A Railroad Feud in Whatcom
Citizens of Whatcom are up in arms after a railway company performs a bare-minimum, last-minute track laying to save their franchise.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Saturday last, the citizens of Whatcom were somewhat surprised when a large gang of men were seen on Holly street laying railroad iron. Some time ago, the B. B. B. C. Company was granted a franchise, but they were required to have a portion of their double-track laid on or before March 8th. Nothing was done until Saturday, when about 200 feet of track was spiked to the plank pavement as a mere pretext to hold the franchise. Many citizens are indignant and determined to test the matter in the courts. As the matter now stands, no other company can use Holly street, even though another application for a franchise was pending. The progress of the railroad is being closely watched, as a street railway is badly needed.
“Naturally, many of the citizens were indignant, and some are determined to test the matter in the courts.”
The tension between corporate franchise holders and city residents over public infrastructure remains a perennial urban struggle. Whatcom's 1890 fight over track-laying tactics is a classic precursor to modern battles over transit rights-of-way and utility access.
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