The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-05-20

second store soon followed. then . hotel.
tinshop. blacksmith shop, and nna,ly- in
the winter Of 1S7s, Z grisi mill was erected.
surrounding settlers subscribing 5000 bush
80 o. grain 70 aid the enterprise The irAs
political conventions were held in the saw
mill and Mr. Perkins residence in Ig-z ana
tnaf same year the nrst<.choei house in
~ n1tnsan county was erected and schoo, At
once opened. This temple OF learning was
used Tor school purposes. all public gather
Inss~ lectures. religious exercises. political
conventions and court sessions for seven
years and until destroyed by Are The first
marriage ceremony performed In Colfax &C.
CURED April 8. 1s73 making husband ana
vile OF James A. Perkins. the towns faith
er, and Miss Jennie Ewayt. And~to Aiss
Minnie Perkins. their eldest child belongs
the distinction Of being the mrs. white
child born In Colfax. on April IS. 1874 Per-
maps this event was Justly considered
5000 oegfnHtnE. At least. the growth Of
the city has been continuously uninterrupt-
ed ever since.
On September n, 1871. the first number OF
the Paiouse Gazette. the first newspaper
published north OF Snake river In WASH
in&t0n, was issued BY keaogg Hopkins.
Inc Gazefte was and still continues a po-
tent factor In the development OF the coun-
Try. The growth OF the town from the be-
ginning Was continuous and healthy. Al
most without exception men who engaged
N business prospered, and the business
oouses OF today are largely under the same
name and conducted By the same people as
they were during the later los
incorporated In 1879.
Coifax dates as city from January II.
1873. when the proposition 10 incorporate
Was unlimited 10 q vote. In February OF
that year the first city election was held,
and Hon. W. II. James, formerly the gov
NMfsp uuj0 .fs.
Among the councilmee then elected was
Hon. G. O. Austin. now Of Seattle. ard the
recently deceased J. Hoover until his death
president Of the Old National bank OF Spo.
kane.
The censuA Of 1850 showed Colfax to have
population OF as. In July OF that year
for tie erst time the town was connected
with the outside world by the completion
OF the military telegraph line. when an
ONCE was opened under the management
OF the signal service. In 1855 this Inc was
sold By the government. being bought by
{. b. Hopkins. now Of Spokane. who was
at that time the publisher Of the Gazette.
and who bought the line solely for news.
papere purposes. From a telegraph he
changed II Into a telephone line the firs.
use OF telephones In Washington and Ore
gon. and the first long distance telephone
on the Coast From this enterprise spfang
the Inland Empire long distance telephone
system. which has made a network OF
wires throughout the eastern part OF the
state and northern Idaho.
But the Colfax Of nineteen years ago has
developed from the hamlet OF AS people TO
busy and orderly little city of to exceed
5000 Inhabitants. Its growth has been
slow: In fact. much slower than has been
justified by the wealth Of its surroundings.
Coifax Is the principal town OF the coun-
~ and one Of the best business points OF
the state. The town has long been noted
for It's sDlidlty. the wealth Of it's business
population. and the enterprise OF its people
generally. II Is progressive American
commonwealth. has excellent schools a
number Of nne church editicss, its streets
and business houses are lighted by cleo.
tricity. with city water works furnishing
water for domestic and manufacturing per-
poses. and splendid Are protection. and a
system OF sewerage. Colfsx lis located In
the center OF the arabic portion OF the Pa
louise country. and Is the only town OF any
considerable size with which the people OK
the western half of the county have trade
relations. II IL the entrepo; for fully one
half the population Of the county. The
Haptists have here located collegiate in
st!tution Of high character. with a strong
faculty. The student body numbers over
100 The Sisters az Charity. Of the House
OF Providence. have a spiendidly equipped