100 years ago in Spokane: City’s first 3-passenger plane takes test flights

The Oriole, Spokane’s first three-passenger plane, made several jaunts over the city in test flights from the Symons-Russell airfield.

It would soon be flying regular sightseeing trips, with a pilot and two passengers, the Spokane Daily Chronicle reported.

Jack Rankin, the Symons-Russell mechanic, said the plane was in first-class shape. It could fly at 100 mph.

From the road beat: Spokane County was preparing to purchase the privately built road to the top of Mount Spokane.

“The road is valuable aside from being a scenic highway,” said a county commissioner. “It serves quite a number of farmers and there are many people who own land in the vicinity of the road who are planning to improve their land this year.”

From the labor beat: The master builders (contractors) of Spokane responded to the strike of their workers by threatening to implement new “open shop” policies, in an attempt to bypass the unions.

The carpenters’ union rejected a compromise offer and remained on strike, along with workers in many other trades.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1860: The legendary Pony Express began carrying mail between St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California. (The delivery system lasted only 18 months before giving way to the transcontinental telegraph.)

1996: Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski was arrested at his remote Montana cabin.