The Railroad That Wanted Aberdeen's Streets
A homegrown rail company asked for a thirty-foot right of way, the eastern entrance to town, and the whole waterfront. The council had to decide how much public street to give away.
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.
The proposed ordinance granting a franchise over the streets of the city to the Aberdeen Victoria Railroad Company is the most important matter which has yet come before the present council and it should receive the thoughtful and kindly consideration of every member of that body. The ordinance is very voluminous and confers large privileges and rights upon the company—more than it would be wise to give one or any corporation.
The company ask for a thirty-foot right of way; twenty feet is enough. It asks a franchise from the east line of Wishkah plat west on Front, First and Second as far as Chehalis street, thus effectually controlling the only eastern entrance to the city; it asks for the control of the entire water front, and many streets which it can scarcely expect to utilize.
The ordinance makes no provision as to when construction of the road shall be commenced nor provides a penalty for non-fulfillment of such stipulations as the city should require. This railroad company is a home institution and it is not to be supposed it would endeavor to secure a franchise which would be inimical to the interests of the city and no doubt an ordinance will be passed giving the company a franchise which will be alike satisfactory to it and to the people.
“The ordinance is very voluminous and confers large privileges and rights upon the company—more than it would be wise to give one or any corporation.”
A private company sought long-term control of public streets and the waterfront in the name of a homegrown railroad, while the paper warned against giving away too much. The same questions—public right-of-way, monopoly power, and who benefits from growth—still shape fights over rail, utilities, and waterfront access in Aberdeen.
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