Richland's Spasmodic Boom
Construction of new drainage ditches and an influx of workers brings a wave of prosperity—and busy dinner tables—to Richland.
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.
Richland is enjoying a spasmodic boom which it is hoped will be permanent. The hotel life of any town is a sure index of its prosperity, and when it is known that from 25 to 35 guests sit down to dinner at the Hotel Richland, it is felt that there is at least a wave of prosperity here. A great deal of this is caused by the influx of men who are to work on the construction of the new drainage ditch, while considerable transient trade is going and coming every day. A new automobile livery is now operating between Richland and Kennewick at all hours, providing a much-needed service for the growing town.
“The hotel life of any town is a sure index of its prosperity.”
Richland’s history is a series of 'booms,' from agriculture to the Manhattan Project. This 1915 report captures the exact moment a town transitions from a quiet settlement to a construction hub.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.