A South Sound history through words and pictures
100 YEARS AGO TODAY: SEPT. 1, 1912
Approximately 1,100 men are employed in some form of labor in the construction of the new Point Defiance line of the Northern Pacific railway. Between $80,000 and $90,000 is paid out each month to the employees, while a total of $1,600,000 will probably be reached by the end of the 18 months allotted for the completion of this contract. Some of the work is heavy, some light, but none of it is particularly easy. The steam shovel handles the bulk of the heaviest work and the horse, which is not classified as a laborer or salaried employe and which only gets enough to eat and drink and a place to sleep, is relieved from this duty.
75 YEARS AGO TODAY: SEPT. 1, 1937
Another great improvement in the state of Washington’s highway system will be thrown open to traffic tomorrow, when the Nisqually cutoff, to be known as Martin Way, will be dedicated. The link in the state’s chain of roads now is completed and tomorrow a group of officials will officially open it to use. Bursting bombs will herald the ceremonies, which begins at 2:30 p.m. at the west end of the new bridge across the Nisqually river. The last bomb preceding the dedication will carry skyward an American flag, and then Olympia’s American Legion band will swing into the first musical selection of the ceremony.
50 YEARS AGO TODAY: SEPT. 1, 1962
A U.S. Navy plane winging over the sea 15 miles from Cuba was fired on by naval craft believed to be Cuban, says the White House. And it warned the Castro government American crews will shoot back in any future attacks. The incident, which the White House said occurred Thursday, increased U.S.-Cuban tensions that have been growing with reports of shiploads of Russian arms, equipment and technicians landing in Cuba.
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