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 EYES0RE,

The Other Considerate of the Peoples
Rights and the MuniciPality's Wei
fare and Appearance-Strikih5 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 a view to
giving an additional beauty to coz
tiguous points.
The Northern Pacific at this point Is
a positive eyesore to all the inhabit-
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
improvements" and maintenance Of
this great commercial highway (here
at least nothing seems to have been
omitted to impress the eye with its
responsiveness.
It enters the town from the east
through a beautiful grove of native
pines. Without apparent demand Tor
the act the old right Of way was sunk
some ten feet through that lovely spot,
destroying hundreds Of the most state-
" 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 at several points it divides
the town by an embankment or i've 10
fifteen feet. The sides of this cmbank-
ment. stretching like huge, black
serpent through the town, are covered
with filthy cans, useless scraps OF rail-
road iron, fragments Of old cars, con-
demned and ragged ties, all set III
bed of black and gray ashes.
No description Of offensive refuse
but may be seen or Smel!ed on the
right of way within the town limits.
For twenty years a space covering
margin of two blocks has been used
as dumping ground for the discarded
ashes from the engines. This accumu-
Iation at times reaches height OF ten
or twelve feet and width Of twenty
feet and Drotrudes for distance or
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 commercEi
club and the village trustees have ap-
pealed time and again for relief. but All
to no purpose. The railroad authorl-
ties are imperviouS.
THE horrible mass Is coeXtenSlVc Tor
several blocks with the south walk OF
the recently laid out village park. It's
uncanny appearance IS intensltlcd Dv
the natural, beauty across the street.
The prospect from the park in the d.
rection Of the road destroys all sense
of the natural grandeur of the beautl-
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 nc recourse.
But ttat is not all The old depot
buildings and platform are positive
disgrace. not say menace to safety
The ratings are down, and one ot-fN~
deocts IS without stepS.-nH@''>Si'" "''"@
nm acrobatic -u'~'-'.ey iraI 10 stl
within r,ar.S great corporation. win
--rr-T5Hs at its command maintains the
dirtiest yard and surroundings i'll the
town. The poorest and most parsi-
1nonious 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 Ill BAD
repute. And SO must many another
,r,,",-" ur'-"'u;,' r"i!r"a,I :'r"'l:,.i>: arc
the ursl and last >i-h ~! nj NC
WHO visit us. The nauseatng oGors ;..,
the atmosphere and the rough slopes
of the roadbed, strewn with ashes and
dirty debris from many and miscel-
lapeous sources, shock ones sense OF
the beautiful.
There are so many towns in the
game S1trrrin~ hclplcSS class with
Rathdrum between the coast and St.
Paul that the situation becomes one of
general interest and concern. Some
filing ought to be done.
The other railroad which intersects
the village IS the Idaho and Washing
ION Northern. AS is well known, this
road is q 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 Blackwclls in the construction of
the road have given valuable Illus
tration of the truth that railroad line
ihrough 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 unsightly rel
,,ca uoc left 10 mortify the sight along