Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1921-11-03
ALL "ACIN" THE
G. N. RAILWAY
COMMERCIAL CLUB MEMBERS
REGRET THE ATTITUTE OF
RAILROAD OFFICIALS
SAY IMPROVEMENTS OPPOSED
Town and County Officials Voice Pro-
tests Tuesday Night.

Judging from the many expressions
heard from business men and citi-
zens Tuesday night at the meeting of
the Kootenai Valley Commercial Club,
there is not an overly kindly feeling
toward the Great Northern Railway
company in this community.
The feeling that the Great Northern
Railway officials pass up, slight and
ignore Bonners Ferry and Boundary
county, has been growing for some
time and found expression Tuesday
night in resolution adopted in which
it was resolved that the commercial
club express its disapproval of the at
titude of the Great Northern Railway
company towards the community. A
committee composed of o. G. Wilson,
G. w. King and w. T. James was ap-
pointed to prepare the resolution and
forward a copy to Great Northern
officials.
Discussion was opened by o. G. Will
son who reviewed several instances
where the Great Northern Railway had
been asked to make improvements, had
promised to do certain things and had
thus far failed in promises and had,
apparently, gone to extremes in him
dering matters pertaining to the gen.
eral welfare of the district The
speaker cited that the Great Northern
officials had promised to fill in a gulch
on Cottage avenue and to fix up two
street crossings, which are believed
to be dangerous, but as yet, nothing
had been done. He said further:
considering the amount of revenue
which the Great Northern Railway
Company secures from this town and
surrounding district, it is surely un-
der obligations to fix up its crossings
and to keep its right-of- ways through
town in such a condition that they
will not become public nuisance and
menace to the public health The
town could proceed in court to force
certain improvements asked of the
Great Northern but it cannot spare the |
money which might be required for
litigation. Every time we have started
anything in the past towards securing
these improvements, some one comes !
along with soft-soap promises and
tells us not to bother the Great North
ern because it is going to make Bon 4
ncrs Ferry division point some day"
The speaker went on to relate how
the work on the state highway hao
been held up for many months be-
cause the Great Northern Railway Of
ficials had refused permission to cor
struct bridge over the Great North
ern right-ofway at Naples and County
Commissioner Welch stated that the
Great Northern had not yet permit
ted the county to straighten out the
county road at Deep creek and 10
ravia where the road passes under
the tracks. Both these improvements
would be beneficial, the speaker
thought, to the railway company and
would make the road safe for travel.
George r. Causton told how rhe
Great Northern had promised Bonners
Ferry new depot many years ago and
that today the company has not pro- II
vided a decent waiting room even.
F. A. Shultis told of the efforts Of
the city council to secure the coopera-
ton of the Great Northern in street
improvements and said that he thought
II was time for the local people to try [
different tactics. ;
Charles Ragland said that in Sand {
point several years ago the business
men found themselves unable to Sc {
cure cooperation from the Northern {
Pacific Railway and so by mutual
agreement they turned their business
10 competing line and it was not
ong before the Northern Pacific came
across with improvements which had [
)een urged. ]
Other business men spoke on the {
subject and all expressed the opinion '
nat some drastic action should be i
AIKEN at once. A motion was made 1
md seconded to the effect that the car I
II picric acid to be shipped from an j
'astern point to Bonners Ferry for y
in this county, be routed t
,ver some other railway than the c
treat Northern but the motion was
lot put when County Agent Alexander
tated that he had already promised | I
he routing of the car.