The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-09-14
Wenatchee's Opportunity.

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would be unbelievable, yet We have
been conservative To the working
mind 1t will at once appear that We
natchee has wonderful opportunity
She likewise has an equally large
duty and responsibility. This great
country, just described by heritage,
belongs to Wenatchee. She can,
however, lose her birthright, or sell
1t for present mess of pottage. The
wealth of that country will flow into
Wenatchee's arms as natural as wa
ter flows down hill. She. is the
gateway by which those coming
must enter and the products leaving
must take its exit. 1t is easily within
the range of possibilities and not at
all without the range of possibilities,
that some other town may spring up
about the mouth of the Okanogan
river, and with the advantage of a
railroad across the country take
much of that which of right belongs
to Wenatchee.
But there is way by which to
avoid such calamity That is the
immediate opening of the Columbia
river to reasonably safe navigation
from Bridgeport to Kettle Falls.
That is the most important stretch
Of the river at present.
The legislature of 1909 appropri-
ated some $4,000 for the improve
ment of that part of the river. A
plant (the Yakima) was purchased
and commission put in charge of
the work. Captain McDermott was
placed in charge of the work and
devoted his time, with a good crew
OF men, all last winter to making
sufficient improvements that enabled
him to take the Yakima to Kettle
Falls. However, it Is claimed that
the river is not sufficiently safe yet
to allow of practical navigation
But great deal was accomplished.
and the captain has continued to
take observations and plan for a re-
sumption of work as soon as the
stage Of the water will admit. About
$4,000 of that state appropriation
yet remains which will be sufficient
to start operations again, but not
enough to put it in the desired
shape. In view of the slowness of
the general government in prose-
cutting such work it is the sense of
this committee that the state plant
be retained by the state and that it
continue to push he work The gen.
eral government has appropriated
$3,600,000 for river and harbor i'm
provement in this state, but We are
as yet unable to learn just where
this is to be expended. However, we
believe that the quickest relief will
be obtained by pushing the work of
the state. Later on the general gov
eminent can put in the more sub
stantial and permanent improve
ments. The thing most needed now
for the interest of the upper country
and the city of Wenatchee is rea-
sonably safe navigation right away
The Canadian government is TAX
ing a lively interest in the opening
of the Columbia from above the line
to the sea. A meeting with her Of
ficials is to be held soon at Nelson.
B. c., to the end that cooperation
may be established between that
country and this state in furtherance
of that work
The National Rivers and Harbors
congress, an organization second in
itself, is doing great work in edu-
eating congress to the Importance Of
policy and not a project in inland
waterway Improvement Largely
through its influence the recent
congress appropriated some $780,
100000 for such purpose. 1t APP
pears that such a policy is the best
and wisest yet proposed and will
eliminate the grab-bag custom of
delegates to congress, and avoids de-
lay in improvement because it pro-
vides the funds to carry to compile
ton with the most possible speed
any project started and thus 10 away
with the eternal delays that has
characterized federal projects. This
| organization is in our opinion a
great force and can accomplish more
than any other similar organization.
This Commercial club has been ask
ed to take out membership in the
National Rivers and Harbors con-
gress. The annual fee for an organ
| ization of this size will be fifty dol
lars. That congress meets at Wash
| ington, d. c., coincident with the
| assembling and opening of the ma
tional congress. Other organizations
have communicated with this COM
mittee to the end of cooperation in
waterway improvements. In view
of the foregoing we, your Open
Rivers committee. beg to make the
| following recommendations:
I. That this club use it's influ-
ence in the formation of Columbia
| River improvement association, con-