Jim Kershner’s This day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

The Spokane Daily Chronicle was exulting over the news that the 1910 census numbers had been revised to put Spokane well above Tacoma as the state’s second largest city.

The Chronicle claimed to have inside information that showed that, following a recount, Spokane’s numbers would be between 107,000 and 109,000, leaving Tacoma “several thousands behind Spokane in the final count.”

Earlier information had indicated that Tacoma would be well above Spokane, with as many as 112,000 in the original count.

In fact, Tacoma had already held “a public celebration” of their supposed second-city victory. So these revised figures were “so much of a disappointment to Tacoma citizens to have been considered in the light of a public disaster.”

The news would actually get worse for Tacoma by the time the official results were finally released. It would show Spokane with 104,402 people and Tacoma with only 83,743.

Ten years earlier, Tacoma was bigger than Spokane by a count of 37,714 to 36,848.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1969: Peace demonstrators staged activities across the country as part of a “moratorium” against the Vietnam War.