Kennewick Residents Buck Port Expansion
A petition signed by 45 citizens halts progress on a sweeping riverfront development plan.
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.
The sentiment at Monday’s hearing by the commissioners of the Port of Kennewick seemed to be largely antagonistic to the comprehensive scheme of improvement which was under discussion. A petition protesting against the adoption of the plans was presented, signed by 45 representative citizens. R. E. Pratt, who was in a way sponsor for the petition, did most of the talking against the proposed plans. Mr. Pratt said that while he realizes that the mere adoption of plans, no matter how comprehensive, may do no harm, he thinks that the magnitude of the improvements incorporated in the plans are entirely out of reason. He advocates a modest scheme of improvement which will include the purchase of the present dock and the building of a warehouse of reasonable capacity. The hearing was adjourned until next Monday at two o’clock, at the Commercial Club rooms, when further discussion of the plans will be taken up. Until some scheme of improvement is adopted, the commissioners’ hands are tied, even so far as making repairs on the present dock, for they cannot use any of the funds raised by tax levy last year until they have adopted an improvement scheme upon which to work.
“The magnitude of the improvements incorporated in the plans are entirely out of reason.”
This debate over the scope of riverfront infrastructure reflects a recurring tension in Kennewick’s history: the desire for modest, practical growth versus grand, expensive projects that often fail to secure broad public support.
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