Portland's population and commerce continued to grow as the city entered to 20th century. During this time, the public began to take interest in public planning projects. Public funding became a major source of city improvement revenue and the establishment of the City Planning Commission in 1919 marked a new era of Portland development. (2)
As it had always been, the city's economic growth was based on the success of its port; the shear amount of lumber and agricultural product it could transport. To keep up with transportation demands, the Army Corp of Engineers continued work on the Willamette and Columbia Rivers.
Taming the Columbia
Jetty Construction (3)
The main purpose of the Corp was to maintain a shipping channel to guarantee ships access to the Willamette and the port. The channel was required to have a minimum depth of 30 feet at all times. (4) From 1900 to 1917, the Corp also took of the daunting task of managing the mouth of the Columbia. In order to allow continued access through the mouth the Corp needed to make sure the depth at the mouth was 40 feet. To do this the engineers built a 2.5 mile long north jetty and rebuilt and south jetty at greater length. When they were completed, the jetties were the largest in the world. (4)
Taking Back the Riverfront
Portland, Oregon Docks (4)
Fed up with the monopolization of the riverfront, Portland's citizens voted in a bond for the establishment of publicly owned docks in 1910. Public docks meant that the Oregon Railroad and Transportation company no longer controlled the majority access to transportation. The already booming port saw increased activity following the completion of the first publicly owed dock in 1914. Dock and Port Commissions were soon created and by the late 1920s Portland became the largest transporter on lumber in the world. By 1930, the Port of Portland Commission owned 120 acres of the riverfront. Transportation along the rivers was now majority controlled by the public sector.(4)
Inspired by the City Beautiful Movement and motivated by the opening of the Panama Canal, Portland planners new that the city would need more than beautification to sustain its success. Competition with other port cities sparked the completion of the city's first city plan, the Olmsted Plan. The city's second city plan, the Bennett Plan, created in 1921 was the first to address the rising popularity of the automobile. (4)
Transportation in the Bennett Plan
Bennett called for change in all areas of Portland's Transportation. First and Foremost, he called for the rebuilding of Portland's harbor on the Willamette. Shipping and manufacturing would be moved to the northwest in order to free the central harbor of traffic and to facilitate the movement of wholesale products into downtown. (2) A rail line along the river would serve the waterfront and new wide boulevards would connect the harbor directly to the central city. The plan called for radial traffic arteries to be built atop the existing street grid and new bridges and tunnels to connect east and west Portland. (2) The wide boulevards would also be used to connect union station to the central city and the civic center. Although it was never implemented the Bennett Plan left a lasting impression on future transportation planning in the city. (2)
Bridges before the Progressive era were not intended for use by automobiles; many were rebuilt during this time to accommodate them. Streetcar use declined as automobile use increased and eventually the extensive network of rail lines covering the city were torn apart and replaced by bus transit. As the depression approaches, public support of bonds declines and city planning weakens.
1. (Image) http://vintageportland.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/a2004-002-1844-south-portland-near-ross-island-bridge-1930.jpg
2. McVoy, Arthur D. "A History of City Planning in Portland, Oregon." Oregon Historical Quarterly 46, no. 1 (1945): 3-21.
3. (Image) http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/1/6/5/1/7/7/webimg/609571433_tp.jpg
4. "City of Portland Civic Planning, Development, & Public Works, 1851-1965 A Historic Context." City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability 1 (2009): 1-64.
2. McVoy, Arthur D. "A History of City Planning in Portland, Oregon." Oregon Historical Quarterly 46, no. 1 (1945): 3-21.
3. (Image) http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/1/6/5/1/7/7/webimg/609571433_tp.jpg
4. "City of Portland Civic Planning, Development, & Public Works, 1851-1965 A Historic Context." City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability 1 (2009): 1-64.
Jillian Emery