Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1891-11-05
ABERDEEN AND RAILROADS.

AbE6DEEN AMI IV<AlA1SOADo'
In few days the route of the North
ern Pacific through the city of Aberdeen
on the north side, will be finally decided.
All that will then stand between us and
immediate railroad communication with
the outside world will be free right-of-
way for the Northern Pacific over the
route selected. 1t depends upon the
citizens of Aberdeen whether or not this
right-of-way will be given. The HERALD
thinks it should be given just as soon as
the final route is submitted. If every
man should give in proportion to his
possessions, it would take about five Sec
onds to turn over free right-of-way to
the N. P. Our heavy property owners
should remember this. Very many Of
the smaller property owners stand ready
to go down into their pockets for exactly
their proportionate share of the cost,
their share as compared with the share
Of the heavy property owners. This is,
naturally, all that can be expected OF
them, and little more than should be
expected; for it is plain that the greater
part Of the money that has come to Aber-
deem has necessarily found its way into
the pockets of the original owners of
Aberdeen property, and as all of these
still have large landed interests in Aber-
deem, they cannot give too much. 1t is
the boast Of many small property owner,
.'Well, shall give more in proportion
than Mr.. A, B, G, w, x, Y, or o." But
he should not be able to make this boast.
LITTLE RAILROAD HISTORY.
Aberdeen has been making local history
rapidly during the past two years. Its
railroad history has been interesting,
and, to some, misleading. A short re-
view at this time will not be out Of place.
The Northern Pacific has, until very re-
Gently, entertained the opinion that Aber-
deem, as city, was hostile to that cor
poration. 1t is not difficult to reach the
causes that produced such a feeling on
the part Of the Northern Pacific; they
have been peculiarly prominent, and are
these: Those interested in the numerous
townsites on the south side--a large
class, Embracing all types of real estate
boomers, from the Kansas razooper to
the bluff soldier and senator who claimed
to be very near the Northern Pacific
throne--have made it their business to
industriously represent Aberdeen on the
north side with chip on her shoulder.
Especially haye they delighted in citing,
whenever an ear could be found to listen,
the story of the bluff in the eastern part
Of the city. There can be no doubt but
the true story Of the bluff would open
the eyes of the king on the Northern
Pacific throne. AS matter of fact, the
attorney Of the N. p. road was empower
ed to offer the owner Of the bluff, in the
earliest stages of Aberdeen's railroad
history, the sum Of 81 800 for free right.
of-way around the bluff, which was re-
fused. The courts afterwards awarded
him the sum OF $500 damages for the
right-of-way-not bad compromise for
the Northern Pacific.
Another ghost that has troubled the
Northern Pacific has been Aberdeen's
so-called friendliness to the Hunt road.
The Hunt road was simply scheme to
float townsite now known in history as
Grays Harbor City No.2. The HERALD's
attitude toward that townsite, from it's
inception to its unlamented demise, was.
we are sure, the attitude of ninety-five
per cent. OF the people OF Aberdeen, and
Of all who had Aberdeen's good at heart.
That attitude was-war to the knife and
the knife to the hilt. Those who labored
for the Hunt road were those whose bust
ness it is to speculate in townsites, and
who were deep in that business in the
now defunct townsite of Grays Harbor
City. We believe Aberdeen is always
willing to do the proper thing for any
legitimate railroad proposition.
WILLARD VISITS THE HARBoR's CITY.
Henry Willard, the controlling influence
of the Northern Pacific railroad, is in the
northwest on his annual tour of inspec-
ton OF that road and its branches. Last
Saturday. accompanied by Paul Schulze,
Supt. E. H. McHenry and Division En-
gineer J, g. Patterson, he came over the.