The River That Wasn't: Kennewick’s Lonely Fight to Open the Snake

From the viewpoint of the up-river people, one of the most interesting papers read before the Columbia Snake River Waterways Association in Portland last week was that of Scott Z. Henderson. In handling the subject, 'The Need and Value of Cooperation in River Traffic,' Mr. Henderson took the Portland men vigorously to task for their indifference in the open river campaign.

After setting forth the fact that the people of the upper river country, in spite of the many demands of a pioneer life, had found time to devote to the work of opening the rivers, Mr. Henderson said in part:

'I imagine I can hear the Portland men saying: Didn’t we spend thousands of dollars in building boats, and didn’t we put up thousands of dollars to cover losses, and weren’t those losses occasioned by the lack of patronage of you fellows Up the river? Do you think we are going to continue to put up for the deficiency in that open river business? Don’t you think we have any limit?’

‘Certainly you have a limit; and if you think that it has been reached, there is nothing to be done but ‘watchfully wait’. When you have gone the limit that the up-river people have in helping to build up the traffic on these rivers, then you are entitled to put on the brakes.'

'About the time the Open River Transportation Company started to talk about building its boats, the citizens of Kennewick started to open the river towards Portland. They contracted to have the rapids below Kennewick blown out. The first contractor blew up, but didn’t blow the rapids. Another outfit was chartered and another failure made. Then Congress was appealed to, and with some appreciated help, we succeeded in prevailing on the government to give us a dredge.'

'Realizing that steamboats cannot successfully operate without proper facilities for landing and discharging cargoes, the business men of Kennewick determined to prepare for the boats which Portland were building. They voluntarily assessed themselves, and put up $5,000 for the construction of a dock and landing facilities. They persuaded the proper authorities to expend public money for a road to the dock, and assisted in securing a state appropriation of $100,000 to be expended in improving the Snake river, and also secured $25,000 for improvement work in the Columbia.'

'Then, in order that Portland goods might go further inland, and the full benefits of river navigation be secured, they made up a fund of $3,000, and got into the rate-making fight before the public service commission. With our good friend J. N. Teal patting us on the back, we employed the best available counsel, Judge B. S. Grosscup, of Tacoma... and when the smoke of battle cleared away, we had secured distributive rates out of Kennewick, and Pasco too.'

'The boats of the Open River Transportation Company were put in operation on the river, and the loss was apparently suffered by the Portland interests. A year ago we were told that if the up-river people wanted to take those boats and operate them, we could do so, but that Portland business men did not intend to carry the load any longer. As a consequence, the boats were tied up, and have not operated since.'

'When the boats are running, we have goods delivered from Portland approximately fifteen cents per hundred pounds cheaper than we can get delivery by rail... The merchants of Seattle, Tacoma, and Spokane have taken care of, are taking care of and will take care of the difference in the rail and water rate, and as a consequence, we get the benefit of the reduced rates from any direction.'

'Men of Portland, you have an empire at your door. Its wealth is naturally yours. By putting into this vastly rich and yet undeveloped region the immigration that is certain to come to this country, you can produce a source of commercial revenue more beneficial to you than that of far-off Alaska... If the cities of Seattle Tacoma, and Spokane can afford to take our produce and what little stuff we manufacture and advertise our country and contribute to its development, Portland can afford to do the same.'