The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1941-01-09

barge is launched In KenneWlck,
was facetious statement made sew
eraI months ago to Capt. r. E. M.
DesIslets of the Army Engineers, in
charge of river channel work.
It was a cold day, but not cold
enough to keep several hundred in
terested visitors from watching the
biggest and newest barge on the
Columbia river take its initial bath
at the Columbia Marine Shipyards,
where it has been constructed for
the Upper Columbia Snake River
Towing Co.
Five-year-old Polly Stewart, the
daughter of the builder, broke a
bottle of Church's Grape Juice on
the side of the barge, thereby christ
ening it the port of Kennewick." A.
few moments later the cable was
cut, and with little pressure exert
ed by some Jacks, the ITS food barge
slid gracefully into the river, con-
firming the guesses of many of the
workmen that it would draw foot,
9 inches of water.
To Port Commissioners, Cham
Der of Commerce workers, and
dozens of interested citizens who
have long dreamed and talked Of
the revival of river transportation,
and have worked so hard, and at
times it appeared, so fully, the
sight Of the huge steel barge slip
ping down the ways was certainly
the thrill of a lifetime. Undoubted-
ly there is no subject concerning the
improvement of our city that has
been discussed more than the utili-
zation of transportation facilities to
their fullest extent; the coordina-
ton of our three railroads, our river
and highways. Now the often used
slogan Where Rail and Water
Meet" is an actuahty when applied
to Kennewick. To further confirm
the future of river transportation,
as the barge slid into the water, one
of the army engineers boats en-
gagged in dredging out river chan
nels stood like a Waterman off
shore to observe the birth of one
of the units for which it was MAX
ing navigation safe.
Before the launching, Mark M.
Moulton, acting as master of cere-
monies, properly and fitting intro
duced men responsible for Kenne-
wick's entry into the class of inland
port. Following greeting by Mayor
A. G. Anon, MIR. Moulton introduced
Robert s.. Stewart, manager of Col
umbia Marine Shipyards. Mr.. Stew
art spoke briefly concerning the
fine attitude the people of the COM
munity had taken toward his COM
pany and the many workmen engag-
ed in the construction of the new
barge.
Captain A. Lappaluoto and Paul
Light, owners of the Upper Column
bia-Snake River Towing Company,
were then introduced, and a short
but very interesting talk was given
by Captain Lappaluoto. In his re-
marks, the Captain was decidedly
encouraging in assuring local peo-
pie that his company would be
frequent and faithful user of any
port facilities made available. His
company now operates the largest
tug boat on the upper Columbia,
and he enjoyed reminding Captain
DesIslets of the Army Engineers that
the navigation companies would
keep him busy enlarging channels
to take care of the larger barges and
boats that would be in operation.
Captain Lappaluoto pointed out that
their barge, the Port of Kennewick",
would tax the channel clearances
to their utmost during low water
stages.
Captain DesIslets was then intro
duced and spoke briefly about the
success of the hearing on river
transportation held in. Kennewick
some time ago. He was especially
complimentary about the manner
in which the data submitted had
been collected and prepared. He then
introduced Wheeler Rucker, w. w.
Laxton and Henry May of his staff
who are employed directly in the
characterization work.
Howard Dent, representing the In
land Navigation Company, another
of the larger transportation COM
panies on the Columbia River, was
then introduced and spoke briefly.
Mr.. Moulton then introduced
many other men who were workers
in bringing about the progress in
river navigation that has already
been achieved, including Eugene
Kelly of the Walla Walla Grain
Growers, George Turner, Al Smith
and Harry Linn, port commission
ers, A. w. Campbell, vice president
of the Chamber of Commerce, Ed
Weber, chairman of thetranspor-
tation committee of the Chamber