Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-12-25
THE GREAT
: QUESTION
TO ABERDEEN. A COMMERCIAL
CITY, OR COUNTRY TOWN?
IL Present Citizens Must Solve this Question.
Aberdeen Must Be Content 70 Remain
Country Village. Of Small importance. OF
Il Must Assert IL Commercial Rights.


diddled by politicians 10 no significance
that its people are such a. quietly SUBJ
nit to palpable injustice. In the matter
Of wagon road communication with the
outside world this city has hearkened to
the siren whistle of the politician until
the tune has palled on his ear.
Everyone that has given the subject a
moments unbiased thought is in accord
with the view that for Aberdeen to
emerge from her limited sphere into her
natural destiny-as the leading CONNER
cial city of the Northwest-bar none in
twenty years-has been aware OF the
handicap inflicted by want of wagon
road outlet and inlet. Yet, strange to
cay, that from within our gates comes
an unexpected opposition to the only
natural way Of securing that outlet. 1t
would only be waste of time, yours and
ours, to enter upon the details as to why
some of our people would advocate a
route, absurd in itself and of such de.
gree OF cost as to make the opponents Of
any road into this region smile. Per.
haps a study of the county tax rolls
would reveal tie motive-we shall not
hunt for it.
The plain statement of Mr.. Mason,
published in the last issue Of this paper,
taken in connection with his offer made
: last spring, to put up bond for $40, 600
fer the building of the city's part OF this
road at his estimate, should entitle him
to some credit, not only for earnestness,
hut for competency to estimate work.
Mr.. Mason is an old resident of Aber-
deem; successful contractor, and when
he puts in bid, or makes an estimate.
it is usually considered within the
bounds of reason.
These thoughts are suggested by a cor
respondent, whose information appears
to have misled him. The letter is ap.
pended below, as well as the reply of
Mr.. Mason, to whom the communication
OF Mr.. Jensen was submitted:
EDITOR HERAED:-In speaking of the
Aberdeen-Montesano road, Mr.. Mason
says there is 1890 feet which will require
a pile trestle, which will cost the city,
not to exceed $4,000.
feel it my duty to state the fact that
this trestle work cannot be built for two
or three times $500 and perhaps it cam
not be done at all.
Go and examine for yourself, and you
will find that for long distance there is
nothing but solid rock bottom, very
steep and the river very deep. A large
number Of the piles would have to be
As feet, and for a long distance there is
nothing to drive them into. They can.
not be driven into this hard rock bottom.
As already stated. it will be found to be
almost impossible. Respectfully,
JAMES j. JENSEN.
P. S. Am in favor of the North side
road, I assure you, if it is possibility.
Aberdeen, WASH, Dec. %, 1902.
EDITOR HERALD:-I have read the let
ter of James J. Jensen, handed me by
yourself this morning, in which that
gentleman states his doubts Of the pos
sibility OF the North side road to Monte
sano, and says that he feels it his duty to
state "the fact" that the "pile trestls
work along the bluff cannot be built for
two or three times $500, and perhaps
it cannot be done at ALL"
He even goes further and tells US oil