The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-12-22
Railroad Connection October, 1892.


Monday, October II, 1892, was
hailed by the citizens of Wenatchee
as a historic and red letter day. With
the going down of the sun the young
cation with the world around her.
The committee whose duty it was to
prepare for this interesting event,
issued handbills calling upon the
public spirited citizens at 2:30 o'clock
.. m. to give a royal welcome to the
steel rails and steaming locomotive.
At that hour the road had reached
a point about opposite the Watson
hotel, and to the music of an excel
lent band the assembled people
ing as it progressed toward Orondo
avenue. Here a speakers stand had
been erected and the audience Was
entertained by fitting and eloquent
remarks by Judge Carroll B. Graves
of Ellensburg, Frank Reeves ana l..
H. Bowman. These speakers were
introduced by w. R. Weber. as mas
ter of ceremonies. At the conclusion
of the speaking three times three
cheers were given for the Great Nor
jector President. James J. Hill. SO
soon as the train had passed OrOndC
crossing, the silver spike was driven.
This high honor was conferred upon
Samuel and Philip Miller, two of the
oldest Inhabitants of Wenatcnee Val
ley, while the privilege of setting the
spike in its place fell to that worthy
citizen. ". A. Sanders. With this
farewell ceremony the exercises were
brought to a close.
When Wcnatchce Was Awful Tough.
Beyond a doub; the year 1892 was
the liveliest year ever witnessed in
ing, of course, was responsible for
a large share of this unusual enter
prise and progression. Not only in
business was the town wide awake
but it was so, also in a social way.
The usual crowd of 'hobos" and bad
men who invariably assemble at
points where railroad construction
is progressing were present and they
did all in their power to make We
natchee tough town" A perusal
of the columns of the Wenatchee Adj
vance during the greater part OF this
year cannot help but lead one to this
conclusion. Depredations committed
by the offscourings of the earth rang
ed from petty thefts to murder and
riots. Not one or two crimes week
would be heralded, but often ten and
twelve. For some time no reputable
citizen was safe in the town. The
authorities were powerless to rid
the place Of the hobos, or to check
their heinous deeds. Thirteen dance
halls in one block, numerous saloons
and other resorts fiourished 1t was
only after the construction work on
the railroad was completed in the
vicinity of Wenatchee that this ele-
ment left town and drifted on to new
fields.
Tuesday. December 5, 1898. there
was held in Wenatchee a municipal
election, at which the following off,
GERS were elected: Councilmen, F
M. Scheble, T. j. Groves, treasurer,
w. H. Willis; clerk, w. r. Prowell;
marshall, ]. w. Ferguson; city at
torney, Thomas Mullen; health off,
Ger, DR.. E. w. Stevens.
The hard times" of 1898 spent
considerable of it's force on the bust
ness of Wenatchee as well as in all
other towns in the country.
The people also missed the month
ly pay-rolls which the Great North
ern Railway company had furnished
the previous year during the era of
construction work in this immediate
vicinity. While banks all over the
country were closing their doors the
Columbia Valley Bank withstood the
financial storm. 1t was only one
within a large territory in Central
Washington that weathered these
hard tines