Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-09-05
A CONTRAST IN civic BEAUTY
Experience of idaho Town With Two
Railroads.

experience OF loanO Town WIKI IWo
Railroads.
From one end of Rathdrum. Ida, to
the other, almost running parallel east
and west, two railroad lines are I'm
portant adjuncts of the village. The
physical character of one dicfigures
and mars tie surroundings; the other
has been constructed with view to
giving an additional beauty to con-
tiguous points.
The Northern Pacific at this point is
positive eyesore to all the inhabit-
ants Of the village, and no less SO to
the travelling public, sa-s Bartlett Sim
clair in the Spokane okesman-Re-
view. In the construction, subsequent
improvements" and maintenance of
this great commercial highway here
ut least nothing seems TO have been
omitted to impress the eye with Its
responsiveness.
1t enters the town from the east
through beautiful grove of native
pines. Without apparent demand for
the act the old right of way was sunk
some ten feet through that lovely spot,
destroying hundreds of the most state
ly trees, and as if more distinctly to
Indicate the ravage the stumps Of the
monarchs, the huge limbs and trunks
lie promiscuously on the banks of the
depression. There may still be seen
disgusting evidences of the old camps
of the army OF vandals
AS the road gets into the heart of
the town the grade increases in eleva-
ton until ut several points it divides
the town BY al embankment of five to
fifteen feet. The sides of this embank
ment, stretching like Il huge, black
with filthy cans, useless scraps of rail
road iron, fragments of old cars, con-
deInned and ragged ties, all set in
bed of black and gray ashes.
No description of offensive refuse
but may be seen or smelled on the
right of way within the town limits.
For twenty years space covering n
margin of two blocks has been used
as u dumping ground for the discarded
ashes from the engines. This accCmu-
lation at times reaches Il height of ten
or twelve feet and a width of twenty
feet and protrudes for distance of
500 feet along the right of way within
the town limits. Sometimes this un
slightly pile is higher and wider, but at
all times it is there. The commercial
club and the village trustees have APP
pealed time ard again for relief, but all
to no purpose The railroad author-
ties are impervious.
The horrible mass is coextensive for
several blocks with the south walk OF
the recently laid out village park It's
uncanny appearance is intensified by
the natural beauty across the street.
The prospect from the park in the di-
rection of the road destroys all sense
of the natural grandeur of the beauti-
full brook, the shrubs, the lawns and
magnificent old trees The existence
Of that foul embankment is submis-
sively endured The people think they
have no recourse.
But that is not ALL The old depot
disgrace, not say menace to safety.
The ratings are down, and one of the
depots is without steps, necessitating
an acrobatic or monkey feat to get
within. This great corporation, with
millions at its command. maintains the
dirtiest yard and surroundings in the
town. The poorest and most parsi
monious person of the village supports
nicer and more aesthetic surroundings
So long as this ulcer is maintained
in its present condition our village
beautifully situated, must stand in bad
rcpute And so must many another
These unkempt railroad grounds are
the first and last sight of all people
who visit us. The nauseating odors fl
the atmosphere. and the rough slopes
Of the roadbed. strewn with ashes ant
dirty debris from many and miscel
laneous sources, shock ones sense Of
the beautiful.
There are so many towns in The
same suffering, helpless class will
Rathdrum between the coast ard st
Paul that the situation becomes one o
general interest and concern. Some
thing ought to be done.
The other railroad which intersects
the village Is the Idaho and Washing
ton Northern. AS Is well known, thi
road Is recent creation and passes
between Spokane and Newport and Is
the work of the Blackwells. A large
part of the road has been completed
and the extension into the Metalin'
section Is going forth at rapid rate.
The Blackwells in the construction o.