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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1854 | 5 |
| 1858 | 3 |
| 1859 | 4 |
| 1860 | 2 |
| 1861 | 8 |
| 1862 | 6 |
| 1863 | 1 |
| 1871 | 1 |
| 1872 | 12 |
| 1876 | 122 |
| 1877 | 92 |
| 1878 | 78 |
| 1879 | 6 |
| 1880 | 14 |
| 1882 | 19 |
| 1883 | 125 |
| 1884 | 65 |
| 1885 | 96 |
| 1886 | 47 |
| 1887 | 57 |
| 1888 | 47 |
| 1889 | 205 |
| 1890 | 43 |
| 1891 | 166 |
| 1892 | 357 |
| 1893 | 337 |
| 1894 | 236 |
| 1895 | 307 |
| 1897 | 8 |
| 1898 | 25 |
| 1899 | 61 |
| 1900 | 6 |
| 1902 | 2 |
| 1903 | 133 |
| 1904 | 130 |
| 1905 | 33 |
| 1907 | 10 |
| 1908 | 50 |
| 1909 | 160 |
| 1910 | 34 |
| 1911 | 16 |
| 1912 | 3 |
| 1914 | 29 |
| 1915 | 35 |
| 1916 | 80 |
| 1917 | 30 |
| 1918 | 8 |
| 1919 | 2 |
| 1923 | 21 |
| 1924 | 20 |
| 1925 | 8 |
29 stories matching water
- The Fight for Clear Water Rights
A new commission report proposes sweeping changes to ensure farmers and businesses can finally secure legal titles to their water.
- The Hanford Water Wars
A federal court ruling protects local ranchers from mortgage holders in the complex bankruptcy of the Hanford Irrigation Power Company.
- Tension Over Water Rights in the Horse Heaven Hills
Landowners and irrigation developers meet in Prosser to resolve conflicting claims to the Klickitat River, highlighting the ongoing struggle for water rights in the region.
- Securing Water for 'God's Acre'
The Kennewick Cemetery association wins a victory to keep local greenery alive in the desert.
- The Hanford Irrigation Crisis
With the receiver out of funds and water users refusing to pay excess charges, the future of the Hanford irrigation project hangs in a precarious legal balance.
- The $100-Acre Price of Water: Palouse Project Engineers Reveal the True Cost of Irrigation
Local engineers surveying the Washougal Coulee warn that diverting water to arid Benton County lands will cost close to $100 per acre, a staggering sum for early 20th-century farmers.
- Desert Land Dreams Turn to Dust
A failed irrigation scheme in Franklin County leaves thousands of acres of claims in limbo after a scathing government report.
- Firefighters Save Lumber Yard from Train Sparks
A rapid response prevents a major conflagration after engine sparks ignite a pile of posts.
- The Paving of the Finley Road
Benton County commissioners upgrade infrastructure plans from gravel to asphalt for the new state highway.
- The Fight for Power on the Columbia
Settlers and a New York corporation clash in federal court over the future of the Priest Rapids dam project.
- A Fatal Accident on the Reed Ranch
A farmhand meets a tragic end while watering a horse on a Horse Heaven ranch.
- The Secrets of a High-Yield Orchard
A century ago, Benton County’s agricultural expert shared the hard-won wisdom on which cover crops would save the local soil—and which would kill the trees.
- The Dust That Cost a Dollar: Kennewick’s Summer of Dry Streets
With city coffers empty and saloon licenses expired, the Commercial Club faces a parching summer. Will business owners pay for water, or let the dust settle?
- The Fight to Cap Power Rates
Cities across the Pacific Northwest clash with Pacific Power & Light in a landmark valuation hearing.
- Freighter Lost to Fire at Pasco Dock
The Columbia Pasco, a river freighter, was destroyed by fire during maintenance work, marking a significant loss for the local river transit trade.
- The Day the Canal Broke: Kennewick’s Irrigation Crisis and Recovery
When a critical break in the local irrigation canal threatened crops last Sunday, residents scrambled to repair the leak before Monday morning. The incident highlights the fragile lifeblood of Benton County agriculture.
- Prosser Businessman Frank Hedger Drowns in Yakima River
A prominent Prosser businessman drowns while duck hunting near the mouth of the Yakima River.
- Weyerhaeuser Eyes the Confluence
Timber giants weigh the mouth of the Snake River for a massive new mill site as regional water transport becomes a reality.
- The Case for a Central Power Plant in Kennewick
A Seattle engineer argues that consolidating regional power generation in Kennewick could slash electricity rates.
- The Circus Leaves Town—And So Does Our Money
A high license fee meant to discourage local 'menace' backfires, driving residents to spend their entertainment budget across the river.
- The Panama Canal Promises Prosperity for Kennewick Fruit
Local industry leaders anticipate a massive shift in freight costs and market reach once the Panama Canal opens to refrigerated shipping.
- The Turkey Rush on the Columbia
As irrigation transforms the desert, Benton County ranchers pivot from livestock to poultry, forming a new association to stake their claim in the Thanksgiving market.
- The Man Who Shot His Ex-Wife and Asked a Stranger to Finish the Job
In a chilling display of domestic violence in 1914 Prosser, Harry Favor shot his divorced wife Lucile Schultz dead, then calmly helped her into a buggy and begged bystanders to kill him before fleeing.
- The Railroads Are Coming for Your River: Milwaukee Road’s Secret Land Grab
Agents of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad are quietly buying up ranches along the Columbia below Priest Rapids, signaling a massive hydroelectric and irrigation project that will reshape the region's power grid.
- Suspicious Fire at Standard Oil Plant
A locked gate was forced open and three horses perished in a midnight blaze that local authorities believe was no accident.