Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1919-01-28

When the council asked for an ex-
preston of opinion from those pres
ent, w. T. James was the first to en-
ter protest. He confined his object
ion against the plan of paving Rail
road avenue, which street was not in
cluded in the paving petition as first
presented to the council. Mr.. James
said he might as we'll deed his proper
ty on Railroad avenue to the city, as
the cost of paving would practically
be confiscatory. He was entirely will
ing to stand his share of the paving
expense with Railroad avenue elimin-
ated from the district. James Fitz-
patrick also objected to including
Railroad avenue and favored instead
Riverside as a more commonly used
thOroughfare. He entered no OBJ
lection to paving the balance of the
district in which he would be involved.
Major Anderson, of Spokane, of the
right-of-way department of the Great
Northern Railway company, was pres
ent and spoke when asked for an opin-
ion by the councilmen. Major Ander-
sons remarks contained a hint of much
interest to Bonners Ferry people, in
which he said IF Railroad avenue is
included in your paving district,
have no hesitation in telling you gen
tlemen that the railroad company will
protest. We do thist for the reason
that the railroad company may have
plans in contemplation, which l can
not disclose to you at this time, but
which may make the paving of this
street an unnecessary waste of money.
You gentlemen we'll know that the
Great Northern company has already
spent $4,000 in securing land adjac-
ent to your city, and it may be that we
will need additional room and that at
some time we may ask the city to va
cate Railroad avenue. These plans
may develop in six months, in a year
in two years. am not saying for a
certainty that they will-but if they
should thus mature money spent on
Railroad avenue would prove an I'M
necessary waste"
F. A. Shultis also spoke briefly say
ing he deemed it the better policy to
eliminate Railroad avenue from the
district in view of the opposition en-
countered. This was the final judg-
ment of the council and Engineer Cave
was instructed to eliminate Railroad
avenue, revise his figures and report
at a special meeting the following
night. This was done but because
only three councilmen were present a
the latter meeting, no action was takeI
and the mater was put over to the mex
regular meeting of the council. Mr.
Cave estimated that with Railroad av
enue eliminated, the total cost of thu
paving would be reduced about $12,
10000
However. no final action has beef
taken and will not until at least afte
the next regular meeting of the cit.
council.
In the meantime the paving question
is arousing more or less discussion
1t seems agreed that Railroad avenu
will be definitely eliminated, bu
Councilman McNichols comes forwar
with the suggestion that Riverside
street be paved as far as the schoc
house property. He has Intervene
, a number of the property owners o
this street and says he is quite certai
, the majority would favor paving thi
street His contention is that b
this means the district would be Ell
| larged and the relative cost per un
{ reduced, in that cost of shipping i
machinery. opening gravel pits, etc
would be relatively no greater for
r large district than for a smaller one
) The matter of deciding whether I
- assess the cost of paving street il
tersections to the district or to tn