The Battle for the Columbia Ferry Franchise
A political standoff over the location of a ferry crossing sparks a power struggle between local developers, established operators, and the county commission.
There is no longer any doubt that a ferry will be installed across the Columbia river at the O-W. R. N. bridge. It is still a question, however, who will hold the franchise. John Tyacke has filed an application, as has W. D. Church, who operates the Wallula ferry. The board of county commissioners is deciding the matter based on legal merits. The controversy is an outgrowth of efforts by the people of Attalia, Two Rivers, Burbank, and Kennewick business leaders to secure an upper crossing for closer trade relations. Committees have pressed Mr. Church to move his ferry from Wallula, but since he holds a franchise covering twelve miles of the river, he claims the right to choose his own landing point. Commissioners Clements, Bash, and McNeil visited the proposed landing near the bridge to determine the best path forward, which may also save the county from the heavy expense of maintaining the poor road between Hover and Wallula.
“It is still a question, however, as to who will be the holder of the franchise for the ferry at this point.”
Ferry crossings were once the vital circulatory system of the Columbia Basin. While bridges replaced these ferries, the tension between regional trade hubs—Attalia, Wallula, and Kennewick—still mirrors modern debates over regional transit infrastructure and highway funding priorities.
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