The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1907-05-17


crossings are necessary. If Mr..
Ward has ever been here since he
wrote the above letter no one ever
heard Of it. It is quite probable that
he never gave the matter second
thought. AS Mr.. Ward has taken no
trouble TO familiarze himself with the
condition here, he is not competent to
determine whether additional cross
ings are necessary. 1t is 1920 yards
or but little less than three quarters
of mile east of the depot to a cross
ing which the company last year
moved outside the corporate limits, 1t
is claimed, without authority Of law.
The old crossing had been used for
IA years and was in every way salts
factory. The new crossing put in be-
low the coal shutes was never made
even reasonably good. The only other
crossing, which is barely inside the
corporate limits, is SIS yards, or over
half mile west of the depot, and is
never kept in passible condition. This,
then is the condition as TO railroad
crossings in an incorporated town of
over 1900 population. One crossing
on the east, outside the corporate lin
its, from which it is over a mile to the
corporate limits on the west, where the
only other crossing is located, and
that a very poor one.
To make matters still more uncom-
Portable and annoying for the public,
the west end crossing is blocked by
freight trains at the very least one-third
of the time. The conditions at the
east end crossing is not quite so bad,
but that is blocked by trains, or engines
taking coal, one-fourth of the time.
The public has patiently endured
this condition for years, at the same
time making protests and, by petition,
asking the railroad company to relieve
the condition by giving them a safe
crossing that could be kept open at all
times.
The officials of the Great Northern
Railroad Co. may indulge in chuckle
when the admission is here made that
they are causing the people Of Leaven-
worth no end of trouble and incon-
venience, but it is our duty to remind
them that the time may come when
the good will of the community, and
even their help, will be useful to the
company.
To point a moral We have only to
call their attention to the fire at the de-
pot on Monday, an account of which is
given elsewhere. The people of this
town are fast reaching that frame of
mind when they will with calmness and
Indifference look on while the COM
pany's property is being destroyed, and
never raise a hand. The existence Of
this feeling may appear shocking to the
company, but We can assure the officials
that it is fast crystalizing into positive
fact, much as We regret it. The indif-
ference and contempt with which every
reasonable request has been treated is
responsible for il. The editor of The
Echo has always urged peaceful meth
ods-in the paper, and repeatedly be-
fore the town council, and at public
meetings having faith in the justice
of the cause and the sound good sense
of the railroad officials, believing that if
they took the trouble TO look into the
matter they would give the people re-
lief. Our faith, however, IS getting
shakey. We cannot longer urge the
people to be patient and maintain
reputation for common sense. We still
adhere 10 the belief, tho, that the cult
walton of a mutual good feeling and
respect would benefit the public as well
as the railway company.
We believe in law and order; We be-
heve in justice to corporations, to COM
munities and to individuals.
The benefit of railroads can not be
overestimated. We take small stock in
the rant against the rich. Corporations
are all right, but they should be as
good as they want the public to be
complaisant.