The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1911-09-08
STEPTOE ASSUMES
BUSINESS ACTIVITY
SHUTTER is Being INSTALLED in
ONE OF LARGEST WAREHOUSES;
IN The COUNTRY.

Under the shadow of Steptoe butte
is the town of Steptoe, the largest
wheat shipping station on the Inland.
Here the Northern Grain l. Ware
house company have outdone them
selves and competing companies by
erecting a warehouse so by 200 feet.
Nearly every foot of floor space is
occupied and sacks are stacked to
the roof. Farmers are selling freely
and cars are being loaded out rapid
ly. The warehouse is equipped with
cleaner and chopper and now the
company is installing a shutter for
the first time in this part of the coun-
try. The Interior Warehouse COM
pany also have a large warehouse at
Steptoe. Last year 140 900 sacks of
grain were shipped out by the two
companies and this years crop will
be around 10000 sacks.
When Steptoe was in the embryo
stage with nothing but the prospect
of a railroad, the town lots were Of
fered for sale by Spokane real es-
tate firm. ID. H. Johnson, new from
Chicago, was in Spokane looking for
a place to locate. He invested in one
of these lots end came down the next
day to see what he had purchased.
"A grocery store for mine he said
and gave Contractor Peoples of Ell
berton the job of erecting building
for the new business. Wire fences
were taken down and the new build
ing was complete when the track
laying crew reached Steptoe in their
onward march The track was laid
in here on the 18th of the month and
on the following day Mr.. Johnson's
car of groceries arrived. That was
four years ago and Mr.. Johnson has
been conducting the Hub store ever
since.
Another pioneer is j. NJ. Trow-
bridge who bought the first lot the
day the sale opened. He was soon
on the ground with a stock of hard
ware and implements and has had
good business ever since.
c. Fuller, head of the Steptoe Mer-
camille company, was the first post
master appointed for the new town
and still holds the Office. His store
is well stocked with line OF general
merchandise and he enjoys a good
business.
Across the street from the mercan-
tile company is the new building
where the Steptoe State bank opened
for business August l of this year.
Subscriptions for stock in the new
bank were liberal and it was decided
TO start with a capital stock OF $14,-
200. Many farmers were anxious to
take stock in the new concern and ii
would be easy to increase the capital
to $4,000. Although the bank has
been doing business only month
comfortable business is reported.
The little building is well furnished,
the fixtures having been supplied by
J. r. Good of Colfax. The concrete
fire proof vault contains one of the
best Mosler safes, safe deposit boxes
for rent, and cases for bank supplies.
M. c. Handy is in charge of the
bank as cashier. The president is
Lewis START; vice president, NJ. c.
Roberts: directors, Charles Euler,
W. E. Parish, T. F. kabler and Ella
NJ. Downs. Cashier Handy is about
10 erect a new residence in town for
his own use.
A. f. Milan runs the only meat
market in town and Nelson's restau-
rant feeds number of regular
boarders and what transients
come to the town. Nelson
Howard built the first good
residence in the town and owns one
Of the business blocks.
Last June the Standard Lumber
company took over the lumber bust
ness and placed ]. L. Hughes in
n q 9 mo no 10 hoc h,Yil m
the business and the prospects are
bright for a good fall trade. Many
small buildings are in course of con-
structiOn in different parts of the
town and the church has recently
been remOdeled Unoccupied houses
are scarce and the demand exceeds
the supply. Many farmers want to
move in TO take advantage of the
good school but can find no place to
live
= The brick school building is the
best In any town of its size in the
county. With furnace heat and mod
ern in every way it is the pride of the
district. T. F. Kabler is principal.
The school directors are L. P. Gardo,
w. Jackson and Thomas Sharp.
Two fraternal lodges furnish an
opportunity for fellowship among the
town and country people The Odd
Fellows lodge is in a fiourishing con-
ditiOn with r. r. Hunton. noble
grand, and ]. NJ. Trowbridge as Sec
retary. The Modern Woodmen lodge
is presided over by William Hum
phreys and Lawrence Higgins is
clerk.
In its days of infancy Steptoe
prices were pushed up a little higher
than they could stand but the drop
came and now the little town is en-
joying a substantial and healthy
growth and bids fair to be a trading
center of Importance for the good
farming country which surrounds it
on all sides.
SCHOOL BOND ELECTION VOID.