Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1904-08-10
LOCAL EVENTS Of THE WEEK
TOGETHER WITH A PERSONAL MENTION
OF THOSE IN THE TOWING PANORAMA
OF LOCAL HISTORY

Every Otner gay, almost, one may say
there appears items in reference to mail
order houses. their harmful influence
upon local concerns. their general all
round no good effect upon business in
general. and. the Chicago Dry Goods
Reporter says: "The catalogue houses
of Chicago claim to employ about
10000 people. We are told that the
wages of IS per cent are less than Sl2
per week: in the city this means bare
subsistence. Less than 5 per cent of the
employees are married; they can't afford
to be. There is very little chance for
advancement. and less tor development,
and yet they say they did $4,000
business last year. This would have
represeted 2.2oo retail merchants doing
$4,000 each. They would employ 10000
clerks. paying over SIS each. They
would occupy 2,2oo store rooms, 1900
homes, maintained and educated 5000
children, paid fifty times more taxes. 500
times more for local improvements,
church and school maintenance. The
retail system offers 1000 times more
opportunity for embarking in individual
enterprise, and places the highest fruits
of success within the reach of every
worthy, honest ambitious toiler. These
2,2oo merchants live in and are identified
with the progress of 2.2oo different COM
munities, and are vital necessity to
the continued life and desirability of our
smaller towns"
John A. Thiel, the stalwart German
pioneer who was SO mercilessly thrown
down for the nomination of sheriff, and
to which nomination he was entitled at
the hands of the democratic convention,
is being urged to come out and run
independent. big John" is power
among the German people of this
county, and has friends among all
classes, and is one of the heaviest city
and farm property owners in the county.
John belongs to the Thiel families of
old German pioneers who came here
more than twenty years ago. and who
have done so much for this county. He
is vice. president of the German American
State Bank. has nice home on west
College, and is at present in the employ
of Gilbert Hunt Machinery Co.
S. H. Watkins. of Athol, Idaho,
former merchant of this place, was
nominated for representative from Koote-
mai county by the convention held at
Sand Point. Idaho, last week. Mr..
Watkins is good, safe man. and the
only objection or source of criticism that
can ever come to him is that he is
democrat. Mr.. Watkins conducted
general merchandise business in Ritz
vile for number of years and was
elected and served as a member of the
city council. removing to his present
home some ten years ago. He has many
friends in this community.
Joseph Hoffman. who has been operat-
ing threshing rig in this vicinity for the
past ten days. left for parts unknown
Thursday night. leaving behind well
equipped threshing outfit. together with
a long run for the rig booked ahead.
Friends of the man believe that the
excessive heat of the past week has
caused him to become mentally un.
balanced. No reason can be assigned
for his wanting to leave the country in
such a manner. as he was fairly we'll
fixed financially. He came here from
La Grande, Oregon. havin.. threshed in
this section for about FIVE seasons.
1t is to be hoped that the splendid
trees in front of the depot may be spared
when the railway company make their
contemplated improvement. They are
not only relief to the eye on the dry
plain. but are a shelter in more than one
way. Had it not been for that row of
green trees the big fire of June 6. 1883.
would have also swept away the depot
and surrounding buildings.
At the last session of the council it
was ordered that property owners clean
up streets and alleys abutting their
property, cess pools to be kept in sani.
tarv condition. and that hereafter SEN
fences imposed by the police court be
worked out upon the streets. if not paid
in cash.
B. w. Hughes. Of Dayton. i. acting as
assistant cashier OF the Pioneer State
Bank while Mr.. Martin is in the east.
Later the gentleman will be transferred
to the cashiership of the new banking
institution which will be opened by
Messrs. Greene & Cunningham at
Medical Lake. Wash.
The annual flow of the golden stream
has begun in earnest, and the wheat.
hauling wagons are strtnging into town
from every direction. Trade is better,
and general conditions are livening up
decidedly.
A cigar factory will be opened up in
Did $. L. Cronce residence at the
.rof F and Second streets. by John
reeman. a new arrival from Port
a. Oregon. The stock is now en- route.
Judge N. T. Cation of Davenport, the
democratic nominee for sunev;ov ;,,dos