, 1888-01-05
SPOKANE FALLS, JAN /. 1887
THE OLD YEAR.

customary 10 tuke u Te'ToNPcctN'
view Of the year that has gone tondd IL
record for good or evil " I'LL up th,
chapters of tho worlds history, befor,
jumping off 10 wrestle with the uncer
tainties that the future may have in
store for the human family, collective
~ and individually. In treating OF
the year now numbered with the long
list of years subsequent, it is not tn,
Intention TO reach out beyond the
confines OF this little community. The
dead year is counterpart III, most
respects to many that have preceded
il, 80 far as the outside world is con-
ccrned, being l,,dened with its wars
and rumors Of wars disasters by rail
fire and food it's famine pestlene
and death; its joys and sor-
rows; its realizations and disappoint--
ments. To this immediate commune
ity, however, 1887 can always be
looked back to as dating most for
tuitous era in the annals Of its ex-
isteuce, and upon this auspicious oc-
casion the Spukanite can complaceut-
1y count up the gains for II twelve
month and feel that fortune has law
7shed her smiles upon the place, and
himself us "A factor thereof. AT the
beginning Of 1887 few citizens of the
T..1 Il Lao. .,...,I IN,
store for the city. 1t was instructive
ly felt that considerable progress
would be made in the way of building,
and a large influx of people was ex.
pected, but the most visionary enthu-
siast could not have imagined the
marked changes that ~ short twelve
months have wrought. Commence
ing with the earliest disappearance OF
snow up TO the last trace of daylight
on the 31st Of December and building
operations have been continuous. For
weeks and months the sharp, clear
ring OF the trowel has kept time to the
dull thud of the hammer, and while
the monotonous clang is not altogether
liken unto the harmony OF Il brass
band, yet it has been music to the ears
Of tho population ana an airexpressive
in its sonorinusness of the onward
march of Spokane Falls to take the
lead among thc cities OF the Pacific
coast.
1t is not the purpose at this time to
innumerate the character, extent and
value Of the provements that have
taken place within year. This is
left to the compiler who has made a
careful canvass and whose report will
be given in the holiday number soon
10 be issued 1t is such ms will he read
with satisfaction by our own people,
and with surprise by those at II dis
tance. 1t is "a record that has never
been surpassed in The territory, and
never will be until Spokane is ready
TO report again at the close of 1883,
when figures will be furnished that
will be as far in excess of the past year
as the past year is ahead Of all former
years. Seldom has any city made
more remal kable growth in size and
Five hundred houses
built in single season, most of them
large, expensive, attractive structures,
and population that has leaped in n
single season from 1000 To over 5000,
is something that community may
well feel proud of, and we
may be excused for dwelling
upon he subject and refer
ing to IL in terms of boastfulness.
/, 1t il the beginning OF the realization
OF what was predicted for Spokane
Falls by the writer five years ago,
when the bricklayer had no employ
ment, and the painter, finisher, and
decorator was unknown in the land.
When a bunch OF shingles and pile
Of fencing constituted II lumber yard,
md the few members Of the popula-
lion travelled cross lots with more dam
ger Of colliding with trees than hnbita-
ions. When tjl,stered houses We're u
curiosity, and graded streets were a
lrean, of the future. The change OF
few short years is simply wonderful, J
md from struggling village,so unpre-
that u prominent railroad
+