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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1914 | 8 |
| 1915 | 8 |
| 1916 | 15 |
| 1917 | 5 |
| 1918 | 2 |
38 stories matching lesse
- The Open River Was Supposed to Pay Dividends. Was Anyone Counting?
A year after the Celilo Canal opened, the Courier-Reporter asked whether the Inland Empire would actually use the river—and bragged that Kennewick was already the Columbia’s busiest freight town this side of Celilo.
- Department Stores Evade New Minimum Wage
Employers in Washington state find a loophole in the new $10 weekly pay law by cutting hours to avoid mandated rates.
- The Great Ferry Dispute
Citizens in the lower valley unite against a proposal to move the local ferry to the O-W bridge, arguing the location serves only sand and sagebrush.
- The Green Gold Rush: How Kennewick’s Asparagus Boom Became a Local Gold Mine
Local growers are realizing that with the right fertilizer and strict quality control, their valley's asparagus is commanding top prices and opening doors to eastern markets.
- Kennewick Struggles to Meet Liberty Loan Quota
With less than a third of the target raised, local bankers fear falling short of the community's wartime financial allotment.
- The Prosser Court House Bond Scandal
Two county commissioners bypassed legal procedure and public objection to rush through a massive $125,000 bond issue, triggering an immediate lawsuit and a firestorm of local outrage.
- The Case for a Central Power Plant in Kennewick
A Seattle engineer argues that consolidating regional power generation in Kennewick could slash electricity rates.
- A Bridge, a Snub, and a Secession Threat on the Snake
Franklin County offers $20,000 for a Snake River crossing at Burbank. Walla Walla County’s commissioners hesitate, and residents at the county’s western edge start talking about leaving.
- The Struggle for Kennewick's River Future
As the Celilo canal nears completion, local business leaders push for a Port district to tax outside corporations and secure the town's maritime edge.
- A Kennewick Family's Grief in Tacoma
A young shingle weaver from Kennewick takes his own life after struggling to find work in Tacoma.
- The Governor’s Nightmare Road
An editorial critique of the state's failure to maintain a fifteen-mile stretch of road between Richland and Benton City.
- The Night the Spauldings Went to the Princess
A quiet night at the theatre turns sour when a burglar raids a prominent doctor's home, leaving the lights on and the windows shut behind him.
- The Battle for the Benton County Roads
Kennewick business leaders protest a county road project, arguing that their tax dollars are being diverted to build infrastructure in empty, undeveloped territory.
- City Bonds Narrowly Pass by a Single Vote
A $23,000 bond issue to retire city warrants narrowly clears the 60% requirement after a sleepy election season.
- The Great Rabbit Scourge of 1916
A brutal winter and lack of food drives starving jackrabbits into the heart of Richland's orchards.
- The Fight for Local Control of Rural Roads
Farmers of Benton County argue for a township-based road system to bypass alleged political corruption and neglect of rural infrastructure.
- Keep Your Money at Home? In Kennewick, the Shoe-Leather Trail Led to Pasco
A letter to the editor takes aim at buy-local boosterism, arguing that Kennewick shoppers already knew the real prices—and often crossed the river to Pasco or sent away for mail-order catalogs.
- Kennewick Bargained for Brighter Streets—and a Ten-Year Utility Deal
In December 1916, Pacific Power Light proposed replacing Kennewick’s carbon arc lamps with hydrogen lamps, but council members wanted guarantees that new technology and future rate cuts would reach the city.
- The Deep Freeze Coal Famine
With record-breaking snow and railroad blockades, Kennewick faces a chilling shortage of fuel and the potential return of oil lamps.
- The Coming of 'War Bread'
Federal authorities mandate a shift in milling standards as Washington residents are warned to prepare for lower-grade flour and higher prices.
- The Gang That Left the Coat Hangers Behind
Two break-ins in twelve days, fifty-five suits and a thousand dollars gone, and a trail of hangers in a brush heap behind the Kennewick Hotel.
- The True Cost of Middlemen
How the Kennewick-Richland Marketing Union learned a hard lesson about shipping produce on consignment versus securing fair prices through cooperation.
- Voters Snub City Debt Proposal
Only 115 residents turned out to vote on a critical municipal bond measure, leaving the city council frustrated by public indifference.
- The Great Swimmin' Hole Scandal
A group of local boys face the judge for skinny-dipping in the Columbia, sparking a call for a proper municipal dressing house.
- The Price of Power in the Valley
A utility company disputes the state commission’s push to lower energy rates, citing shrinking returns.