The River That Could Be: Kennewick’s Bold Bid to Become a Port City
In 1914, local leaders mobilized a massive delegation to Portland, betting that the new Celilo Canal would transform their dusty town into a major shipping hub.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Richardson Urges Large Delegation to Go to Portland for Fifth Annual Convention
When President Geo. F. Richardson of this city calls to order the fifth annual convention of the Columbia and Snake River Waterways Association in Portland on April 13, he will be greeted by the most notable gathering of open river enthusiasts ever assembled in the Northwest. Prominent men from the four northwestern states and British Columbia will be present to represent their sections and to take part in the discussions of the two days sessions.
It is probable that at least twelve delegates from Kennewick will be in attendance. Although several of the men who hope to be present have not yet definitely decided whether they can make the trip or not, the tentative list who will represent Kennewick is: Geo. F. Richardson, S. Z. Henderson, M. W. Mattecheck, L. E. Johnson, Wm. Helm, J. J. Budkin, C. L. Holcomb, E. M. Sly, M. H. Church, W. R. Weisel, H. A. Bier, Geo. W. Sherk, F. J. Arnold, F. P. McGuire and Fred Lundy.
The Waterways convention was made the topic for discussion at the weekly Commercial Club luncheon yesterday. Mr. Richardson again expressed the desire that Kennewick would be represented by a large delegation. He stated that the primary object for which the association had been formed was to secure an early completion of the Celilo Canal, but now that this aim had been attained, there is still important work to be done. The river’s value as a transportation agency will depend upon its equipment for business. Harbors must be provided and docks built, especially at distributive points.
In this connection, Mr. Richardson emphasized Kennewick’s ideal natural facilities for adequate harbor accommodations and suggested that efforts be put forth to put the convention on record as favoring the early survey and development of harbors at the most advantageous points.
Commenting on the coming convention, the Oregon Journal says:
"It is not intended that the waterways convention in Portland this month shall be merely a feast of words. Even this city of the blind—to their trade opportunities—may be startled by the broad review of facts relative to the possible in development of navigation and hydro-electric energy."
The representative of four states will be concerned in the organizing of facts into a working plan at the fifth annual convention of the Columbia Snake River Waterways Association, April 13 and 14.
The 1,500,000 horsepower in electric energy to be developed incident to the canalization of the upper Columbia and Snake will be spoken of in relation to the opening of the Celilo Canal.
This story captures a moment of intense civic optimism when Kennewick believed its geographic location on the Columbia River would make it a major industrial port, rivaling larger cities. Today, while the Celilo Canal is long gone (replaced by dams), the region remains an agricultural powerhouse, though the dream of Kennewick as a primary deep-water shipping hub was ultimately superseded by other infrastructure developments.
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