The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1922-10-19
GO AHEAD ON COSTLY
FERNDALE PAVING
State Proceeds With Unnecessary
Project; Surveys Through Bank
Building at Custer

Plans for the paving of a new
road from Bellingham to Blaine,
with the construction of an ex-
pensive bridge over the Nook
sack above Ferndale, are going
briskly forward under the direc-
tion of the state highway COM
mission, which is proposing to
spend close to halfmillion on
this unnecessary project.
Just what the state authorities
have under way is explained in
the following article from the
Ferndale Record:
Will the Pacific highway con-
tinue to cross the Nooksack at
| Ferndale or will the state spend
quarter of a million dollars TO
build new approach and bridge
mile east?
Businessmen of Ferndale who
turned out Monday evening in
goodly numbers for the regular
meeting of the Ferndale Com
mercial club, hope to have the
question answered shortly. To a
man they decry the extravaganza
in locating a new bridge and
pledged their combined efforts
towards rolling up a protest that
will stay the highway commits
sion in its plan.
Governor Louis F. Hart came
in for severe censure because of
his calm assurance last spring
that Ferndale need have no wor-
ry about the new road going
through. There are no funds
available and there will he none
until the next Legislature meets, "
the governor wrote. The state
has had a right-of-way man in
Ferndale during the pas week
getting contracts signed for the
sale of right-of-way and notify
ing reluctant property owners
that condemnation will follow re-
fusal to SELL
Coupled with this mans visit
was his assertion to local men
that the highway would be grad
ed and paved next summer. He
iItimated that the program of
the highway commission is cut
and dried. The road as laid out
runs from the Bellingham city
limits on line to Van Ostrand s
corner, across the Van Ostrand
place and the low lands which
are flooded every winter, and
across the river on a bridge to
be built. Connection with the
present River road will be made
near the water tank.
So rabid are the state officials
| in their effort to obtain a straight
road that their line of survey
has been run directly through the
brick building of the Custer State
Bank at Custer, the club men,
| bers We're informed. Condem-
nation of the building will be
necessary to carry out this whim
an item which will probably cost
the state, in the neighborhood of
$40 900, it is predicted.
While figures upon the actual
cost of the proposed bridge and
approach are not yet known here,
it is believed that s250,000 OF
the estimated $4,000 to be ex-
pended will be spent there. The
land traversed in making the
approach is subject to floods each
year and men eonversant with
the situation declare that a fill
would be in constant danger
while a long trestle is a constant
source of wear and tear.
Contrasted with the willfuI
waste of public monies, the local
men point to the long-contem.
plated Improvement in Fern
dale which would eliminate grade
crossings by tunnelling under
the railroad tracks at Second
street. This, together with paw
ing leading to the Pacific High
way route, probably could be-
built at cost not exceeding
$4,000.
Expenditure of a third of 6
million dollars, whether in loca
or state money, upon the propos
ed new highway, has often beer
the source of objection from 9th
er towns in Whatcom county
Ferndale men, Monday night
took the stand of asking onl,
that the highway be routed owe
the present bridge, which will
not only retain the town on tn,
road but will save the bulk 0