Saloon tokens & Jargon

[Dave Robertson]

A little-known part of Northwest history: tokens that were good for a free 
drink (etc.) at saloons.

Researching U.E. Fries' mention of an Okanogan-country "Tumwater Saloon" 
that was a hangout of tough guys, I've found documentation of a saloon 
token from Tumwater, Washington.  

http://home.pacbell.net/tokenbob/saloon.html

The same website lists a "Ticki Saloon", Tonopah, Nevada...I guess not 
Jargon.  It'd be a nice name if it were.  

There's also a Pilchuck Saloon, Woodland, WA.  

I'm not sure yet the time period when these tokens were issued; many of 
them are in denominations of 12.5 and 6.25 cents, i.e. a "bit" and a "half 
bit".  (U.E. Fries' book, by the way, notes 1880s usage in Washington 
state: a "short bit" was a dime, 10 cents.)  
http://www.pdxcoinclub.org/gallery/SaloonTokens/SaloonTokens.html says 
saloon tokens were common from the 1880s onward.  

--Dave R

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