The Battle for the Columbia: Kennewick Stakes Its Claim
An editorial battle between rival river towns heats up as Kennewick pushes for a new port district to secure dominance over Pasco.
The story, cleaned up
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Capt. W. P. Gray recently wrote to the Pasco city council, warning that Pasco's natural advantages mean little without effort. He urged the city to improve its dock facilities to become the transportation center of the Inland Empire. While the Courier-Reporter acknowledges Gray's wisdom, it argues that Kennewick is better positioned to capture that role. Kennewick sits on the protected side of the river, safe from winds and drifting ice, and possesses superior docking infrastructure. Furthermore, as the primary outlet for the Yakima Valley and the planned site of a massive fruit cold storage facility, Kennewick is poised to become the routing point for the region's rail and water tonnage. The paper concludes that Kennewick's future depends on the successful establishment of the Kennewick Port District, warning that the town must not be found 'sleeping on the job.'
“We may know these things but nothing has ever been accomplished by twiddling thumbs.”
The rivalry between Kennewick and Pasco defined the early 20th-century development of the Tri-Cities, with both towns competing for control of the rail and river trade. Today, while the two share a unified economic region, the foundational fight for infrastructure and status still echoes in current debates over regional growth and development.
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