The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1913-10-10
GREAT CITIES WILL RISE
AT KENNEWICK AND PASCO
Dr. Alfred Kinney Views Stamping Grounds Of Boyhood Days and
Sees Wonderful Transformation Sagebuh and Sand
Now Blankets Of Alfalfa, Orchards and Vinevards

"I wish that every citizen of As
toria could have been with me at
Kennewick," said DIR. Alfred Kin
ney, chairman of the Ports ofColum-
bia5 in a recent interview published
in the Astoria Daily Budget, after
returning from the fall convention
Of the Columbia and Snake River
Waterways Association, held in this
city last month.
''Thirty-fve years ago Irode over
the Blue Mountains on the back of
a mule, herding my fathers sheep.
Today, the great mountains OF sand
and sagebrush are gone. In their
stead are green fields of alfalfa, from
which the farmers secure four crops
in a season; watermelon patches,
small fruits of every variety, herds
of hogs and dairy cows, vegetables
and everything that God can give
to the human race, is there in abun-
dance. Where roamed the jack
rabbit, irrigating bitches have trans
formed the country into the western
Garden of Eden. This makes health,
wealth, prosperity and enthusiasm.
When my father first entered
the upper Columbia valley in 1858
be took the first herd Of cattle into
the district-70O in number. In
1879 he changed to raising sheep on
the ranges and it was during this
latter period that learned the vast
ness Of the country from the back
Of bronco. Today the land is
producing an enormous wealth and
its productiveness is just becoming
known. At Kennewick and Pasco
great twin cities will rise to parallel
the growth of St. Paul and Mime
apolis. This, because OF the open
waterways from Lewiston to the sea.
The spirit Of the people will make
it. Nature has already led the way
ard with the completion of the
Cello canal, the great gates of COM
merce will allow steam barges to
float down the river laden with the
products from this land to meet
ocean-going traffic at Astoria ready
to be distributed to the markets of
the world.
/ want the people of the lower
Columbia to know more about the
resources and the future of the upper
Columbia. There is only one way
to learn this and that is to see it.
Therefore l offer the suggestion that
special excursion be held from
Astoria to Lewiston along the Colum-
bla at an early date. In this trip
OF inspection l want to see every
business man represented.
The people of Idaho and Wash
ington gathered at Kennewick last
week to compare notes on the future
commerce of the Columbia. Their
interests are inimical to ours. The
ships that ply the Pacific in the fu-
ture will look for their outward car
goes from the Columbia River basin.
The thinkers of the Inland Empire
realize this and are preparing to
meet the demand when it comes.
The meeting at Kennewick re-
vealed the vast relationship between
Astoria and the upper Columbia.
Men of sagacity, forethought and
influence spoke at the convention
and told not of the past but dealt
entirely with the future. The North
west is awakening to the possibili-
ties OF water transportation; the
Forts OF Columbia is strong phalanx
IN securing financial aid, organiza-
ton and enthusiasm to carry out
whatever project is approved by the
people, the federal government is
standing firm for the rapid removal
OF every barrier in the way of the
Columbia River commerce, and it
Is gratifying to see the wholesome
results that are accruing from day
to day.
Every city bordering upon the
mighty Columbia has a port. a har