The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1907-05-17
A Friendly Suggestion to the IN. &

with which the advances OF the people
of Leavenworth have met at the hands
Of the officials Of the Great Northern
railway in regard to a crossing is not
calculated to promote good feeling.
Under Instructions Of the council
the clerk recently mailed the following
letter TO the general manager, Mr..
Ward.
Mr.. +. E. Ward, General Manager Great
Northern Railway,
St. Paul. Minnesota.
Dear Sir: I have been requested
by resolution passed by the town coun-
eli OF the town of Leayenworth, at a
recent meeting, to write you in re-
lation 10 a crossing over the tracks Of
your company within the corporate
limits Of the town Of Leavenworth.
A majority Of the council, including
the mayor is disposed TO pursue a rea-
sonable course. with out resort TO the
courts, in obtaining for the people of
the town what they believe you, your
self. will admit is very necessary when
YOU understand the situation.
At present from the center Of the
town east il is full half mile to a
crossing, while from the center of the
town west it is even farther TO a cross
ing. One third of the population,
about four hundred people, re-
side on the north side Of the track,
where also the school house is located,
while all the business houses, the
post-ofice, the churches and about
TWO thirds OF the population are located
on the south side Of the track. Rather
than go so far out of the way to get to
a crossing which is often blocked with
cars when they get there, men, women,
and children will take the risk of going
over, under or between the cars in
going from one side of the town to
the other.
In this way about six weeks ago a
most estimabIe and highly respected
young lady was literally ground to
pieces in crossing the tracks.
For distance of some six hundred
Yards each way from the center Of the
town there are six or seven tracks.
The matter of a crossing has been
brought TO the attention Of the officials
OF your company a number of times in
the past two years but the council is
inclined 10 the belief that the matter
has not been acted on for the reason
that they do not realize the urgent
need Of 4 safe crossing.
If grade crossings are deemed i'm
practible the council would suggest
that a subway west OF the depot near
where the cement culvert was re-
Gently built is practible and would be
convenient and safe both for the COM
pany and the travelling public. An
overhead crossing at a point east of
the depot about ESQ yards, for the
use Of foot traffic and light team work
it is considered would be practble on
account of the high ground on both
sides Of the tracks.
A school house costing from Sl6,-
600 to $4,000 viii be built on the
north side Of the track the coming
summer. which the council believes
makes a crossing east of the depot
necessary In view of the fact that
great pressure is being brought TO bear
on the council and for the further
reason that some members favor begin
ming condemnation proceedings to
force a crossing thru the center of the
town, you are respectfully requested
to take this matter I'D al once in the
hope that a settlement can be reached
thar viii be to the people and TO your
company, equally satisfactory.
Very Respectfully
Guy A. Hamilton, Clerk
Following is Mr.. Wards reply TO
the letter Of Mr.. Hamilton:
ST. Paul. MINI. April Is, 1907
M Guy A. Hamilton,
Clerk Corporation Of Leavenworth.
Leayenworth, Washington.
Dear Sir: I have yours Of the 5th
instant in regard 10 additional crossings
II Leayenworth.
/ have authorized the construction
OF a grade crossing over our tracks at
Railroad Avenue. which should GER
tanly relieve the conditions. and if
the work has not already been carried
out. I viii see that il is promptly done
I am on my way west. and viii look
over the conditions on the ground
personally, and viii determine whether
or not any additional crossings are
necessary. Yours Truly,
T. E. Ward, General Manager.
Il is now thirty days since Mr. Ward
penned the above letter in which he
saws he authorized the construction Of
a grade crossing At Railroad avenue
So far nothing has been done TO carry