Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1931-02-26

In reading the article of Mr..
Kenneth Van House in last weeks
News-Record we marvel at the views
of such well-informed man. We ad-
nit there is some poor soil on the
south end of the Island. Such is the
case any where on the Island. But
when it is all summed up we can show
as many acres of good soil to the
SQUARE mile as the north end or any
where on the Island.
The main issue is getting off or on
the Island. Over our present route
the trip from Burton to Eleventh and
Broadway can be made in about forty
five minutes. Considering the speed
ferry travels the trip from Burton
to Old Town would be much slower
and consequently more expensive than
our present one.
This highway being farm to
market road in my opinion should be
as near the center of the Island as
possible to accommodate the Island in
general. Why favor any one particu-
lar place or build new roads when
what we have are sadly neglected?
2 I believe we should try to secure
, better service on the ferry we already
have.
1t is only through the concrete un-
selfish effort of the whole Island, that
we can accomplish our objective. At
any rate let us forget local monopoly
a,,d work for the IS@snd
w. P. vermeulen.
Editor:
o In answer to Kenneth Van Houses
d article OF last weeks issue, beg to
: submit the following:
When representative body of citi-
: zens formulate progressive plan tc
: remedy bad condition and oring out
h plan of constructive nature, there
* is usually some one ready to throw 9
J. monkey wrench into the machinery
is There are but few people on thu
l. Island but recognize the fact that 6
n paved road from the north to TIM
l. south of the Island would do more tt
IS build up the Island in the shortes
he time. There is also always small
ID minority that take selfish view ant
lie see no further than their own from
e dooryard. ~
Ill 1t is a well-known fact that tn
successful ferries are those Of tn
., shortest water routes and the conse
3 quently lower fares, even then expert
IN ence has proven that they did not d
&c all that was expected of them unit
ID the approach was paved. 1t did no
ne take long for the North End TO realiz
&c this, nor long to- get this pavement
no Your attack on the south half Of tn
Island needs no defense. In my "san
and gravel" ranch have had in tn
past one of the best acres of straw
AZ berries ever on Vashon Islard, and
g now have young cherry orchar
AZ second to none. But why mentio
We that? / doubt if there is one !
twenty home-owners on the Island de
pending wholly on the products Of tn
We soil. The future of the Island liz
more in fine building spots, goo
- houses, fine views, rock gardens, sur
y shine, good health and cheerful dis
position. My mail comes to Burto
and the section you condemn is pal
of its school district and / am takin
this opportunity to say see nothir
the matter with Burton. 1t 1t
slowly dying" as you say why didn
you try to save 1t when the pave
n road was built on the North End
may need tonic, as all towns wit
dirt roads do. In this day and age
v paved road Is the tonic indicated.
If you had advocated building eve
half mile of paved road on any pa
of the Island would have agreed wit
you. but when you so strongly col
denim one section Of the Island ar
cater to another section for suppo
of your project am inclined to thir
either you or your project is sick, ar
n not your home town.
Fred G. Pugh