Spokane County, Washington - Chapter 18: Spokane As a Commercial Center, 1900

Chapter 18: Spokane As a Commercial Center

Spokane possesses sucli unusual facilities in all lines of manufacture that it makes it nal- -urally the industrial center of the great "Inland Empire." The almost unparalleled waterpower, with seven railroads, are advantageous features that especially invite those desirous 'of establishing industrial enterprises. Already such institutions are numerous.

Union Inm Works. - It is gratifying to the eye and business sense to note the thoroughly complete and well appointed foundry and machine shops of the Union Iron Works, which occupv about two acres of gnjund in Heath's addition, having their i_iwn side tracks on the jnain line of the S. F. & X. Railway.

with the local conditions of this section, and built up a prosperous trade, notwithstanding the loss of the entire plant by fire in 1894. The present showing, however, dates from September, 1898. when some of the leading capitalists. seeing an opportunity offered for investment, bought a control, re-organized the company witii increased capital, and at the same time purciiased the plant and good will of the Reid Machine Company. The present commodious fire-proof buildings were erected and stocked with tiie newest machinery and modern equipment, as well as large supplies of raw material tiirect from the mills and furnaces for manufacture.

A good ixjrtion of the trade of the great mining country adjacent, whicii hitherto was forced to go elsewhere, is now iiandled satisfactorily here, and some idea of tiie magnitude of the business can l)e gathered from the fact that the average number of men employed in 1899, per month, were seventy Iiands, and the running expenses about two hundred and fifty dollars per day. a mighty factor to the credit of Spokane's numerous enterprises.

1 he concern since their estal)lishnient can point tt) many ornaments of their handiwork, having furnished the iron and steel used in the erection of many of the prominent buildings, not alone in Spokane, but in Walla Walla. Colfax, Lewiston, Moscow, Wallace, Wardner, Xelson, Rossland and many of the outer prosperous towns in Washington, Idalio, Montana and British Columbia ; and it is a matter of local ])ride that some of the huge, as well as delicate, machinery, including condensers, osmogenes. strainers, mi.xers. beet wheels, gas washers, etc., for tiie Washington State Sugar

Edo Lm5Ted M D.

The firm is making a specialty of mining maciiinery. and builds engines, boilers, ore crushers, hoists, horse whims, hand hoists, pulleys, sawmill and smelter supplies, etc., and the stock of standard patterns, which have been accumulating, and which were gathered at a great cost, enable them to distance all competitors, and scarcely anyone cares to enter the field against them.

National Iron Works - This is one of the oldest and most important industries of its kind in the "Inland Empire." It was organized in 1887 and began operation at its present location, Havermale Island, or 501 Howard street. J. H. Boyd is president and manager, and is thoroughly ecpiipped for his business. The pluck and energy of the manager was evidenced something like a }ear ago in the speedy rebuilding of the plant. They manufacture gasoline and steam engines, boilers, elevators, architectural iron works, quartz mills and crushers, concentrators, ore cars, buckets and general and mining machniery. They are also engaged in general repairing of .every description.

The location is most central and the waterpower is all that could be asked for. The National Iron Works are favorably known iKjt only in this city, but all through the surrounding country to Idaho, Montana and British Columbia.

and Smelting Machinery - This industry was started the first of September, 1899, '^y Messrs. George M. Hull and Charles Walton, in the building formerly occupied by the Reid Machine Company, on the Big, or Havermale Island. The premises occupied consist of a building 8o.x8o, supplied with modern machines and appliances, with water motive power, and ten men are emiiloyed.

Sp<ikane Foundry - This industry was started at its present location, E. 1402 Sprague avenue, over two years ago. The proprietors are H. A. Klein and C. Frahm. and they manufacture chilled plow-shares, furnaces, portable French and family ranges, stove supplies, dutch ovens, kettles, boxes and collars, sledsh(jes, couplings and flanges, grates and washers, sash-weights, lintels and plates. They employ six men and find abundant market in the city. The foundry will soon be removed from its present location, which is leased ground, a few blocks south on Third avenue on land owned by the company.

Northern Pacific Shops - This is the largest industry in Spokane. Until 1896 the Northern Pacific shops for this division were at Sprague. During that \ear the plant was burnetl. which was the occasion for the removal of the same to Spokane. During the year above mentioned extensive stone shops were erected. The machine shop, carpenter shop and round house are large ami airy. The supply house, where the offices are, is also large and con\'enient. The Northern Pacific Company employs in this city about three hundred men, and the payroll amounts to over one thousand dollars a day. Frederick \\\ Gilbert is the division superintendent, and William Moir the master mechanic.

Water Power - An eminent engineer who made a careful study of Spokane water power had this to say : "Tiie city of Spokane is situated <jn the eastern margin of the broad Washington prairie. This prairie has an annual rainfall of abount twenty inches, but the water shed of the river above the falls is chiefly a mountainous area sloping toward the west. These mountain slopes condense more moisture borne by the prevailing westerly winds from the Pacific ocean than the plain. The depth of the annual rain upon the watershed of the river may safely be estimated as averaging twenty-four inches for the whide year. This water-shed embraces part of Washington, part of Idaho and a small area of Montana, and measures about four hundred and fifty square miles. The beautiful Coeur d'Alene lake in Idaho receives the greater part of this drainage from the St. Mary's. St. Joseph's and Coeur d' Alene rivers, and it acts as a vast storage reservoir to equalize the flow of tlie river during the entire year, stirring up the vast volume of water brought down by the melting snow in the spring to feed the flow of the river during the succeeding months when the rainfall on the lower part of tiie water-shed is very light. This lake has an area of about sixty-nine square miles, according to the survey of Lieutenant Hayden, of the United States Army, and this natural storage is a very important factor in determining the value of the water power of the Spokane river. Should the time come when the demand for power exhausts that which now can be supplied by the present low-water flow of the river, a dam placed across the mouth of the lake would greatly increase its storage capacity and add tcj the low-water fl(nv of the river, increasing its volume very materially. The water-power (_)f Spokane has natural divisions made by the several islands occurring in the stream, thus making the developing of the water power a \ery easy proposition, and also distributing to [jower sites (jver a large area of territory, giving ample space for the construction of mills and factories which use the power."

At present the minimum flow of water, low water, furnishes thirty thousand horsepower, yet the testimony of t!ie e.xpert referred to shows that it can be douliled. whicii means much.

Tlie horse-power which has made Minneapolis famous as a manufacturing city, growing two hundred thousand inhabitants, is only about twenty thousand. The adaptation of the Spokane river to utilization tlie year round is remarkable. The falls are divided into three sections. The first falls fourteen feet in a run of four hundred feet. Then the river is dividetl into two almost equal size channels by Havermale island, but the operations of the Great Northern Railroad seem to narrow tlie south channel. At the lower end of the said island, which is about a quarter of a mile in length, are three other small islands which divide the river into five channels. To the foot of Havermale Island the river falls about sixty-five feet, and below the smaller islands the river becomes one channel again, and rushes on, and in a few hundred feet takes its final plunge of over seventy feet. Water power already developed is about ten thousand horse power. Careful estimates have been made showing that the cost of the development of one thousand horse power would be eighty-one thousand, fixe hundred (k)llars. and the interest on this investment with annual expense of maintaining and operating the same would be eighteen dollars and fifty-three cents per horse power per year.

The cost of developing five thousand horse power on a fall of seventy feet would be one hundred and sixty-se\en thousand dollars, the annual interest included would be ten dollars antl fifty cents per h(jrse power. For twenty thousand hcirse power the cost of operating would be ten di illars per horse power per year. Compare this with the average cost of steam, which is not less than fifty dollars per horse power annually.

tricate machinery. This is one of the greatest water power stations for the generation of electric currents in the country. In 1885 a few local capitalists built a small plant on the north side of the river running l:)y one water wheel. It generated enough electricity for twelve arc lights and three hundred incandescent lights. In 1888 the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Spokane Falls was incorporated and absorbed the old company and plant. They moved to the rear of the C. & C. mill, in the old Post mill Iniilding. and soon equipped eighty arc lights and twelve hundre<l incandescent. At the time of the great fire it had one hundred and thirty-fi\e arc lights and eighteen hundred incandescent. The loss of the company in the fire was great - all the poles being burned. The present building is sixty-five by one hundred and twenty feet, with an addition of thirty b_\' furty. The f(jundation is of heavy granite laid in Portland cement. It is designed to have uninterrupted power day and night all the year round. Plans and designs were prepared Ijy H. A. Herrick. and it was constructed under the superintendency of Cul. J. T. Fanney. The Edison Electric Illuminating Company have the entire lighting of the city and also furnish power to many of our largest plants.

Washington Water Power Company - This company controls the Edison Electric Illuminating Company, Spokane Street Railway Company. Spokane Electric & Ross Park Street Railway Company, and are the owners of the C. & C. Ilouring mills. It employs two hundred men. The ofticers of the company are: President, H. M. Richards: first \'ice-president, V. Lewis Clark; second \icepresident, J. D. Sherwood : secretary and general manager, W. S. Norman: treasurer, D. L. Huntington : and these gentlemen crMupose the directorate together vrith Messrs. J. L. Prickett. J. W. Chapman and C. C Reeder.

Granite Dealer - This inchrstry was started eleven years ago by Mr. My rick. Mr. Frost purchased it ten years ago. It is located at 0827 Monroe street. H. Matzke is the manager, and fi\-e men are employed.

Washington ^Monumental and Cut Stone W orks - The office and works are located at 1508 to 1530 Second avenue. The owners ?re H. P, Sched and F, Swanson. This industry was established in 1897 at the corner or Howard street and Third a\-enue. They have quarries on Little Spokane river and on Latah creek, and manufacture and deal in granue and marble cemetery and all lines of cut stone work. The number of men employed varies from five to twenty, according to the season.

King, Sash, Door & Lumber Company. - This company was incorporated in 1897. and are manufacturers of windows, doors, mouldings, fixtures and all kinds of finish. The capital is fi\e thousand dollars and factory and office are located at North Washington street, near tlie Cnion depot. The company consists of T. I. King, president and treasurer; Isaac Baum. \-ice-presi(lent; George Kienzle, .secretary. Twenty-fi\e men are employed, and the principal market in the city, although some shipping is done to other states.

Holland-Horr M'M Comi)any, Wholesale and Retail Dealers in Lumber, Lath, Shingles, Doors. Windows, Mouldings and Mill Work. - The factory and lumlier yard are located on the corner of Gardner and ]Madison, on Boone street car line. The business was established in 1892. The members of the firm are W. T. Horr. ]3resident and treasurer; John Heran, secretary, with T. H. Holland. E. H. Horr, R. [. Horr and above ofticers as trustees. At the sawmill, located at Clayton, managed by Mr. Holland, twenty-five men are employed, and at the factory and yards, forty men. The

Washington ]\Iill Company. - They are the leading manufacturers of lumber, sash and doors, fruit boxes, and interior finish in the city or county. The company was incorpnrated in 1892, and its present capital is seventyhve thousand dollars. W. H. Acuff, president of the city council, is the president; G. j\I. Barline, secretary; J. C. Barline, treasurer: J. W. Cook, superintendent. D. Dahline is 'the factory foreman, and George \V. Hoag yard foreman. The office and factory are located on the corner of Cedar street and Great Northern Railway, and tlie sawmill at Milan, and the aggregate number employed are one hundred and seventy-five. The business has increased from year to year so that at present it is more than double what it was in its early history. They have a market all over eastern Washington - north, south, east and west; also in Idaho, Montana and British Columbia. The manufacture and sale of fruit bo.xes have grown to great proportions, being sent in large (juantities to the Snake river country, Walla Walla, Portlach, Culumltia riser region and Dther places where fruits are handled.

Ashenfelter Mill Comiiany. - This company was organized in 1S91 by H. C. Ashenfelter, The present owner is W. C. Ashenfelter, with A. Burns as superintendent. Tw-enty men are employed at the factory, on Pacific avenue and Walnut street, and nearly the same number at the sawmill at Alilan, under the management of C. yi. Davis. They depend almost v.'holly upon home market.

Spokane and Idaho Lumber Company, Dealers m and Manufacturers of Lumber, Lath, Shingles, Sash and Doors, Office and YardS.iuth 159 Adams Street. - This company was incorporated in 1893, and was the successor of Paterson & Company, which was the successor of the Spokane Lumber & ^lanufacturing Company, (jrganized fourteen years ago and operating for a time on the corner of Mill and Railroad, until it combined with the Spokane Mill Company. .The present officers are: H. M. Strathern, president ; Morris Williams, vice-])resident : C. M. Patterson, secretary and treasurer. The sawmill and principal factory is at I'ost Falls, superintended by Mr. Strathern, where fifty persons are employed. The extended yards in the city, and the factory for finish work put in last year, which is now being enlarged, and number of men employed, one hundred in all, are indications of increasing prosperity.

Northwestern Manufacturing Company, Manufacturers of Bank Fixtures, Bar Fi.\- tures. I'uruiture, Show Cases, Grills, Stair Work. - This company was incori)orated and began to do business in 1899, with office and factory Madison and Northern Pacific Railroad. The ])resent officers are W. M. Mc- \'ay, president; O. J. Jones, secretary: William Chilberg, superintendent, and they employ twenty persons and send their goods all over the "Inland Empire."

The Saw-Mill PlKcnix. - This is located on the site and operated by the same water power as the old Spokane Mill Company, the history of which goes back to the very beginning oi the town. References to ft are made in other parts of this work. For many years while under the management of the late E. J. Brickel and others, it was the most important manufacturing industry in the city. While the present concern is not in fact related to the company referred to, yet historically it is its successor. The present company began operation early last year and at present employs fifty-five men. E. T. Cartier van Dissel is the manager.

Central Planing Mill. - This representative Inisiness was established seven years ago by Mr. Charles Russell, the jjresent proprietor. The mill is situated at Bernard and Ferry streets and is 50x100 feet in area and four stories high. They manufacture doors.

windows, sasli. Ijlinds. mnuldings, and all kinds of mill work. The lumher comes from Gray's sawmill, near Chattaroy. About one hundred men are employed in all and they find them.<^elves unable to meet the demand of the city trade.

Childs Liunl>er and ^lanufacturing Company. - The mill and lunilier yard are located in Heath's third addition, blocks 36 and 2,7- on Ermina avenue. The company was organized December 20, 189S, and have been doing a lively business from the lieginning. They get their lumber from the sawmills on the Spokane Falls and Northern Railway. E. R. Childs is the manager.

J. F. Se.xton & Company. - This firm was established under the name of Se.xton & Merry weather in 1888. In 1 89 1 Mr. Sexton becoming sole owner, the present name was adopted. The offices and warehouses are on Railroad avenue, between Mill and Post streets, wdiile large yards are operated on Pacific avenue and Maple street. The yards front four hundred feet on the Nortliern Pacific tracks, affording the very best transportation facilities. ^Nlr. Sexton deals in lumber of all kinds, shingles, nn adding, white pine and cedar doors and window's, and has built up a good lousiness which is constantly extending over tlie adjacent county.

Star Shingle Company. - The mill is located on Oak street and Great Northern track and is owned by S. N. Tefft. From seven to ten men are employed and the wood comes from different points in Idaho, .\bout half the shingles manufactured are sold in the city, and the other half is shipped in car load lots to outside towns.

Central Shingle Company. - Tliis mill is located on Havermale island, in the rear of the National Iron Works, and the pro])rietors are J. F., J. E. & J. L. Farmer - the latter being foreman. They began business in 1894, and manufacture shingles of all grades, and deal in shavings, firewood and sawdust. Ten men

Spokane Collin I'actory Companv. .Manufacturers of Wood and Clntb Burial Cases, Linings and Robes, and Jobbers of Metallics and Undertaker's Supplies. - The company consists of S. M., E. L. and C. E. Smith, and the factory is located at 914 and 916 Second avenue, where nine men are employed. It was organized in May, 1896, and the business has l)een extending from year to yea-r so that at the present time tlieir goods find a market all r)ver eastern Washington, Oregon, Idalu), Montana and British Columbia.

G. ]\Ieese & Company. - The enterprise was estalilished in 1893 liy ^Messrs. INIeese and Colder, the present name being adopted when Mr. Meese became sole proprietor last Octo- Ijer. The premises occupied for the business ccmsist of tine fiom" and a basement, each of which is 40.x 1 00 feet in area, affording large acc(immodatii:)n for the immense stock of goods that is alwavs carried. The \\ ashington broom factory, owned by the same firm and operated in the same building, is now making their own broom handles from timber raised in this section of the country, thereby leaving thousands of dollars at home which would otherwise go to the east and also giving employment to several men. The capacity of the factory is twenty xlozen of brooms per dav. The business is wholesale in character and is wide in extent, the trade covering all the territiirv within a radius of two hundred miles' of Spokane. Mr. G. Meese is sole proprietor of the business.

The Spokane Broom Factory. - This factory was established October 15, 1894. The factory is at 324 Washington street. It is splendidly e(|uipped with all the machinery necessary for the successful prosecution of the busiiiess. .Ml kinds of I)rooms and broom work are manufactured, and the productions of the house have now a splendid reputation and an immense trade, owing to their general excel- lence. The business extends tlirougliout eastern Wasliington and Idaho. Tlie proprietors of this business are Messrs. Fritz Theihnan. F. I'". Xeitzel, A. C. Xeitzel and Joe Xeitzel. They employ five men, and deal with wholesale dealers in town.

As a manufacturer of flour we now hold the first ])Iace west of the Rocky mountains. We have no rival from Alaska to Me.xico, nor in fact anywhere west of !Minneai)olis. As a flour manufacturing point we will in a few years go beyond every city in .\merica unless it may be the city just named. While it is less than t\vent\- years since the first flour was manufactured at this point, yet so ra])id has been the growth of this industry that there are now only seven cities in America that have a larger output of flour than Spokane.

Centennial ^ililling GMii])any. - Among the enterprises that ha\e made Spokane famous as a milling centre is the abo\-e company. The nfills and offices are located on the corner of Howard street and Mallon a\-enue. Thi.s com- ])riny was incori)orated in 1890 under the laws i>r W'ashingtrm. with a paid u])-capital of one hundred thcusand <li)llars. and fn>ni the verv outset has enjoyed e.\ce])tional ])ros])eritv. Each year has seen the Imld upon ])ublic conhdence grow firmer, until to-day the patronage c<.nies fn>m all ])arts of Washington Idaho. Aiiintana and the northwest in general, and is still rapidly expanding. The flour mill is a Ine-story structure. 60x40 feet in area; the cereal mill is 70.X40 feet in area, five stories high, and the massive brick storehouse is loox 100 feet in dimensions. .Ml modern machinery and appliances are sujiplied. The number of workmen regularly emiiloyed is thirty-fi\-e. not counting the extra help fre<pientlv needed. They manufacture the celebrated "Crjld Drop" l>atent and other favorite brands of llour, "Wheat ]\Ianna" and a host of other cereals, and are shijipers of grain, tlour, feed and nfil! stuft'. The outi)Ut of flour is se\en hundred barrels a da\'. and of cereals one hundred barrels a day. Islr. Moritz Thomscn is the president: Col. I. X. Peyton is the vice-president; Mr. Samuel Glasgow is secretary and treasurer, and with the ])resident manages the business. The company has a large plant at Seattle, the mill having a capacity of two thousand barrels a day. and the flour is ship]ied to many foreign countries - China. Japan. Russia, Sib.eria and others.

C. & C. Mills - On this site was built the first flouring mill in Sjiokane, by Frederick Post, referred to in another chapter. Clark and Curtis built the C. & C. mills in 1884. but it is now owneil l)y the \\'ashingtoii Water Power Company. The Portland Flouring Mills Company, which has nine flouring mills in all. has leased it for a series of years. Mr. George Shiel is the Spokane agent. The capacity of the mills is from six hundred to six hundred and fifty barrels a day, making one hundred and fifty thousand barrels this season. The brands manufactured are the "Plansifter." "Sui)erl)," "Spokane" and "C. & C." Though having an extended home market, the ex])ort business is the most im])ortant. The Post building, with its timl)er. is yet in good condition, and much of it is used for oflice ])uri)oses. Xo Ijetter evidence of the excellency and comjileteness of the machinery could be presented than the fact that the mills have been running without a sto]) for eleven months. The wheat is conveyed from the railroad cars to the mills in electric cars and emptied without handling. The power is perfect, and ne\er fails. Thirty men are employed.

The Echo Mills. - These were the second flouring mills built in Spokane. The first building was erected by Havermale and Davis. It came into the possession of Benthen B. Bravinder and Albert E. Keats in 1887. The first building was destroyed by fire, and the present brick structure, costing about fifty thousand dollars, exclusive of machinery, was erected in 1892. The ef|ui])ments are effual to anything in the Pacific northwest, and the brands of flour manufactured were equally popular at home and abroad. About two years ago complications arose that resulted in cessation of operation. The mills are still idle.

Cami)bell Candy Company. Manufacturers of Fine Confectionery and Dealers in Nuts. Confectionery and Bakers' Supplies, Proprietors of SpiDkane Spice Mills. Grinders of Pure Spices and ^Manufacturers of Celelirated Butterfly Baking Powder. - The proprietnrs are J. W. and \\ S. Campbell and they liave operated it fc^r six }-ears with success. The factory and salesroom are on Post street, between Main and Front avenues and tlieir market is the city and surrounding country.

Spokane Mattress & Upholstering Company. - In the fall of i88g this business was established and from the outset has enioved a most libei'al patronage until to-d;i\- the trade comes frijin all parts of east Washington and neighboring states. The company manufactures mattresses, cots and wire springs, lounges and couches, and are jobbers of iron beds. Ivlr. S. L. Wood is the proprietor and the factory is on Havermale island and supplied with modern machinery. Twenty men are employed.

Spokane Soaji Works. - This establishment is Ifjcated on Oak street and Great Northern track. After lieing in operati<in for sex'eral years it was jiurchased three years ago by B. L. Gordon & Company. It manufactures the celebrated "Smilax" soa]) and other brands. The capacity is twn hundred thousand pounds per month ;uid four men and two ladies are constantly employed. The gootls ha\-e a ready market in Washington, Idaho, Montana an<l P.ritish Columbia.

Sini])son & Company. - This company is located on the corner of First a\-enue and .\sh street and is engaged m the manufactiu-e of L'unidr}- and toilet soaps and sal soda. This industry started in 1894 with a capital of live thousand dollars. J. M. Simpson is the p.roprietcM" and employs three persons 'to assist him in the factory and two men on the road on commission.

Gallantl-Burkc I'rewing and Malting Company. - This company is capitalized for one hundred thousand dollars and has an immense and thoroughly equipped establishment, em- ]iloying twenty-five persons, on Broadway avenue, between Post and Lincoln streets, overlooking the falls. It was organized in 1S91, and the officers are: Julius Galland. president: Theodore Galland. secretary: .\dol])h Galland, treasiuTr: S;nnuel Galland. superintendent. The business has extended year by year proportionate to increase of population and the i)roducts are sent at present not only all over Washington, but also to Oregon, Idaho, ^lontana and British Columlaia.

.New York Brewery. - This establishmep. was built nearly fourteen years ago ky the late Rudolph Gorkow. It is located on Front a\-enue and Washington street and owned by the estate of Rudolph Gorkow. W. J. C. Wakefield, administrator. T\vent\' men are emplo_\-ed.

New York Bottling Works. - The projirietor is Adam Wicser and the location is 220 Main a\'enue. This enterjjrise started eight years ago and the list of productions includes lieer. sarsaparill;u ginger ale. a])])le and orange cider, champagne, lemonade, cral) cider iind all carb-onated beverages. Fi\'e men are employed.

Washington Cracker Com])ar.y. - This company was organized in i8yi. but wa.s succeeded by the Pacific Biscuit Company in 1899. The offices and factory are at the corner of Bernard street and I'acific avenue. Tiie building is three stories in height and 30x122 feet. with a basement. The first and second floors are used for the manufacture of crackers, fancv biscuits, etc. The third lloor is used for candy, which is the most complete of its kind in tlie northwest, where all kinds of plain and fancv candies are manufactured, a speio6 cialty being made of the celebrated C. C. cough drops. From forty to fifty people are employed. The quaHty of their productions is unsurpassed anywhere. The trade is wholesale and extends as far south as Boise City and north into British Columbia.

Y. H. Seltenreich. - Successor to T. H. Palladio and Albert Harper & .Son. makers and repairers of high grade violins, mandolins, guitars, basses, etc. The business was established fi\e years ago at 173 South Stevens street, the present location.

^^'ashington Brick, Lime & Manufacturing Company. - To this company we are indebted for the beautiful Ijrick of which the new court house is built and also the fireproofing of its Walls and partitions. The clay works of the company are located at Clayton on the .Spokane Falls & Northern railway. There the comjiany not only manufactures beautiftd dry pressed brick but other \-arieties including red. Imff. UKitlled, etc. They are also the only maufacturers of a superior quality of fire brick which has been tested at the Butte smelters and highly endorsed. .\ few miles north nf this plant, on the Spokane Falls & Northern, is located the extensive lime plant of this company, where they manufacture the well-known "Valley Brook White Lime," which is marketed in eastern Wasliington, Idaho and western Montana. The high quality of the products of this firm is recognized throughout the northwest, their brick ha\ing been selected for the State university at Seattle, and several buildings in Portland, Butte, .Vnac(nida and other cities. The offices and warehouses of this company are on Stevens street and the Northern Pacific track, where they carry a stock not only of their own products, l)ut of other building materials, such as plaster, hair, cement, etc.

Washington Carriage Works. - This business, located at 414 Sprague avenue, was established five years ago by Mr. J. G. Hartert. Carriages are built and repaired and architectural work is made a specialty. Several exjjert workers are employed.

Trapschuh & Fassett, carriage makers and blacksmiths, corner of First and Stevens streets, founded their business se\en years ago. They do all kinds of repairing.

The Diamond Carriage Shop, a successful Spokane enterprise of whicii Messrs. Luther Jacques and J. C. ^lountain are the progressive proprietors. - Seven years ago this Inisiness was established and it has been successful. The sliop at 822 First avenue, is 25X- 100 feet in area. Five skilled assistants are employed. Blacksmitliing, horseslioeing, carriage and wagon manufacturing business are attended to.

Cascade Steam Laundry. - .\mong the representative enterprises of this kind here is the Cascade Steam Laundry, 911 Bridge avenue. Tliis business was establishetl seven years ago, and tlirough efficiency has liecome most popular. The premises occupied compose a threestory building, 25x80 feet in area. Tliis is perfectly equipped, being provided with the kitest improved apparatus known to the industry. Twenty-seven people are given constant employment. The proprietors are Messrs. .\. J. Keise, P. E. I-'isher, S. H. Freidman.

Spokane Steam Laundry. - 'I'his business was established nine years ago, and is the successor of tlie oldest estal)lishment of the kind in the city. The laundry is at 401 Howard street Ijridge, and comprises a two-story building, 30x100 feet in area. The equipment is most perfect, including all the steam machinery and otiier improved appliances kncnvn. The Spokane laundry has made an en- \iable reputation for the general excellence of its work and has secured a very large patronage. The proprietors are Messrs. H. M. ^klosely and F. G. Meeks

The Washington Steam laundry, conducted by ^Messrs. A. A. Hosford and James Tyra, was established eight years ago and by its superior work has de\eloped an immense busi- ness, wiiicli amounts to Ijetween two hundred and three hundred dollars per week. The laundry is at 503 Alain avenue. It is provided with the latest improved machinery and appliances.

JModel Laundry, located at 404 W. Washington street, Henry A. Schmidt, proprietor. The liusiness was established in 1S99 and now employes four persons.

Brick Yards

Tlie first attempt to manufacture bricks ii- this city was east of j\lr. H. T. Cowley's place near Hillyard street and Sixth a\-enue. But the nldest brickyard miw in operation is that of J. T. Davie & Company, locatetl about three mdes southwest of Howard street m: the Medical Lake road. Mr. J. T. Davie started this brickyard twenty years ago. It employs during the working season about forty men. Very near is the brickyard of Triplet ^i Wallace, which started in 1886, and employs during the season from twenty-tive to tlnrty-Hve men. Both yards manufacture first class brick and find a ready market Utv it in the city. '1 he J. T. Davie Cumpany expects to employ a larger number of men this coming season than at any other time before.

The street railway system of Spokane is to-day doulitless etjual to that of any city (.)f its size in the country. It began with a horse-car line established l)y A. J. Ross in 18S6. Messrs. Holmes and Moore established the Sp(_)kane Caljle Com])any, which ran from Sec >nd avenue and Monroe street to Twickenham park in 1887.

The first electric line to be built was liy the Ross Park Electric Street Railway Company, which was organized April 17, 1888. Tlr.s road was open to Ross Park in November, 1889, wiien nearly five thousand jieople improved the opportunity to take a ride. The prime movers were Cyrus Bradley, G. B. Den nis, A. J. Ross, and I. S. Kaufman.

The Spokane Electric Railway was estal)- li.shed in 1891, the road beginning at Whiting's addition and running south on Monroe street,, then along the track of the Spokane street Railway to Howard, and thence to Liberty Park.

'1 he Montrose Park Aloter Line was built fri:.m Ri\-erside a\-enue and Washington street,, to the Heights, by Francis II. Cook, in 1889. The line is about two miles kjng. For three years it was operated by a steam motor. It came into the possession of the ProvidentTrust Company in 1893 and was changed into an electric road.

The City Park Transit Company, Alessrs. Da\id and Chester Glass, managers, built a hue from corner of Sprague avenue and Monroe street, half a mile beyond the northern limits of the city, in !8i)i. Early this }-ear it came into the possession of the Spcjkane Street Railway Company. The Arlingt(jn Heights line was built in 1889, and for about three years was operated by steam power, when it was aljsorbed by the Spokane Street Railway Company, which extended the road to Hillyard. In 1890 there were four systems in operation, with sixteen and a half miles of road. At present there are but two systems, Init the total mileage of railway in operation is about forty. .\11 lines of the Spokane Street Railway center at the corner of Riverside avenue and Howard street. New machine and car shops have been recently built on Boone avenue, near Jefferson street.

Citv Street Improvement Company, incorporated, asphalt and cement sidewalks, floors, drives, etc.. contractors for all kinds of street work, bridges and railway construction, whar\-es, jetties and sea walls: J. W. McDona'd, Jr.. Manager: J. S. Jackson. Superintendent. - This Company was organized in California ten years ago. It Iiegan to o])erate in this city three years ago, and has already done conconsiderable asphalt paving, and has a great deal under contract at this time. It employs

Alcatraz Asphalt Paving Company. - This company organized at Los .Vngeles. Cahfornia, v.as established in this city this year. Their plant is situated across the street from the N. P. R. R. It is now engaged in paving Stevens street, and has other contracts for city work.

Spokane Ice Company. - About si.xteen years ago a man b_\' the name of Jones started .the ice business and hauled the commodity around in a wheelbarrow. Since then it has de\eloped to great proportions and the supply of ice is becoming a problem difficult to solve. The Spokane Ice Company began to do business nearly twelve years ago. and lias continued with increasing capacitv from year ti> 3-ear. Mr. I. B. Merrill is secretary and treasurer, and Mr. J. I. Stone, general manager.

Crystal Ice Company began to c>perate in the ice business eleven years ago. Messrs. E. J. Bowers, and J. Kiston are the prt)prietors. It was afterwards organized into a stock company with Mr. F. W. Branson as president and manager. These two companies employ ten men each. The Loon Lake Ice Company operates on a small scale, insteat! of the wheelbarrowful a day that supplied the Spokane market it now calls for at least ten thousand ti,)ns a year.

Inland Telephone and Telegraph Company. - In 1SS7 ]Mr. Chas. B. Hopkins came to this and inaugurated the Tele])hone E.Kchange, Avhich was soon sold to W. S. Norman. But in 1889. -^[''- Hopkins Ijccanie a permanent resident of Spokane and .organized the Inland Telephone Company and became its general manager, which position he continues to iiold. The development of the telephone system c^f the city is a mar\el; o\er six hundred telephones were placed in lousiness houses and homes last year and the}- are ""put in" at the rate of three and four a <lay. The number of telephones in the city at present are no less than three thousand. There are sixty-two local operators and fifteen long-distance operators employed. The company employs about one hundred ])ersons in all.

Telegraph Companies. - The Western L'nion Telegraph and Cable Compan\- was established in Spokane in 1884. Albert D. Campbell has been the manager for many years and during his administration the business has greatly increased. There are a dozen persons employed at present. The Postal Telegraph and Ca!)le Company was established a few years ago. D. Fletcher is the manager.

Gas Light Company. - The gas light system was introduced and the plant now located on Stevens street, south of the Northern Pacific Railroad track, established by Mr. H. C. Thompson fourteen years ago. The present general manager and treasurer. Mr. .\lbert D. Hopper, became associated with the enterprise in 1887. and from that time to the jiresent it has developed from year to year. Originally the capacity was but ten thousand cubic feet per day : at present it is five hundred thousand cubic feet per day. The number of retorts have increased from five to thirty-five. The original capital was eighty thousand dollars stock and thirty thousand dollars bonds, which has increased to two hundred and fifty thousand dollars stock and one hundred thousand dollars bonds. There are one hundred thousand dollars in the treasury for improvements and the system is extending rapidly. The company gives stead)' employment to no less than twenty persons.

The smaller manufacturers are too numerous to mention, cigar makers, art glass, artificial limbs, artificial stone, awnings and tents, bed springs and blank book makers, blue prints, brick manufacturers, cabinet makers, carpet weavers, vinegar and cider manufacturers, cor-

As in preliistoric days, according to tradition, all Indian trails led to the great falls, .so to-dav the city by the falls is the railroad center of the great "Inland Empire." The missionary explorer, Samuel Parker, expressed the opinion upon his return to New York in 1836 that no real obstacle prevented the construction of a railroad across the continent, and prophesied the building of such a road in the near future, and that o\-er it tourists would journey as they at that time did to Niagara. The building of a transcontinental railway was agitated for half a century. Congress appropriated one hundred and fifty thousand dollars for surveys in 1853. In April, 1853, Isaac I. Stevens, governor of the territory of Washington, was selected to "explore and survey a route from the sources of the Mississippi river to Puget Sound." George B. McClellan, then brevet captain of engineers. United States army, explored the Cascade range of mountains and eastward until he met the main ])arty under Governor Stevens. "The decisive points determined were the practicability of the Rocky mountains and Cascade range, and the eligibility of the approaches. Governor Stevens recommended that from the vicinity of the mouth of Snake river there should be two branches, (-nc to Puget Sound across the Cascade mountains and the other down the Columbia river on the northern side." In his message, addresses and every other Icgitiiuate way, suj)- jjorted by legislative memorial and the press. Governor Stevens "kept alive the agitation of the Northern route."

January, 1857, the Legislature of the Territory passed "An act to incorporate the Northern Pacific Railroad Company." The incorporators named were Governor Stexens and numerous citizens of Washington, Oregon, Minnesota,

Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, California, Maine and New York. The lines prescribed by the act were nearly identical with the present Northern Pacific Railroad system. The charter of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company was granted by Congress on July 2, 1864, with Josiah Perham, of pjoston, as president. The charter is thus tlefined : "An act granting lands to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from Lake Superior to Puget Sound on the Pacific coast -by the northern route." The building of the road commenced in February, 1870, at Duluth. and during that year it reached Branard. one hundred and fourteen miles. In January, 1873, (General John \V. Sprague and (_iovernor John N. Goodwin, agents for the Northern P'acific Railroad Company, formally announced the selection of the city (.)f Olympia as the terminus on Puget Sound. .V few months later the company at New ^'ork declared its western terminus at Tacoma. The failure of Jay Cooke & Company, in 1873, greatly embarrassed operations, i)ut it was reorganized on different financial basis with Charles B. Wright as president. iM-ederick Billings became president in 1880, and after careful instrumental survey a line was located by way of the Naches Pass. The Northern Pacific atlvanced uniler the management of President Billings in 1880 and 1881, stimulating a hope for the immediate Iniilding of the Cascade division, which was not realized. The first overland train direct from Duluth to Taci'Uia arrived on .Sunday, July 5, 1887. But the overland railroad communication was fully consummated Portland and the road connecting it with Tac(.ima in 1883. On September 7, 1883, was driven the "golden spike," sixty miles west of Helena, which fastened the last rail of the Northern Pacific Railroad, practically joining the Pacific and .Ktlantic oceans. Then Spokane was made a station on a transcontinental railroad. Marvellous has l)een the development since then. The Northern I'acific was the pioneer road, but to-day eight railroads radiate from Spokane. It can be reached over five trancontinental roads, viz. : Northern Pacific, Great Northern, Chicago, BurHngton & Ouincy, reaching here under leased arrangement with the Northern Pacific; the Union Pacific, which enters on the Oregon Railway & Navigation road, and tlie Canadian Pacific, which makes connection by rail and water with the Spokane PaUs & Northern. The Union Pacific reached tlie city in 1889 and the Great Northern in 1892. The branches of _ the three great railroads are numerous, reacliing in all directions. The Spokane & Palouse Railway was built as far as Belmont (sixty miles) in the fall of 1886. During the following summer it was extended to Genesee, Idaho. Then a year ago it was built to Lewiston. The Central Washington was completed to Davenport in July, 1889. By November it reached as far as Coulee City, where stages connect for Waterville and points in the Okanogan mining districts.

Probably the most important of these branch roads is the Spokane Falls & Northern Railway, now owned and operated by the Great Northern. It Avas commenced by D. C. Corbin in March, 1889, and completed that year to the Little Dalles. This line runs from Spokane north through Stevens county to the town of Northport on the Columbia river, a distance of one hundred and fifteen miles. At that point the line splits and under the name of the Columbia & Red Mountain road it runs to the great mining camp of Rossland in British Columbia. The other line runs to Nelson under the name of the Nelson & Fort Sheppard road. Nelson is at the foot of the Kootenay lake and steamers connect here with the trains for all points on the lake as far north as Kaslo. Connections are also made at Nelson with the Columbia & Kootenay Railroad, a branch of the Canadian Pacific, which in turn connects with steamers in Arrow lake, which go nortli to Revelstoke, where connections are made with the Canadian Pacific. The Spokane & Idaho was built by D. C. Corbin in 1887, and the Northern Pacific secured control of it in 1889. It runs east from Spokane on the main track to Houser Junction, then branches off to Lake Cteur d' .\lene where connections are made with steamers for Harrison, the jMission and other points on the lake. The Washington & Idaho runs through the eastern portion of the Palouse country to Tekoa, where it branches off to the Coeur d' Alene mining camps. About eighteen or twenty passenger trains arrive and depart daily from Spokane. The freight traffic of these roads is something enormous.

In 1862 Lieutenant John Mullan constructed a government wagon road from Fort Benton to Walla Walla that received his name. The old settlers often refer to the "Old Mullan road." The building of that road to the Spokane valley stimulated immigration to this country. It was followed by the establishment of mail routes and post offices. It reached almost to this city on the south side of the river and turned south through Moran prairie and crossing Latat creek (Hayman's) about seven miles south. Some traces of the road can be seen to-day.

The wholesale and jobbing business of Spokane have grown to great proportions. The increase during the last four or five years has I^een from forty to fifty per cent. This is due to the large crop of wheat three years ago, the opening of the Colville reservation and mining develojmients therein, and also in the Cceur d'.Mene country and British Columbia, and the general revival of business.

H. J. Shinn & Company. - This company, which is agent for the Snake river fruit farms, Yakima. \\'enatchee. Walla Walla, Pal;,u?e. Potlatch and home grown products, was organized in 1889 under the name Snake River Fruit Company. Mr. H. J. Shinn becoming proprietor, it soon assumed its present name.

They handle green and dried fruits of every description, inchiding dehcious fruits, both foreign and domestic, also produce, butter, eggs, etc. The premises occupied are on Post street along the line of the Nortiiern Pacific Railroad, thus affording admirable transportation facilities. The building is brick and is one story high, and contains a basement. There is 55x100 feet of floor space. The business extends in all directions. Si.x ])ersons are required to do the work at the warehouse and two traveling men are constantly on the road.

Charles Uhden, wholesale commission and brokerage : agent for Hill's strictly pure maple sugar and syrups ; Acme Mills and Ralston health cereals, Ritzville flour, grass, clover and garden seeds. - Mr. Uhden came to this city eleven years ago and was associated with Hun. O. B. Nelson in the grocery business for nearly four years, where he began the c<')mmission business at 923 Railroad avenue, where he still continues. He empli)ys five assistants.

Iknham & Griffith. - This firm of wholesale grocers and tobacconists, consists of Lucnis T. Benham and Thomas S. Griffith, the latter being manager. It started in business in 1888 and now employs about ten men in its warehouse at 813-819 Railroad avenue.

Hammond Packing Company. - This company, which has its general office at South Omaha, established a branch office here a few years ago with G. C. Howe as manager. They deal in beef and pork products, smoked meats, canned meats, lard, etc. Their commission house is on the Northern Pacific track, between Mill and Post.

H. (i. Stimmel & Co., jobbers of fruits and produce, located at 917-921 Railroad avenue, between Lincoln and Monroe streets. U. H. Anderson and FI. Louis Schermerhorn are associated with Mr. Stimmel in the Inisiness. which is extensive.

Julius Lund & Company, manufacturers' agents, representing Licore iM'icke & Company, tea and coffee, San Francisco, and other standard manufacturers of canned goods, candy, liiscuits. cheese, oil, cigars, etc. He has been in the Inisiness eight years and has three men on the road.

Boothe- Powell Company. - These wholesale grocers are the successors of E. L. Powell Company, which was organized in 1894 and began to do business at 914-916 Riverside avenue. The present name was assumed three years ago and the place of business is Post and Ivailroad. The present officers are L. F. Biiothe. president; H. C. Wilson, secretary; H. D. Trunkey, treasurer ; L. F. Boothe, R. O. McClintock and H. D. Trunkey, trustees. Seventeen ]iersons are emplo3'ed.

J. R. Clifford & Company, 823 and 825 Railroad avenue, brokerage and commission merchants, wholesale dealers in butter, cheese and eggs ; also flour, hay and grain. The senior member has been in Spokane for a dozen years. He was in the insurance and real estate business for several years, and launched out in the wholesale business five years ago, which has extended from year to year to the present time.

Ryan & Newton Company. - The company has a capital and surplus of fifty thousand dollars, and the officers are T. F. Ryan, president : L. M. Davenport, vice president : J. Newton, secretary and treasurer. They are wholesalers in fruit and produce, butter, eggs and cheese. and manufacturers of Gold Leaf butter. They organized in 1898 and have an extensi\-e plant on the corner of Post and Railroad avenue, with a storage capacity of seventy-five cars, with eleven compartments. Twenty-five persons are employed and their trade reaches to Alaska, and even to foreign countries.

tions. men's and hoys' cluthing. gents" turnisliings, cloaks, suits ami wrappers, ladies" furnishings, hats and caps. The proprietors are R. Weir, A. Bremmer and D. McLeod, and their place of business is 824-828 Riverside, corner Lincoln. They startetl in business .seven years ago and the increase of patronage is an evidence that they are gaining in fa\-or with the people. The company has a branch store at Cascade City. British Columbia.

The Palace Department Store. - Mr. R. Weil, the proprietor of this store, liegan to do business on a small scale on Railroad avenue and Howard street in March, 1890. The business increased so that the following year larger quarters were occupied in Temple court, Ri\erside avenue. In another year tlie increasing business still demanded more extendeil accommodations and two lloors were occupied at 520 Riverside avenue for several years. At present the Buckley building, corner Riverside avenue and Post street, witii its four large floors (forty-eight thousand S(|uare feet) is tilled with goods of all descriptions. The numlier of employees reach one hundred and forty, witii a yearly pay-roll of $50,000. The mail orders during la.st year reached nearly forty thousand dollars, and the aggregate receipts nearly onelialf million dollars.

Spok.'uie Dry {"i<)o(ls Company. - Twelve years ago Comstock and I'atterson started in the retail dry giiods business in the Crescent block. The original name was "The Crescent. " and still cnutinues as designating the retail department. In j.uutary. 1S95. the establishment removed t<) the Lindelle block on Ri\'- erside, Washington and Sprague, when the "Dry (ioods Company." jobbers was organized. The present Iniilding. e.xtensixe ami admirably e(]uii)ped. on Riverside avenue, near Mill street, owned by the company, has been occn])ied since March. 1899. '^ '^ ** three stnrv building and every p<irtion is (illed with goods. Over a dozen departments are conducted. The oOicers are R. B. F'atterson. president; J. M.

Comstock. \ice president: C. H. Weeks, secretary and treasurer. There are ninety-six per- .sons emjjloyed ami their territory extends ab over the vast "Inland Empire."

Whitebouse Company (Incorporated), importers and retailers in dry goods, cloaks, carpets and millinery. - The first WHiitehouse store was opened in 186 - by Messrs. C. Monteith and S. Seitenl)ach. The present company was organized in 1897 - President. O. L. Rankin; secretary, P. F. I'arker. It has a large and choice stock of goods and is in a most central location on Riverside and Howard. The C(jmpany employs fifty persons and the business is constantly increasing.

Northwestern lmi)ro\ement Company. - This is the successi)r of the N. P. Coal Company. estal)lished in this city over a dozen years ago. The present general agent is De.xter Shoudy. and the company deals in Roslyn coal, lump coals, anthracite, blacksmith coal and foundry coke, and block and split wood. Office and yard. 120 South Monroe street.

D. Holzman & Comi)any, wholesale wines, liquors and cigars. - The business was established by Mr. Holzman in June. 1884, the present firm name being ailopted in January. 1891, when Mr. j. \. Reubens l)ecame a partner. The ])remises occupied consist of an entire two-story and basement building. 50X 125 feet in area. In the basement a bottlmg department, with imi)roved machinery, is fitted up where all kinds of carbonated beverages and beer are bottled. The office and salesroom is on the first floor and the second floor is used for storage. Seven- persons are employed and the business extends throughout Washington. Idaho. Montana and British Columbia. Mr. David Holz)nan came here from the Black Hills. South Dakota, where he was formerly engaged in the clothing business. Mr. J. A. Reubens hails from the same place and was at one time in the wholesale btisiness there. Both gentlemen represent their bouse on the road, and the local management is in the hand? of Mr. ].

Spokane Drug Company. - It started as the Avenue drug store in i8S8. In iSgo it removed to Sprague and Howard, doing both retail and wholesale business, until it rennnetl to its present location on Howard near Alain. Its business at present is exclusi\'ely wholesale and twenty-fiN'e men are employed, with three men traveling outside and three in the city. The officers are Valentine Peyton, president: I. N. Peyton, vice president ; A. \V. Dalland, secretary and treasurer.

M. Sellers «& Company (Incorporated), direct importers and jobbers in crockery, glassware, cutlery, plated ware, white and decorated china, tinware, granite iron ware, house furnishings, stoves, ranges, wooden and willow ware, wrapping paper, paper bags, etc. - This company began business in this city ten years ago and it has extended from year to year. Mr. Freidlein is the local manager and ten persons are employed in the st(3re. The goods are sent not only all over eastern Washington, but also to the adjoining states.

J. \V. Graham & Company. - This is recognized as a leading Inisiness lunise of Spokane, and their business as wholesale and retail dealers in books, paper, stationery, wall paper, office supplies, fancy goods and photographic supplies has developed to great proportions. Their business was established in August, 1889, first as a retail stationery and news stand in a small tent about twelve feet square. This enterprising firm has kejit fully abreast with the rapid growth of Spokane, and as the city built up and jobbing houses were established, John \V. Graham & Company moved int(T the Great Eastern block (now Peyton), corner Riverside a\'enue and Post street, in 1890. The business has been managed from its incipiency by John W. Graham and his brother. James ].. the meiubers of the firm, and the business has forty-three persons employed in the estal)lishment at the present time. They occupy two storerooms in the Peyton block, with rooms on the third floor as their salesrooms. In addition to this, the entire basement of the l)lock is occupied by their wholesale stock of stationery and shipping rooms. Their wall pajier department occupies a part of the once Hogan, but now Peyton, building in the rear, but connected with the main salesrooms by an archway. Their principal stock is carried in their ware house recently built on the Northern Pacific railroad tr^tck between Lincoln and Monroe streets, consisting of the first floor and basement, 50x80 feet. The territory covered by this firm as jobbers embraces all that part of the state of Washington lying east of the Cascade mountains, northern Idaho, western 'Slontana, and into British Columbia. For this territory they have the exclusive sale of the Remington Standard typewriter and Edison mimeiigrai)h. They are publishers" depository in Washington east of the Cascade mountains for the recently adopted school books, and every schoool book is kept in stock.

Shaw & Bortlen Company, wholesale and retail stationers, printers and bookbintlers, cameras and photographic supplies, 609 Riverside avenue. Hyde block. The officers are John H. Shaw, president: J. D. Estep. vice-president: Jos. A. Borden, treasurer: Walter M. Burns, secretary. - This company started in business on a small scale in 1890. and has grown from year to year until it has become one of the most popular and important in the city. The business is increasing rapidly so that three floors are now occupied and forty persons employed.

Holly. Mason, Marks «S: Co. - This extensive and flourishing establishment, one of the largest of its kind in the entire west, was originally established thirteen years ago under the stvle of Newport & Holley, and was thus conducted until 1886, when the name was changed to Holly, Mason & Company. In January,

1889, a corporation was formed and the present style adopted. Tlie company is incorporated nnder tlie laws of Washington, with large paid up capital, and the present officers are : President, Frederick H. Mason : secretary and treasurer, Howell W. Peel. They are johhers of heavy, shelf and hiiilders" hardware, wagonmakers and blacksmiths' supplies, etc. The immense stock carried represents the finest ])rodiicts of the home and foreign factories. It includes hardware of all kinds, wagonmakers' and blacksmiths' supplies, plumbers' supplies, mining machinery, stoves, furnaces, tinware of all kinds and general house furnishing goods. The offices and salesrooms are at 118-IJ4 Howard street, an e.xtensive six-story and basement brick building. 80x120 feet in area. Thev are agents for the Sterling and Crescent bicycles. Seventy-five men are employed and their goods are sent all o\er eastern Washington, northern Idaho, west Montana and British Columbia.

Agricultl'R.Xl Implements And Maciiinekv

The principal dealers in agricultural i:iiplements and machinery are Mitchell. Lewis & Staver Company, established fifteen years ago; The Union Warehouse & Machine Company; J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company, dealers in engines, horse power, .self feeders, stackers, belting, oils; W. W. Redhead, dealer in Studebaker wagons anti carriages, plows, etc. Spokane Machinery Su])ply Company make a specialty of mining machinery.

Other Important Firms

Griffith Heating & Plumbing Supply Company, also Arnold, Evans & Co.. in the same line; Jones & Dillingham, paints, oils and painters' supplies and glass, wholesale and retail.

Hardware Firms

])any, O. C. Jensen, president and manager, J. C. Byrd. \ice-president ; Charies L. King, secretary and treasurer; McGowan Brothers, F. W. & M. B. : McCabe Johnson Com])any. J. H. McCabe, president; Millard Johnson, secretary and treasurer.

Tull & Gibbs. - This fimi started nine years ago under the name of Tull & Dice. Two years ago the present com[)any was incorporated. The business has lieeii extending from year to year until it extends over a vast tertitory. In addition to the five stories filled with goods at Sprague and ilill, they have an immense warehouse on Railroad avenue. The pro]irietors are P. T. Tull and F. D. Gibbs.

H. M. Herrin & Company, wholesale fruits antl produce, butter, eggs, cheese, lemons, etc. One of the oldest firms in this line and enjoying an extensive business.

Book And Job Prixters

eral houses engaged in musical instruments, art goods, millinery, carpets and drapery, glassware, mens' clothing, harness and saddlery, drugs; bakeries and confectioners, bicycle dealers, green houses, hotels (the Spokane, the Pacific, the Grand and Cadilac being the most prominent). The boarding houses are numerous. The city is well supplied with architects and assayers of a high order, and there is a small army of agents of all description. The mining, brokerage, real estate and insurance businesses have grown to great importance.

The First National Bank was organized on December 5, 1882, with a capital of $30,000. F. R. Moore, president : J N. Glover, vice president; H. L. Cutter, cashier.

Traders National Bank was organized December 20, 1885, with $75,000 capital. E. J. Brickell. president; J. Hoiiver. vice president. Present officers: M. M. Cowley, president; D. M. Drumheller, vice president; Charles S. Elting, cashier; J. E. West, assistant cashier; capital and surplus, $300,000.

Citizens National Bank was organized April 22, 1889. with a capital of $90,000. B. C. Van Houten, president ; John L. Wilson, vice president ; J. F. McEwen. cashier.

Browne National Bank was organized March 22, 1889, with $60,000 capital. J. J. Browne, president ; F. Heine, vice president ; Theodore Reed, cashier.

Exchange National Bank was organized June 17, 1889, with a capital of $65,000. J. Hoover, president; A. J. Ross, vice president; E. J. Dyer, cashier. Present capital and surplus, $394,000. Present officers, E. J. Dyer, president; F. Lewis Clark, vice-president; C. E. McBroom, cashier; W. M. Shaw, assistant cashier.

Washington National Bank was organized in 1889. Capital, $100,000. H. L. Tilton, president; A. M. Cannon, vice-president; F. E. Goodall, cashier.

Old National Bank, successor to Pacific Bank, commenced business January 4, 1892. Authorized capital, $500,000; capital paid in, $250,000. Present officers: S. S. Glidden, president; W. D. Vincent, cashier.

Spokane Postoffice

The first issue of the Spokane Times, April 24, 1879, contained the following item: "We enjoy simply a semi-weekly service. Small favors from Uncle Sam are thankfully received, larger ones in proportion. This section of country is certainly entitled to a tri-weekly mail, at least, inasmuch as there are two important military posts north of us and a rapidly increasing settlement all over the country." The first postmaster of Spokane Falls, appointed in 1874, was.C. F. Yeaton, and Mrs. L. S. Swift was the active one. J. N. Glover was the second postmaster, and continued until 1880. The first postoffice was located near the southwest corner of Howard and Front. On Octolier 14, 1880, Sylvester Heath became postmaster, and continued until April 17, 1886. During his term the postoffice was located the most of the time on the southwest corner of Riverside and Mil!. Mr. Heath was succeeded by J. J. L. Peel. During his term of office the location was changed to south side Riverside avenue between Stevens and Washington. The carrier system was also introduced, six carriers being engaged. The directory of 1889 gives a brief report of the postoffice business : "The wonderful growth of the city may be judged by the increase of postoffice business. The quarter ending June 30. 1889, shows 6.776 pounds of newspapers sent out of the county, 1. 715 inside the county. Registered letters and packages sent, 2,060; received, 3.025. Letters sent to other offices, 19,169. Receipts for stamps and l)oxes, $7,468.25. Free delivery was established January i, and during June the five carriers delivered 44,516 letters. 3,494 postal cards, 29,506 papers and circulars. They collected 3,679 local letters, 28,859 mail letters, over 4,000 postal cards and 2,000 newspapers." In 1891 Arthur J. Shaw was appointed postmaster, and carriers increased to fourteen, and the business correspondingly. Charles E. Munson was assistant postmaster. Mr. Shaw was succeeded in 1S94 by Howard T. Mallon, Fred E. Baldwin, assistant. Before the close of his term the postoffice was removed to the corner of Riverside and Lincoln.

The postoffice removed irom the corner of Riverside and Lincoln to its present quarters in 1898. There are now forty-three persons employed. It will be interesting to compare the report at the beginning of this year, as printetl in the Chronicle, with that of twenty years and ten years ago :

The total receipts for last year, ending December 31, 1899, amounting to $90,226.43, and for the quarter ending December 31, 1899, they reached $24,980.90.

Business in the registry .department for international exchange alone has increased 160 per cent, in the last three years, while for the last year there has been an advance of 76 per cent. In registered letters for distribution in. the city there has been an increase of 49 per cent.

The tables for the amount of registered mail for the last two years, according to the figures of Chief Registry Clerk Riddiford, are as follows : mail handled by the Spokane office. In fact, it is safe to say that there is no office of its size in the United States that h;uidles nearly so large a number of registered i)ieces as this one does.

"The causes of this will be readily seen when we take into consideration the numljer of railroads that center in the city and tlie vast territory for which this is the distributing point. For example, all registered mail coming from points east of St. Paul for points in northern Idaho and even western Montana, also for the n(^rtheastern part of Oregon, besides a vast part in ^Yashington are first sent to Spokane, then distributed to the different lines leading to their destination.

"A registered letter mailed in New York _ and addressed to Kalispell, Montana, Lewiston, Idaho, or W'enatchee, Washington, would, in either case, be pouched to Spokane and then be billed to the office addressed. It will thus be seen that the purely local business done, that is the registers received and delivered in the city, is but a small part of the work done by the registry department.

"Spokane is the international registry exchange office between the United Slates and British Columbia, All registers exchanged between the western part of the United States and the towns north of us in British Columbia must pass through this oftice. The increase in this branch of the business alone has been verj' large, being 160 per cent, greater in 1899 than in 1896. The increase in the numljer of letters received for registration in 1899 over 1896 is 76 per cent, and in the number of letters received for distribution in Spokane 49 per cent. It will be seen that 176. 119 registers were handled in the office during 1899, which, though the figures for i)re\-ious years are not complete, will be a total increase over 1896 of about 75 per cent. Can you wonder that the clerks are rushed?"

Board Of Trade

Tliere was a board of trade organized in Spokane Falls as early as 1884. Then we find one organized in 1886, and reorganized in 1890, with a twenty-thousand-dollar capital stock and seventy members. W. H. Taylor, president; W. S. Norman, secretary; H. L. Cutter, treasurer.

Chamber Of Commerce

The first one was incorporated in 1891 with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars. A. A. Newberry, president; J. P. Graves, treasurer; J. R. Reavis, secretary. In 1893 Cyrus R. Burns was president and Alonzo M. Murphey, treasurer.

The bureau of immigration took the place of the chamber of commerce for some time, but in 1898 it was organized again. It is an organization of Spokane business men which has for its object the advancement of the commercial and manufacturing interests of this city. It serves as an immigration bureau and annually sends out large quantities of printed matter relating to the agricultural and mining interests. It has doubtless been instrumental in attracting the attention of people in all parts (if the United States to the superior advantages offered by Spokane and the tributary country to the intending settler, be he business man, manufacturer, capitalist, farmer or miner. All inquiries are promptly answered and all desired information is furnished. Its business is in the hands of an efficient secretary and all letters addressed to secretary of the Chamber of Commerce will receive prompt attention. Present oflicers: Dr. E. D." Olmsted, president; C. M. Fassett, first vice-president; Henry M. Richards, second vice-president; W. E. Hawley, secretary; Chas. E. Virden, treasurer; trustees: jos. A. Borden, Samuel Glasgow, O. L. Rankin, J. Goldstein, B. Gard Ewing.