The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-08-21
A CONTRAST IN
. CIVIC BEAUTY,
Experience of Idaho Town With
TWO Railroads.
ONE DEEMED AN EYEsoRE.

The Other considerate of the Peoples
Riahts and the Municipality's Wei
fare and Appearance-Strikins Diff
ference Between Their Depots.
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 disfgures
and mars the surroundings; the other
has been constructed with view to
giving an additional beauty to coa-
Giguous points.
The Northern Pacific at this point is
positive eyesore to ali the inhaoit-
ants Of the village, and no less so to
the travelling public, says Bartlett Sin
clair in the Spokane Spokesman-Re-
view. In the construction, subsequent
srlmprovements" and maintenance of
this .great commercial highway (here
at least) nothing seems to have been
omitted to impress the eye with its
repulsiveness.
It enters the town from the east
through "a 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 CT
the town the grade increases in eleVa-
tion until at several points it divides
the town by an eubankment OF five to
fifteen feet. The sides Of this embank-
ment, stretching like a huge, black
serpent through the town, are covered
with filthy cans, useless scraps Oh rail-
road iron, fragments Of old cars, con-
demned and ragged ties, all set IN a
bed of black and gray ashes.
No description of offensive retuse
but may be seen or smelled on the
right of way within the town limits.
For twenty years space covering q
margin Of two blocks has been used
as q dumping ground for the discarded
ashes from the engines. This accumu-
aation at times reaches height OF ten
or twelve feet and width of twenty
feet and protrudes for a distance OF
ECO 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 ap'
pealed time and again for relief. but all
to no purpose. The railroad authori
ties are impervious.
The horrible mass is coextenSive for
several blocks with the south walk OF
the recently laid out village park. Its
uncanny appearance is intensified by
the natural beauty across the street
The prospect from the park in the dl
rection Of the road destroys all sense
of the natural grandeur Of the beauti'
full brook. the shrubs, the lawns ano
magnificent old trees. The existence
Of that foul embankment Is submls'
sIyely endured. The people think they
have no recourse.
But that is not all. Fhe old depot
buildings and platform are a positive
disgrace, not say. menace to safety.
The ratings are down, and one ot-'e
depcts is without Steps. p"resSlfaeins
nm acrobatic Is~They leat 10 set
1yish;p rssrfS great corporation. with
,.srf:f0OS at it's command. maintains the
dirtiest yard and surroundings i'll the
town. The poorest and most parsi-
mouious 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
repute. And so must many another.
I'ht'in nrE"'liN I''lii'''' t'i''h''''" ''''
the lrsl and last sight e! nil n""'.
who visit us. The nauseating ouors Ia
the atmosphere. and the rough slopes
OF the roadbed, strewn with ashes and
dirty debris from many and misce!-
aapeous sources, shock ones sense OF
the beautiful.
There are so many towns in the
same suffering, helpless class with
Rathdrum between the coast and st.
Paul that the situation becomes one of
general interest and concern. Some
tLing ought to be done.
The other railroad which intersects
the village is the Idaho and Washing
kon Northern. AS is well known, this
road is a 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 Metaline
section IS going forth at q rapid rate.
The Blackwells in the construction Of
the road have given valuable Illus
tration Of the truth that railroad line
through q village or city need not be
a Disagreement and may be so built
as to lend an artificial picturesQueness
TO the landscape and to municipalities.
The wise and considerate course was
pursued by these contractors and true
artists Of cleaning up behind them as
the rails were laid. No unslghtly ref
,,co 1-oc loft IN nortify the sight along