The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1912-07-05
STR. RELIEF WILL
REPLACE TODD
Open River Transportation Cos.
Boat will Operate on
Up-River Run

The sinking of the steamer w.
r. Todd last week has brought
about an acute condition as re-
CARDS transportation between this
city and White Bluffs, which both
the local business men and the resi-
dents of the up-river country realize
must be remedied at once.
To this end a conference was held
at the Hotel Kennewick Wednesday
morning at which were present A.
B. Wastell, General Manager of the
Open River Transportation COM
pany; J. S. Pierson and G. H. Sell
lick of Hanford, and about dozen
of the local business men.
The Hanford, and White Bluffs
shippers are most concerned about
the movement of their peach crop
which, during the height of the
season will require almost daily SER
vice. As solution of this problem,
Mr. Wastell suggested that the Open
River company's steamer Relief,
which is now lying at Cello, be
placed in commission and brought
up for the local work. In suggest
ing the use of the Relief he explained
that his company considered it i'm
possible to put the Inland Empire
on the up-river run from Kenne-
wick because there is not business
enough to warrant the use of the
larger boat.
The-Relief is a steamer Of about
IS tons capacity, or about 25 tons
larger than the Todd. She can be
placed N commission in a weeks
time and would be an ideal boat to
handle the Kennewick-White
Bluffs traffic. Mr.. Wastell sug-
gested that committee be formed
to. charter the Relief for the coming
six months and placed a price of
$1,000 for such a term OF rental.
In round figures it was estimated
that the steamer could earn enough
during the coming busy months to
pay out, and that in case of a posi-
BILE loss, Kennewick pay one-third of
such deficit, Pasco one-third and
Richland, Hanford and White Bluffs
together make up the balance.
The meeting elected H. A. Howe
chairman and H.R. Vibber secretary
with instructions to secure the CO.
operation of the Pasco Chamber of
Cmmerce. The plan of chartering
the Relief will receive further dis
cussion at meeting this friday
evening, and an alternate plan to
have the Open River company put
the boat on the run and to guar
antee them from possible operating
loss during the next two months
will also be brought up.
The Relief, if brought here, will
make three trips weekly, and if the
business warrants it the Inland
Empire will also 60 up the river
twice weekly during the busiest
fruit season. With this service it
is thought that the ranchers will be
able to move their perishible fruit
out without loss.
Nothing will be done toward
raising the sunken Todd until low
water. The ill-fated boat il lying
on her side at the point of the
island about two miles below the 0.
w. R. & N. bridge.
Local steamboat men say that
there will be little salvage from the
wreck. The Todd cost to build be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000. No
marine insurance was carried on
her, so she will be almost a total
loss to her owners, who had her
insured only against fire.
LATER. At the meeting this even
ing, it was definitely decided to
accept the company's offer and
guarantee that any loss through lack
of business would be made up by
the people of the valley in the ratio
above mentioned.
The work of connecting the Re-
lief's engines will be commenced
Immediately, the boat brought to
this point within the next week,
and the schedule begun.