The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1916-04-27
KENNEWICK Is
GETTING READY
FOR BUSINESS
comprehensive Plans for I'm
provement of Water Front
Have Been Completed
WILL MEET NEEDS FOR YEARS
r. River Traffic Grows This City will
Be in Position to Handle
1t Satisfactorily

Paul P. Whitman, of Seattle, one o1
the most able port engineers OF the
Northwest, this week delivered to the
commissioners of the Port of Kenne-
wick, completed plans for the improve
ment of Kennewick's water front. In
preparing the plans Mr.. Whitman
made several trips to this city, made a
detailed study of the river and shore
lands and has attempted to take into
consideration every condition which
NAV effect both rail and water trans
portation in the future. He believes
be has Incorporated in his plans OF
Improvement, facilities for meeting
every demand of water shipping for
many years to come.
In prefacing his report to the COM
missioners he says:
1.-TWO avenues of travel are avail
able to most inland cities; that is, the
highway and the railway. Some few
have an opportunity to use third:
the waterway.
"The great Columbia River water
way is available to Kennewick as a
highway to the sea. It is fitting, there
fore, without depreciating the value of
the highway and the railway, but ra-
ther while fostering these two means
Of transportation, that the community
should take stock of the situation and
avail itself to the fullest extent of such
advantages as may be secured from
an encouragement of the use of the
third avenue-the waterway. It is
with this thought in mind that the
problem Of formulating a comprehen-
sive scheme for the improvement of
the Port of Kennewick has been ap-
preached.
THE prominent feature in the sit
uation at Kennewick is Glover Island
and the protected basin formed there
by at the southerly end. This pro-
lection is operative only during low
water, as during the freshets por-
uon Of the stream flows thru the high
channel between the island and the
southerly bank of the river. If this
enamel could be closed off at some
convenient point, so as to prevent the
How OF water at all stages, a quiet ba-
SIN would be formed, in which docks
ana other improvements could be
erected with the result: first, that the
structures would not be in danger of
oamage from drift during high water;
second that vessels at all times would
De able to make their landings in still
water. This basin could be extended
Is waterway by moderate amount
~ dredging toward the foot of Wash
ineson street, if the growth of the city
ana river traffic justified the improve
Aent. ~
In order to secure full utilization
u the Columbia waterway, the steam
terminals must be co-ordinated with
.ne highways and the railways: the
.0rmer by providing proper street ac-
ssss TO the wharves, and the latter by
%e extension of the railway tracks to
the docks.
mus having the general situation
= mind, the basis for considering the
p'ooiem OF comprehensive plan is
established"
apparently Mr.. Whitman has CO.
Ofulnated the three agencies of ira
vel IN that he has provided for a new
street to the docks giving much more
N'.ect route than at present, while
'aliway connections are provided for
.'n common-user track originating
~ the st. Paul & Tacoma Lumber
sVmpany's yards which is served by
1'e ~. T. and O-W. r. & N. tracks.
o-a0 at the water front strip of land
.0.V oy l29 feet is reserved for wharf
m auu warehouse purposes and the still
wafer basin between the island and
= mainland is $500 by 200 feet. The en-
sAieer ~ mas prepared detailed plans for
s sIe nrst unit of the docking scheme
aicn is located just above the pres
Ae :: dock. Charts showing the entire
aproVement scheme are now on file
a. the office Of W. R. Weisel, secre-
ss Oh the Port Commission. They
e open to public inspection and ev-