prairie farms to a depth of four feet.  The track of the Spokane Falls & Northern Railroad was covered with mud for the distance of several hundred feet, trains being compelled to transfer passengers the following day across the break with teams.  It was a disaster that would have proved far more appalling had the county at the time been more thickly settled.

      At a special election held July 6, 1893, bonds to the amount of $65,000 were voted for the purpose of liquidating current expenses of the county, the necessary three-fifths of the voting population concurring in the proposition.  The State of Washington became a purchaser of $20,000 of these bonds; the remainder were
sold to Roberts Brothers.

      The heavy hand of financial disaster and the "hard times" of 1893 fell upon the residents of Stevens county, but this temporary depression did not more seriously affect them than it did those in other localities throughout the country.  Officially the county, through the careful administration of Treasurer Frank B. Goetter, escaped a loss of $15,000, deposited in the Citizens National Bank of Spokane.  Reviewing the financial condition of the county with some attention Mr. Goetter came to a conclusion, June 1, that he would no longer entrust the funds in his charge to a foreign corporation, and he transferred his account to the Bank of Colville which had guaranteed him against loss.  Within a few days the suspension of the Citizens National Bank of Spokane was announced.

      The following resume of damage caused by

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a wind storm of June 3, 1894, published in the Colville Index of the 7th is of interest:

      Last Sunday afternoon about 3 o'clock a storm of wind, rain thunder and lightning swept from south to north over the entire surface of the county, laying waste great forests of timber, destroying fences, turning over houses and doing damage in many other ways.
      In Colville the storm was not so severe as in other places.  Signs were blown down, trees uprooted in some portions of the city, but the only damage to buildings worth speaking of was the dislodgment of the front of William Prindle's blacksmith shop.
      At Kettle Falls much damage was wrought by destruction of buildings.  The large two-story building of W. R. Noteware was severed in twain, the upper story being swept away.  The Curry block was smashed by a falling tree, and the hardware store building of J. P. Fogh was injured very materially.  The roof was lifted from the Kettle Falls sash and door factory, and a barn of Louis Blue was completely demolished.
      In the neighborhood of Daisy and Harvey the force of the storm was terrific.  No loss of life is reported, but there was much property rendered worthless.  Fay Ledgerwood had one horse killed; H. L. Childs sustained the loss of three cows; Dr. Weston had two cows killed and a number crippled; Mr. Tipton had three cows crippled and Fritz Bowren's barn was blown over.  With relation to the storm at Daisy our correspondent tells us:  "This section of the country is in a deplorable condition.  The roads are almost impassable.  The best of the timber is destroyed, the majority of the trees being broken off about half way up the tree, making them useless except for fuel.  The mails have to be carried on horseback, and the fact is the whole Columbia river valley has the appearance of having been visited by a Kansas cyclone."
      In Echo Valley the roads are in a terrible state, and the authorities are exerting every effort to get them cleared of obstructions as soon as possible.  From Addy our correspondent writes that much damage was done to small buildings, fencing and roads.  No one has been reported injured, but a horse was found in a mud-hole with a tree across its prostrate anatomy, but was not killed.
      At Chewelah the storm struck with all the fury of a cyclone.  The fine forest of timber in Jenkin's addition was literally mowed to the ground like grass.  A number of houses were moved bodily several inches from their foundations, fences were strewn in all directions and many horses killed.  The big tent in which the Free Methodists were holding services at the time was blown down, and the throng of people who had gathered there had narrow escapes from death by trees falling.  The G. A. R. hall was laid in ruins and is a total loss.  On Monday the Spokane Falls & Northern train was delayed over an hour in the timber a short distance north of town, owing to the great number of fallen trees on the track.  The telegraph wires were broken in several places and communication was cut off in all directions.
      News of the storm comes from many other places, but the same results in a much lighter degree are reported.  It was undoubtedly the most disastrous storm that has yet visited this portion of the northwest.

      The year 1894 will be memorable for a flood of vast proportions swelling the Columbia river far above the danger point.  Nothing like it had been known before in the history of eastern Washington since its settlement by whites.  At the Cascades the stage of water is said to have been about the same as at the great flood of 1862, but this statement is not supported by evidence in the vicinities of Kettle Falls, Marcus and other places.  At Boundary City the waters flowed and lashed themselves furiously around the city limits and at Northport the menacing element stood over a foot deep on the floor of the railway station. Many residents removed to the suburbs, on higher ground.  The fine residence of Mr. Bishop was surrounded by water to its eaves.  The house of Hugo Moser, with all its furniture was swept away down the river, together with about seventy cords of wood.  The sawmill and sheds of the Northport Lumber Company were greatly damaged and much of the lumber carried away and irretrievably lost.

      Railroad bridges were washed away at the mouth of Onion creek and a large portion of the trackage temporarily ruined.  At the Little Dalles Peter Ellensohn's warehouse was completely ruined.  Two miles of track were washed out at Seven Devils, and at Marcus the building occupied by Feldman & Company, as well as other stores and warehouses, stood in a depth of two feet of water.  Repairs on the Spokane Falls & Northern railway cost $250,000.  As the banks on the reservation side of the river are low the loss to the Indians was considerable, although no pecuniary estimate of this was ever made.

      In Stevens county the year 1894 witnessed a gratifying rebound from the disastrous "hard

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times."  The privileges of a cash market for the various products of the county were better than ever before known.  The British Columbia mining regions became an unvarying source of profit to the agricultural producers of the northern portion of the county.  All varieties of products were in constant demand, and it is a gratifying fact that the demand constantly increased as the years went by.  And this, too, in the face of a heavy Canadian tariff levied upon goods of all descriptions.  But it is a cash market, and the close contiguity of this section of the county to the Canadian mineral fields greatly favors this section.

      Agitation for a telephone service in the county dates from January, 1895.  The promoter of this enterprise was W. B. Aris, of Kettle Falls.  He procured the passage of a resolution by the county commissioners granting him a franchise to construct and maintain a system of telephone lines along the public highways of Stevens county, including all the principal train centers.  February 4 the International Telegraph and Telephone Company was organized and articles of compact forwarded to the secretary of state, at Olympia.  Incorporators and trustees were W. B. Aris, F. W. Sherman, and J. H. Young.  The capital stock was fixed at $25,000, divided into shares of $10 each.  Headquarter offices were located at Colville.  February 1 the organization was made permanent with W. B. Aris, of Kettle Falls, president, J. Harry Young, of Colville, vice-president, S. W. Washburn and F. W. Sherman, of Kettle Falls, secretary and general manager, respectively.  The same year the company was taken over by the Pacific States Telegraph and Telephone Company, which now controls the same, reaching all the principal points in the county.

      During the spring of 1895 considerable complaint was heard on all sides concerning alleged injustice being done the Indians by settlers in the Calispell Valley, and other portions of the county.  It was claimed by a number of newspaper correspondents that white settlers were appropriating Indian lands.  On May 4, of that year a correspondent at Usk forwarded the following item to the Colville Index:

      "Three Indians held up three white men while hauling fence posts to fence their ranch on the east side of the Pend d'Oreille river.  The case is this:  Twenty-three Indians claim fifty square miles on that side of the river.  When the Indians could not stop the boys from fencing their ranch, one renegade Indian named Sam took an iron bar from beneath his blanket, then all three rushed upon the boys.  One was lucky enough to have a six-shooter, so he was able to stave them off.  The Indians then started home for their guns and said that they would kill every one of them.  The boys soon saw them coming with their guns and they had to take to the woods for protection.  It is about time something is done with these 'government pets,' either removed or placed on other ranches so that other settlers can have some peace.  It was only last summer that they stole everything that they could lay their hands on while the settlers were trying to save their little all from the floods, and at that time a petition with over one hundred and fifty signers was handed to Hon. John L. Wilson to have the 'pets' removed.  We suppose when the settlers are all robbed or murdered the government will then be ready to settle with the Indians."

      Possibly it was this article, but perhaps more ample testimony that induced Mr. Robert Fountain to publish the following explanatory statement of existing conditions at that period:

      Seven years ago this valley (Calispell) was unsettled and almost unknown, the first settlers being compelled to hew a road through dense forests, find ingress through rough and rocky canyons and deep swamps.  It was due to their invincible grit and enterprise that the valley has reached its present state of cultivation and prosperity.  It was supposed by the first settlers that we were outside of the railroad limit, but the government survey made three years ago disclosed a contrary condition, as many who had located here found themselves on railroad land. Many hardy

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pioneers who had located homesteads and pre-emptions, thinking they had secured a home, and made valuable improvements, on ascertaining that their land was embraced in the Northern Pacific forty-mile limit, became discouraged and abandoned their homes.  Others remained, hoping to purchase when the land came into market.  They had become attached to the country and had great confidence in its future. Such is a fair statement of the conditions of the white settlers.  Now as to the Indians.
      Though they are generally known as Calispels, outside of a few descendants of old Petoll, who died four years ago, there is not one of them who could be called a Calispel.  They are composed of Spokanes, Nez Perces, and Flatheads, and with two exceptions they claim land on the east side of the Pend d'Oreille river.  Not one of them has ever made an attempt to secure their land by filing since it was open for entry last May, and it would be hard to determine by what right they claim it.  Some are on railroad and others on government land, and when one dies a stranger soon appears and takes his place.  A large number of these Indians, undoubtedly, belong on some reservation, for they make regular trips for supplies.  The worst feature of it is that this land is made a rendezvous for the worst element of outside Indians who collect here in large numbers during the summer season, passing their time in gambling, horse-racing and drinking, to the demoralization of the resident Indians and to the terror of white settlers.  Through the winter they exist in a state of semi-starvation, very few among them doing work of any kind.
      The government has been petitioned to have them removed to some reservation and placed among the better class of their people.  It was with this hope that a number of settlers who had been left without a home settled on that side of the river.  So long as matters remain in the present condition troubles will occur, and when the railroad lands come into market trouble of a more serious nature will happen.  It would be greatly to the benefit of the Indians if they were removed, for there is no hope of their advancement so long as they are here.  They are a burden to the country and an agent who would look to their interest would take them away.  The Indians themselves would profit by the change and a frightful incubus would be removed from this beautiful valley.

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part 1, pp. 85-90        TABLE OF CONTENTS        part 3, pp. 95-99

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STEVENS COUNTY, ch. 2, pt. 1, pp. 85-90

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ch. 1, pt. 4, pp. 80-85        TABLE OF CONTENTS        part 2, pp. 90-95

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p. 85 (continued)

CHAPTER II.

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MATERIAL PROGRESS FROM 1871 TO 1903.

      From the original Stevens county there have been sliced the important political divisions of Spokane, Whitman, Adams, Franklin, Lincoln, Douglas, Ferry, Okanogan and a portion of Chelan counties.  Yet in 1871 in all that vast territory, under the jurisdiction of Colville, as the county seat, there was a voting population of less than three hundred, and a total population, exclusive of Indians, of less than one thousand.  The most populous portion of the district, at the period named, was the Colville valley.  A list of the various farms, ranches, "sites" or residences of the white inhabitants, prepared for the information of the

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government shows them to have been ninety-one in number.  From a copy of this list we are enabled to give the names of eighty-eight of these pioneers of Stevens county.  Many of them are still residents, even within its present boundaries; some have removed to other localities, or been set off by county subdivision; a large number have passed to the Great Beyond.  The names are: Harry Young, L. D. Ferguson, Joseph Gangraw, —— Hilburn, I. R. Kingsley, ——  Bergean, George Waitt, Francis Hubert, George Frazer, Henry Brown, John Inkster, Andrew Mowatt, ——  Kemp, Peter Abramson, George Flett, Joseph Morrell, Reid Montgomery, John Garrack, Patrick McKenzie, Thomas Brown, Fred Keiling, George McRea, Donald McCloud, Louis Morrigean, Nobra Dupuis, ——  Mechan, Magnes Flett, —— Mechel, John Stranger, H. Wellington, Joseph Roberts, John Hauser, Con Rickart, Mrs. Fratzer, Narcise Finley, Louis Perras, M.
L'Fleur, Francis Wolff. James Kitt, Louis Matthews. Jacob Buske. Alex. Gendron, Solomon Pelton. Mrs. McDougall, Frank Johann, John Wynne, Pierre, Moses Dupee, Antoine Paradis, W. Hall, L. W. Meyers, Peter Grupee, John Probell, John Jarvir, Fred Sherwood, Jacob Gillett, Robert Bruce, Thomas Stranger, Thomas Stranger, Jr., George Heron. Mrs. G. W. Jacobs, M. Oppenheimer, R. H. Douglas, Thomas Haller, Mrs. Champagne, Robert McKay. Joseph Lapray, Matthew Hayden, Joseph Laurient, John Lezott, Leopold DeRudder, Andrew Hughson, F. Boesch, John U. Hofstetter, Joseph Martin, Louis Peone, —— Charette, I. Merchant, C. H. Montgomery, Ambrose Tindall, Donald McDonald, Marcus Oppenheimer, John Rickey, George Reimer, John Cluxton, Albert Dunlap, George W. Harvey.

      At this period Pinkney City was the metropolis of northeastern Washington.  Here the board of county commissioners administered the affairs of a territory larger than that of any other similar body on the Northwest Coast.  They established election precincts containing hundreds of square miles; large sums were appropriated, necessarily, to reimburse those who brought in the election returns, and they were sometimes weeks on the road, while results remained in doubt; some of the school districts embraced territory from which counties were subsequently carved; the city of Spokane was yet to develop from the shadows of the future.

      The range of Indian superintendence was on a scale equally extensive.  Over eight different tribes, prior to April 9, 1872, the Colville Indian Agency had nominal control.  These tribes, including the Colville, Spokane, Okanogan, San Poil, Kalispell, Methow, Nespelim, and Lake Chelan bands, numbered over three thousand persons.  We say nominal control, for although some of these Indians declined to recognize the authority of the United States, they were in the main peaceably disposed.  By executive order a reservation was set apart for them April 9, 1872.  This included the Colville valley, and the act met with the warm approval of the Indians.  Not so with the white settlers and pioneers.  Sixty of the latter filed an immediate protest.  July 2 an order was issued by President Grant confining the reservation to the country bounded on the east and south by the Columbia, west by the Okanogan and north by British Columbia. This order was ratified by the first session of the forty-third congress and was followed by a counter protest by Indians and agents.  This, however, was without effect, as the order was not "changed, but the Colville Indians entered upon a sort of joint-occupancy with the whites in the valley, and here the Jesuits assumed charge of their spiritual welfare, bestowing upon them the same care and attention which they had exhibited in other localities since 1842.  This reservation was extended in April, 1879, by a grant on the west side of the Okanogan to the Cascade range.  The reservation then included all the country in eastern Washington

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west of the Columbia and north of 48 degrees 30 minutes, comprising some four thousand square miles.

      The reader will have noticed that in these early days, and prior to 1880, the names of the putative capital of Stevens county appear to have been interchangeable.  Sometimes the proceedings of the county commissioners are dated Colville, Fort Colville, and again, Pinkney City.  April 26, 1876, the county seat question was brought up at a meeting on that day of the commissioners, and a majority of the board concurred in the following:

      "That it is the opinion of a majority of the board of county commissioners that the act of 1875, being an amendment to the act of 1863, an act repealed by the act of 1864, 'permanently locating the county seat at Colville,' and consequently null and void, that the amendment of 1875 must be of necessity also null and void, and in consequence the act of 1864 still remains in full force and effect, Meyers and Lamona concurring; Mr. Percival protesting against the action of the majority of the board."

      In 1876 the Okanogan Election Precinct was formed by the commissioners, and one year later the Hangman's Creek Precinct, in the southeast corner of the county, was established. August 10, 1877, the commissioners in settling with the sheriff were informed that he had been unable to collect the taxes due for the year 1876 owing to unsettled conditions resulting from recent Indian outbreaks.  The sheriff was therefore given until the succeeding November meeting of the board to collect the taxes.  Two new election precincts were organized in 1878; one, the Spring Valley Precinct, and another, the Moses Precinct, which appears to have included the greater part of Lincoln and Douglas counties, as now organized.  It is described on the commissioners' record as follows:

      "In the southwest corner of Stevens county, with the following boundaries: Commencing on the Whitman county line, at the Columbia river: thence up said river to Spokane river; thence in a southerly direction by way of Mineral Springs, near Crab Creek, to Whitman county line; thence west on said line to place of beginning."

      Reference to a map of Washington will conclusively show that it cost time, as well as money, to exercise the elective franchise in those days.  In 1884 the Columbia, Sequaha, Spring Valley Election Precincts, and Okanogan District were organized, thus considerably reducing the size, not only of Moses, but other election precincts.

      August 10, 1878, an order was made by the commissioners providing that the receiving officers of Stevens county be instructed to not receive gold dust in payment of any indebtedness to the county at a value greater than the following rates: Amalgam dust, Rock Creek, Salmon River, $14;' "49" Creek, Pend d'
Oreille, $16, and Kootenai, $17 per ounce.

      The amputation from Stevens of the territory comprising Whitman county did not create any undue excitement in the vicinity of Colville.  This, however, was not the case in the subsequent segregation of Spokane county.  There was most emphatic protest from nearly all the citizens in the remaining portion of Stevens county, particularly from those residing in the northeastern district.  At a meeting of the board of commissioners, November 6, 1879, the following resolution was concurred in unanimously:

      "Whereas, Our representative, D. F. Percival, has introduced and caused to be passed a bill for the division of Stevens county, without the approval of a large majority of his constituents;
      "Resolved, That we consider his act sectional and in opposition to the wishes of the citizens of this county and very unjust."

      Of this action Mr. John Rickey, one of the oldest and most influential pioneers says:

      "At the time Spokane was cut off from Stevens county, Mr. Percival, of Cheney, was our representative in the Washington Territorial legislature. The people of the present

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county of Stevens did not desire a division of the county at this time, but it was generally understood that when the division was made the northern boundary of Spokane county was to be the Spokane river. Mr. Percival was elected by votes from this part of the county with this understanding, but when he reached Olympia he immediately introduced, and secured the passage of a bill creating the county of Spokane with its present boundaries."

      Mr. Rickey adds the following reminiscence of this eventful year:

      "I remember one very exciting incident in the history of the 'Old Town.'  It was in the year 1879 that the old log jail burned, and for a short time there was as much excitement as would be occasioned by an Indian outbreak.  In fact the fire was caused by an Indian outbreak — an Indian breaking out of the old jail.  'Apache Joe" was the Indian's name, and he was serving a sentence for arson, having set fire to some hay.  The Indian dug his way out of the jail, but before taking his liberty he set fire to the building.  I was attending court at the time and was sleeping that night in the court house, when I was awakened by the most unearthly cries I ever heard, apparently coming from the jail.  When I got my clothes on and rushed out the jail building was a mass of flames and the cries were coming from a prisoner named Thomas, who was serving a thirty days' sentence for petit larceny, and who was now locked up in one of the cells of the burning building.  Several persons had arrived on the scene by this time, and by using the trunk of a tree which was handy, for a battering ram, we burst open the door of the jail and rescued the terrified prisoner.  Thomas' clothes had caught fire, but after extinguishing the flames he was found to be not much the worse for his experience."

      The Territorial legislature of 1883 had enacted a law making the "town of Colville the county seat of Stevens county."  At this period the records of the commissioners showed no town of Colville in existence, that is no legally filed plat of such a town and, accordingly, May 20, 1883, there was filed for record by J. W.  Still a plat of the present capital of Stevens county, February 28, 1883, the town had been dedicated by W. F. Hooker and Mary J. Hooker, his wife, from land owned by John U. Hofstetter and John Wynne.  May 2, 1881, at Pinkney City, bids for the erection of a new jail had been submitted by the commissioners, the contract being awarded to R. H. Douglas on his, lowest, bid of $1,200. For the purpose of providing this structure a tax of ten mills on the dollar was levied, and the same year the new jail was completed at Pinkney City.

      Thus there was a new county seat, named Colville, but the county business was transacted at Pinkney City; there the jail was located and there the county records were kept until 1883.  December 28, of that year the commissioners convened in special session to consider the proposition of removing the records to the legalized county seat.  The full board, comprising George Waitte, Adam Boyd and John U. Hofstetter were present, together with Fred Keiling, sheriff, and H. H. Oliver, clerk.  In the matter of removing the county records it was ordered that, in compliance with the law of 1883, they be taken to Colville by January 1, 1884.  The privilege of removing the jail to the new town free of cost to the taxpayers of the county, was extended to the proprietors of the new town of Colville, with a proviso that they donate a block of land for the purposes of county buildings.  At Colville an office for the transaction of the business of the county auditor was furnished by John U. Hofstetter at a monthly rental of $9, and one room for the joint occupancy of court and sheriff at the same rental.  Until the succeeding February meeting Mr. Hofstetter undertook to furnish the county treasurer an office free of charge.  At the commissioners meeting of February 26, 1884, the question of the location of the jail in the new town was considered.  It was finally

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agreed among the commissioners that if Mr. John Wynne would donate five lots in Block No. l0, town of Colville, the jail and other county buildings should be located thereon; otherwise the buildings to be placed on lots belonging to Mr. Hofstetter in Block No. 14.  It appears that satisfactory arrangements could not be concluded with Mr. Wynne, for on December 31, 1884, we find that a deed was presented to the county of Stevens by W. F. Hooker, and Mary J. Hooker, of Spokane county, for "Block No. 14, in the town of Colville."  No county buildings were completed, however, at the time of the commissioners' meeting of February 2, 1885, for the board met on that date in various private residences.  John U. Hofstetter moved the jail from Pinkney City free of charge to the county.

      January 3, 1885, the report of a committee appointed to examine the financial condition of the county was submitted to the commissioners showing the total indebtedness to have been reduced to $1,471.60. This committee consisted of S. Douglas and William Moore.  Measures were then taken to dispose of the old court house at Pinkney City.  At the commissioners' meeting of February 3, 1885, it was ordered that "the sheriff, after taking what lumber he needs for offices in the jail, post notice and sell at public auction to the highest bidder, on four or six months' time, on good endorsed notes, the court house in the old town of Colville."  This sale was approved by the commissioners May 8, 1885.

      March 6, 1886, a special meeting of the commissioners of Stevens county was held at the request of Jacob Stitzel, chairman of a committee appointed to promote the erection of a new court house.  Nothing appears to have "been done at this meeting, but on August 12, the commissioners decided to submit at the next general election, a proposition to vote to levy a special tax for the purpose of building a suitable court house at an estimated cost of $3,500.  But at a subsequent meeting held November 11, the board decided to purchase an edifice known as the "Oppenheimer building," for court house purposes and it was deeded to the county by E. Oppenheimer and H. K. Hansen for the sum of $1,900. including two lots.  D. J. Yeargain also secured the contract for making improvements to the value of $243 on the building, and here the county records were moved in February, 1887.

      In 1886 the various election precincts of the county, with their voting places, were as follows: Calispel, residence of William Miller; Metaline, residence of Alex. McLean; Little Dalles, store of Peter Ellensohn; Toads Schoolar, residence of Alex. Thorp; Salmon River, residence of D. J. McGilvery; Okanogan, residence of G. Reynolds ; Old Dominion, house known as Old Dominion mining office; Camas Prairie, (the precinct known as Sequaha) was changed to Camas Prairie; Thetis; Walker's Prairie and Clugston Creek.

      March 13, 1888, the commissioners leased the building and vault then employed for court house purposes, from T. D. Boyer, for a term of five years at a yearly rental of $1,000. Mr. Boyer in consideration of this contract executed a bond in the sum of $6,000 conditioned that at the expiration of the lease, and upon payment of rent, he would make over to the county a deed of this property.

      September 10, 1891, it was shown that the outstanding warrants of Stevens county amounted to $53,785.16, and that there were on hand no available funds with which to redeem them.  At the preceding assessment the taxable property in the county, as shown by the rolls, amounted to $2,510,019.  It was deemed expedient by the commissioners to issue a call for a special election, October 13, to vote upon a proposition to issue $60,000 in county bonds.  Meanwhile the supreme court of the State of Washington, which had been admitted into the union in 1889, had rendered an opinion affecting the validity of the issuance of the bonds proposed by the commissioners at their meeting

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of September l0. In consequence of this adverse decision the following was spread upon the records of the county:

      "It is ordered that any and all orders heretofore made relative to the issuance of said bonds, and notice of an election therefor, be and the same are hereby, revoked and vacated."

      Then the board advertised to sell bonds to the amount of $35,000, or not to exceed one and one-half per cent of the assessed value of the county, and on September 25 they ordered to be issued thirty-five funding bonds of Stevens county for the sum of $1,000 each, dating December 1. 1891, and maturing December 1, 1911, at six per cent, interest.  The money realized from the sale of these bonds was to be employed exclusively in liquidating the longest outstanding warrants, these warrants dating back to November 5, 1885, the principal and interest of which aggregated $33,644.47.

      Almost synchronal with the admission of Washington into the union began the agitation for a railroad within the present limits of Stevens county.  The rapidity with which the project gained headway, and the celerity with which the greatly desired railway development of the county was pushed to completion is energetically described by Mr. Randall H. Kemp, of Spokane, in the Colville Miner of date September 12, 1890:

      A year ago last February, when D. C. Corbin, A. A. Newbury and James Monaghan returned (to Spokane) from a trip of nearly three hundred miles, made on runners, whereby they looked out the proposed route of the Spokane Falls & Northern Railway, the foundation was commenced on which one of the most important business enterprises beneficial to Spokane Falls and a vast area of country was reared.  A person does not have to be an old timer to remember the alacrity with which the people of this progressive city accepted Mr. Corbin's request for a bonus of $100,000 which should be guaranteed before he commenced the construction of the road.
      The board of trade took an active interest in the matter; the banker left his counting room, the editor his chair, and the merchant his ledger; the entire population of the city appeared to consider themselves a committee, and before they scarcely paused to take breath this sum was pledged and D. C. Corbin, the railroad magnate of the northwest, was actively engaged in the construction of this line which is rapidly becoming a great artery of commerce.  Like all successful business men possessing that rare faculty called genius, he selected a staff of aides and assistants from the best material to be found, and from its inception up to the present, the carrying out of this collossal scheme has moved with the precision of a well-regulated clock.
      It appears almost incredible that such a perfect road as the Spokane Falls & Northern could be equipped in such a short time, and the benefit that it has been to the Colville and upper Columbia country, and this city (Spokane) as well, can scarcely be realized.  The days of the lumbering stage coach, the heavy freight wagon and the slow cayuse method of traveling are numbered among the things that were, and another rich section of the great northwest has received the benefits of one of the great equalizers, a modern railway.

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ch. 1, pt. 4, pp. 80-85        TABLE OF CONTENTS        part 2, pp. 90-95

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STEVENS COUNTY, ch. 1, pt. 4, pp. 80-85

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part 3, pp. 75-80        TABLE OF CONTENTS        ch. 2, pt. 1, pp. 85-90

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      The subject of roads has always been an important one with the commissioners of Stevens county, and it is but just to say that within the present boundaries of the county there are as good roads as can be found anywhere in the state.  At the meeting of the board July 10, 1865, the report of C. H. Montgomery, road supervisor, was read and ordered filed.  The report contained many wholesome recommendations, and the following action was taken by the commissioners on the different roads of the county:

      "That the road from Pinkney City to the Spokane river stand as recorded in the road book, June 2. 1864, and the old military road to be kept in passable repair until the supervisor shall locate the route from Francis Uback's but from that point to Walker's prairie, shall be located and opened by him, so soon as he can do so, Joseph P. Null, J. J. Murphy, C. H. Montgomery, to go with him and view the portion of the road from Francis Uback's to the old government pack bridge, on both sides of the valley; the viewers to report to the auditor and their decision to be final, and on being recorded by the auditor shall be the county road."

      Action was deferred on the Little Dalles wagon road, but the commissioners decided that should it become necessary they would call an extra session to pass upon it. It was decided at this meeting that the trail to the Pend d'Oreille river should be cut, and that the road supervisor should be authorized to advertise for proposals for cutting the same, the contract to be let to the lowest bidder, with a proviso that no bid shall exceed $500 for the entire distance.  The same course was ordered to be pursued with the Pack Creek as with the Pend d'Oreille trail.  On November 28, 1865, C. H. Montgomery was ordered to make a new road leading from the "Bruce place" to the Little Dalles, and he was authorized to enter into contract for the construction of the same at any sum not exceeding $2,000.  At the same session a petition was drawn addressed to the representative from Stevens county asking him to oppose all appropriations for toll roads in the county, as the people were fully able to make all necessary roads in this section.

      April 16, 1866, the commissioners organized the following road districts:

      No. I — From old Fort Colville to Marcus Openheimer's up 'the valley on both sides of the river; G. B. Wannacott. Supervisor.

      No. 2 — From Marcus Openheimer's to Joseph Roberts' house, at Stranger's bridge, on both sides of the river; John Genick. supervisor.

      No. 3 — From Joseph Roberts' to Spokane river, on both sides of the river: Magnus Flett. supervisor.

      No. 4 — From Pinkney City to Little Dalles; Robert Bruce, supervisor.  Three new election precincts were also created, at Pinkney City, Little Dalles and Old Fort Colville.

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On June 28, 1866, the board enacted that road district No. 3 should extend from the house of Joseph Roberts (including his house) to Snake river, and across the White Bluffs, and the super\asor was empowered to appoint some suitable person in any part of the district to oversee the labor thereon. August 13, 1866, a road was ordered built from Solomon Pelter's house through White Mud valley to "H. Lafleur's grocery stand."

      Concerning the finances of Stevens county in these early days the following will prove of interest:  At the meeting of the commissioners of June 16, 1863, J. R. Bates, treasurer, came before the board for the purpose of settlement.  He presented a statement of his various accounts for 1862. showing that he had received $2,587.58, and that he had expended: County orders redeemed, $1,881.98; interest fees to R. H. Douglas, $8.12; school fund of 1861, cash in hands of treasurer, $277.02 ; school fund of 1862, cash in hands of treasurer, $122.26; Territorial tax of 1861, $116.01; Territorial tax of 1862, $56.22; war tax of 1862, $50; cash on hand $0.79; county order, fees for recording and disbursing $85.18; total $2,587.58.

      May 4, 1863, the commissioners ordered that the value of grain in Stevens county should be assessed as follows: Wheat, $1.50 per bushel; oats, barley and potatoes, $1 : flour, $8 per hundred pounds.  The taxes levied for county purposes were four mills on the dollar.

      At the meeting of the commissioners of November 20, 1863, the auditor was instructed to write Dr. Toby, representing the county in the Territorial assembly, to secure the immediate passage of a bill taxing Chinamen, the tax to be $1.50 per month, or $4.50 per quarter, the tax to be collected by the sheriff, that officer to be allowed 20 per cent of such collections, and the treasurer and auditor their usual fees, as in the case of other public moneys.  A resolution was also passed to the effect "that Stevens county be annexed to this, the citizens having failed to organize." In the commissioners' proceedings of January 23, 1864, the county is referred to as Spokane.  At the succeeding meeting, May 2, 1864, it is called Stevens county.

      January 23, 1864, the jail specifications were taken up and examined, following which the new jail was inspected and found to have been erected according to contract, upon which it was formally accepted.  At this meeting the jail building was discussed at length, the commissioners finally ordering the county auditor to settle with the contractor,  George M. Davendorf, and to pay him the balance of the contract price, $700, in county orders, the same to draw interest from date.  The auditor was, also, instructed to return to Mr. Davendorf the money deposited by him as security for performance of the jail contract.  At the meeting of March 1, 1864, the office of sheriff, L. T. Marshall, incumbent, was declared vacant, as Mr. Marshall had been absent from the Territory for over nine months, and was delinquent in the amount of $95.  Suit was ordered to be commenced against his bondsmen, and H. P. Steward was appointed to fill the vacancy in the office of sheriff, until the next general election.  On May 4, of the same year, the commissioners instructed the county treasurer to pay county orders in nothing but greenbacks.  February 12, 1865, F. W. Perkins was appointed county auditor in place of Park Winans, the latter having forfeited his right to appoint a deputy by an absence from the county of over six months.  Therefore the office was declared vacant and filled by the selection of Mr. Perkins, May 8, the same year, the board passed a resolution to the effect that the auditorship had been forfeited by Mr. Winans, not through loss of residence, but owing to his continued absence.

      Following is the financial statement of the county of Stevens, February 12, 1865:

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      From the assessment rolls of May, 1865, we find that the price of grain was fixed as follows: Wheat, $1.75; oats, 75 cents; barley, $1.25; potatoes, $1.50.  Yet about one year later, in June, 1866, wheat was taxed at $3 a bushel, oats $1.50, and potatoes $1.50.  In 1865 the tax apportionment was eight mills on the dollar; Territorial tax four mills; school two mills; road ten mills; road poll tax $5, and $3 a day allowed for road labor.  In 1866 the Territorial assessment was three mills; school three mills and county eight mills.  The road property tax was twenty cents on $100; poll tax two day's work for $4 each man.

      February 5, 1867, agitation began for the purchase of a court house, a price of $500 being fixed for the same, and Sheriff George Young was appointed to negotiate the deal.  February 23 a deed was given to C. H. Montgomery and approved.  The purchase of the Douglas house was suggested, and it was resolved to secure this building provided it could be bought for $500 in coin, or $666.66 in greenbacks.  April 12 a deed for this property was given to R. H. Douglas and accepted, and $666.66 paid in legal tender notes.  April 12, 1867, the commissioners took up the question of building another road "from where the Cottonwood creek crosses the Walla Walla road to intersect with the Mullan road, at or

near, Antonio Plant's, and it was enacted that the supervisors of different districts be requested to call out such men as have signed the road petition to work on said road on or before the first day of October, 1867, and also that there shall be a new bridge built on Fool's Prairie, and also such other work as shall be deemed necessary for a good road between Grame's and Cottonwood creek."  On May 4 the commissioners ordered that the road from Cottonwood creek to Spokane bridge be a county road.  May 4, 1868, it was ordered that the Territorial fund then in the treasury be turned over into the county fund from time to time until the Territorial warrant for $841.64 be satisfied.  May 2, 1869, a new voting precinct was established at Vogh's ferry, on the Pend d'Oreille river.  June 28, 1869, the commissioners found that the county was in debt by outstanding orders $3,369.84, from which, deducting $1,390.32 due from the Territory to the county, left an indebtedness of $1,979.52, which, together with the indebtedness of the county to the school fund of $1,400, left a total liability of $3,379.52.  In the fall of 1869 the commissioners appeared to have considerable difficulty in collecting licenses for the sale of intoxicating liquors, and there were frequent appearances of notices like the following:

      "Ordered that all persons selling liquors by retail be notified to pay all arrears of license due and all persons selling without license to take out license."

      November i, 1869. on petition of George Wait and others, it was ordered that the county road from Colville to Walla Walla be changed so as to run on the west side of Colville valley.  May 4, 1870, a new election precinct was established at Union Flat, at the house of H. Murton.  June 22. 1870, it was found that the county was indebted by outstanding orders

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$7,234.86. Deducting the amount of county funds on hand as shown by the auditor's books, $1,430, remaining in the treasury, the actual indebtedness was $5,804.86.

      At a meeting of the commissioners held May 6, 1872, in order that all persons in the county entitled to the elective franchise might be afforded an opportunity of exercising it at the approaching election the board proceeded to organize the following election precincts and to appoint officers thereof for the election of June 3, 1872.

      Che-we-lah Election Precinct — Boundaries: north by a line running east and west three miles south of the Twelve Mile House; east by Little Spokane; south by main Spokane; west by Columbia river.  Place of voting, school house.

      Pine Grove Election Precinct — Boundaries: North by Hangman's creek and Spokane river to Monaghan's bridge; west by Walla Walla and Colville road to where said road crosses Crab creek; south by a line running easterly to the house of A. Himes, including Mr. Himes and Mr. Wells in said precinct, thence northeasterly by Monroes to Hangman's creek where said creek crosses the line between Idaho and Washington.  Place of voting, store of Montague's.

      Pine Creek Precinct — Boundaries: South by Whitman county; west by Colville and Walla Walla road; north by Pine Grove precinct; east by Idaho.  Voting place, the house of T. F. Favorite.

      Spokane Bridge Precinct — Boundaries: South and west by Hangman's creek, Spokane and Little Spokane; north by Pend d' Oreille river: east by Idaho. Voting place, A. C. Kendal's store.

      Crab Creek Precinct — Boundaries: North by Spokane river; east by Colville and Walla

Walla road; South by Whitman county; west by Columbia river.  Place of voting, house of H. L. White.

      The reader will remember that Whitman county was established November 21, 1871, by setting off a certain portion of territory from Stevens county.  It appears that this act left Whitman county in debt to Stevens county, and on November 25, 1872, the commissioners of Stevens county proceeded to consider this matter of indebtedness.  It was shown that certain provisions of the law organizing Whitman county in respect to the issue of orders covering its proportion of the liabilities of Stevens county had not been complied with, and the auditor was directed to transmit the following letter to the auditor of Whitman county:

Fort Colville, Nov. 25, 1872           

Auditor of Whitman County.

      Sir : — At a special session of the board of commissioners held this day, I am directed to call the attention of the commissioners and auditor of Whitman to the following extract from the act of the Territorial legislature organizing your county, approved November 29, 187:

      "The said Whitman county shall issue county orders in favor of Stevens county for that amount. And the county auditor of Whitman county shall transmit to the county auditor of Stevens county before the first day of July, A. D., 1872, the amount of county orders that shall fall due, Whitman county to issue in favor of Stevens county."

      Pursuant to the above I am instructed to demand of the board of commissioners and auditor of Whitman county an immediate compliance therewith and to ask that the order, or orders in question be dated as provided in the act referred to, and also be properly endorsed so that interest may accrue thereon.

      As a matter of convenience in respect to the redemption of the issues in favor of this county, I beg to suggest that the amount be covered by orders of the denomination of $100. Please transmit by registered letter. You have a certified statement of the amount of our regular and supplementary assessment, but take the aggregate of your taxable property as published in the Olympia papers. Please send your supplementary roll. Please acknowledge receipt.

      It appears that the above letter did not produce the desired results, for we find that on May 5, 1873, the commissioners of Stevens county ordered the auditor to forward the necessary papers to the prosecuting attorney authorizing him to commence suit against Whitman county, and to procure such help as he may deem necessary to secure judgment against the

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delinquent county.  During the following year it appears little satisfaction was secured, concerning this financial matter, for at a board meeting May 24, 1874, the Stevens county commissioners ordered the auditor to take legal advice in relation to the Whitman county order, "and ask if we cannot get the money and refuse the order."  However, it was decided that the the auditor deposit the Whitman county order, which, it seems, had been paid in bulk sum, regardless of the request of Stevens county to cut it into amounts of $100 each, with the treasurer, subject to the order of the Stevens county commissioners.  September 23, of the same year, it was ordered that the "county auditor turn over to Mr. I. H. Wells the county order now deposited with the county treasurer and known as the Whitman county order, amounting to $1,342.56, taking a receipt for said order and the amount thereof from Mr. Wells, and that Mr. Wells present said order to the county treasurer of Whitman county for payment of principal and interest, and in case there are not sufficient funds to pay said order, or any part thereof, then to split said order, principal and interest, into smaller orders of the denomination of $100 each; Mr. Wells then to deposit at his earliest opportunity the amount or order received for said order with the treasurer of Stevens county, taking a receipt for the same, to be subject to the order of the treasurer of Stevens county."

      January 5, 1875, Mr. Wells presented the order to the treasurer of Whitman county, but it was not paid for lack of funds.  Neither would the treasurer split it up into smaller orders, although Mr. Wells requested him to do so.  Finally this celebrated order was brought back and deposited once more with the treasurer of Stevens county.  January 9, 1875, the Whitman county order was sold to Henry Wellington for $1,700 (in Stevens county orders).  It was dated May 18, 1874, and was for $1,342.50, interest amounting to $316.04.  Thus Stevens county cleared $41.46.

      It becomes necessary to revert to May 7, 1872, when we find that pursuant to an act of the Territorial legislature it became incumbent upon the commissioners of Walla Walla, Whitman and Stevens counties, to appoint each a commissioner to view and locate a Territorial road from Walla Walla to Colville, and on the part of Stevens county J. R. Courtnay was selected as commissioner.  Mr. Courtnay met with the other commissioners, assisted in the survey of this road and was paid for his services $310.50.  Concerning the subject of road building Mr. John Ricky says:

      "At this time the several counties put considerable work on this road, fixing up the old military road and building a part of it anew, until a first-class road was established as a Territorial road."

      May 7, 1874, the commissioners established the Four Lake Election Precinct, embracing all the territory between Willow Springs, Rock creek, north and south, and the Colville and Walla Walla road ; Lake creek, east and west.  The voting place was at the residence of C. Murphy. September 22, the same year, Spokane Falls Election Precinct was established, bounded as follows: Commencing at the mouth of Hangman's creek, thence up the creek ten miles; thence east ten miles; thence north ten miles (more or less) to Spokane river; thence west down Spokane river to the place first named.  Polls were established at the store of Mathema & Company.  The following day the commissioners abolished the election precinct of Pine Creek, "there not being sufficient voters, and ordered that said precinct be included in Pine Grove Precinct, and that the auditor notify Mr. Favorite of this order."

      May 5, 1875, a complication arose concerning the office of county auditor. From the proceedings of that date we find that the county commissioners ordered that the resignation of J. R. Kinsley, as auditor be spread on the minutes, of which resignation the following is a copy:

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 "COLVILLE, W. T., March 18, 1875.           

"To the Honorable Board of Commissioners of

      Stevens County, W. T.

      "Gentlemen : I herewith tender my resignation as auditor of Stevens county, W. T., to take effect at the regular May meeting.

"(Signed)      J. R. Kinsey."           

      It appears that Mr. Kinsley reconsidered his action in resigning, for at the meeting of May 6, the letter appended herewith appears spread upon the records:

"COLVILLE, May 3, 1875.           

"To the Honorable Board of Commissioners.

      "Gentlemen : I do hereby give notice that I respectfully withdraw my resignation placed in your hands, dated March 18, 1875, as county auditor.  Respectfully,

"(Signed)       John R. Kinsley,             

"County Auditor."        

      A majority of the board refused to accept this withdrawal, the vote standing, L. W. Myers and D. T. Percival, opposed to acceptance; J. Lamona in favor of it.  The same majority accepted the resignation of Mr. Kinsley, and it was ordered that the office of county auditor be declared vacant.  To this action Mr. Kinsley presented a written protest as follows:

"Fort Colville, W. T., May 6, 1875.           

"Gentlemen of the Board of Commissioners:
      "I, John R. Kinsley, auditor of Stevens county, protest against the action of the board of county commissioners in declaring the office of county auditor vacant, as arbitrary and contrary to law, and I refuse to surrender the office.

"(Signed)       John R. Kinsley.           

"County Auditor."      

      Through the action of Percival and Myers S. F. Sherwood was appointed auditor of Stevens county. Commissioner Lamona protesting against such appointment "unless Mr. Kinsley be removed by due course of law; in that event he would sustain Mr. Sherwood."

      But Messrs. Percival and Myers continued the work, and approved the bond of Mr. Sherwood, for $3,000, with Max Weil and Henry Wellington as sureties.  Mr. Kinsley was then ordered to turn over all books and papers belonging to the office of auditor to S. F. Sherwood, and to this proposition Mr. Kinsley promptly refused.  Mr. Sherwood was then requested to take immediate possession of the office, and to remove the lock from the door of the office and place thereon a new one.  Sheriff John U. Hofstetter was also ordered to secure a new lock for the court house, and although Commissioner Lamona strongly protested against this forcible possession of the office, the majority carried the day, and Mr. Sherwood continued to hold the fort.

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part 3, pp. 75-80        TABLE OF CONTENTS        ch. 2, pt. 1, pp. 85-90

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