The Ordway new era., 1911-12-01
THE OTHER SIDE
Missouri Pacific Has an Inning
Don't Care to Furnish the
Sewage Outlet for Us

October 12 the ladies of the Thurs.
day Afternoon Study club sent letter
to w. e. Brooks, superintendent OF
the Missouri Pacific Railway company,
requesting him to drain, I'll 10 and
park the grounds in front of the depot
In Ordway. To this communication
Mr.. Brooks replied as follows:
Mrs. J. +. johnson, President, and
Fifteen Others, Thursday Afternoon
Study Club, Ordway, Colorado.
Dear Madam: Acknowledging re-
ceipt OF your favor of October l2. we
quite agree with the dcsirability OF
presenting to the patrons and citizens
much more pleasing view than that
at present In front of the depot at
Ordway, and we hope some OF these
days to bring about conditions In your
locality, satisfactory to all concerned.
Permit me to say that there are con-
ditions surrounding this matter for
which the railroad company is not en-
tirely responsible. as we view II. You
realize that the question should be
considered as to sewage. 1t is possible
that the fact has not been brought to
your attention that the drainage from
the streets OF Ordway sooner or later
reach the locality referred to In your
letter.
The railway company, as you will
see, has been furnishing the drainage
for the city OF Ordway since it became
u town. The matter Is also further
complicated by the use OF u portion OF
the company property as an open
street. as the property posts will show.
In addition to this we feel that the
depot ultimately will be on the town
side OF the main track, and for this
reason we do not feel like incurring
any great expense incidental to the
improvement OF the plot in question
until permanent location OF our faciii.
ties at Ordway can be determined
upon. Yours truly,
w. Z. Brooks, Superintendent.
1t will be noticed that while Mr..
Brooks acknowledges the desirability
OF the improvement suggested by the
ladies OF the Thursday Afternoon
Study club and ''hopes" to bring about
such changes. his promises are based
upon that rather ncbuIous and hazy
date known as "some day" However.
common fairness compcls us To say
that the railroad company has rather
the best OF thc argument when 1t
comes to the matter Of sewage from
the town flowing down upon the com
pany's grounds. This, 1t seems to us.
might bc remedicd by n pipe cu!vcrt
under the right Ofway, thus carrying
the waste over across the track.
As to Mr.. Brooks statement that
the road running along the south sid:
OF the park is on company ground.
there are most decidedly two Opininns
as To this question. or course the
company claims the ground. It. is u
characteristic Of corporations to claim
everything In sight in the hope that
they may be able u hold at least u
part OF what they claim. whether they
are justified by the slightest shadow
Of title or not; but we have little doubt
that the town would be willing to va
cate this street II the Missouri PHc.
tic will build decent depot here in
stead OF the old cOwShed that now
adnrnS C?) the railroad grounds.
Some time ago the town board passed
an ordinance about cement crossings.
One of these was ordered placed from
the corner Of the park to the railroad
right of-way to replace the wooden
bridge now 10 place. but unless sit is
dreams we have IL" we have so far
failed to see the NJ. =. comply with
the law. lf IL were Il private property
holder no doubt action would long ago
have been taken to compel obedience
with the orders OF the board.
We hope that this matter may be
Strengthened out without recourse to
drastic action. The present condition
OF the grounds in front OF the depot
is disgrace and Il cause of great NOR
ti1catiOn to our citizens and it is high
time that something definite be done
to change it. We commend this Qucs-
tion to the careful, If not prayerful,
attention of our honorable and sapicnt
trustees.