Fifty Citizens Ask the Railroad to Let Them Cross Their Own Main Street
Newport's council petitions the Great Northern to open Fourth Street over its tracks — but the company's prior right-of-way may make a condemnation suit the only way through.
The town council met in regular session Tuesday evening; Councilman Lutz presiding as mayor pro tem in the absence of Mayor Fox.
A petition signed by about fifty residents was presented, asking the council to demand of the Great Northern Railroad the opening of a street over the company's tracks on Fourth street. The petition was referred to the committee on streets for action.
This is a matter that has long been talked of by our citizens, as Fourth street is the main artery of the town east and west, and if the crossing were granted it would make a continuous street to the eastern limits of the Idaho side. However, it is doubtful that the Great Northern will grant the crossing, as the company appears to have prior rights, and a crossing at that point would necessitate the entire rearrangement of their yards and switches. The company having their right-of-way long before the Washington side of the town was platted, their officials heretofore have always said that the company would not under any circumstances consider such an opening. Probably the only way the street can be opened is to make proper showing before court in a condemnation suit.
The city clerk was instructed to notify the Great Northern to remove cinder piles from the Union avenue crossing.
Ordinance No. 117 was introduced and given first and second reading. It relates to the obstruction of streets by railroad crews while switching and puts a time limit of five minutes on such obstruction. A fine not to exceed $100 and imprisonment in jail not to exceed 30 days is provided for violation of the provisions of this ordinance. Both railroad companies have disapproved of the action of their trainmen in blocking the streets and do not in any way uphold such action.
The question of taking fire apparatus out of the town limits was brought up by Graupner. On motion of Torreson it was resolved that the fire company be permitted to take half of the equipment out of the corporate limits in case of fire.
The town clerk was instructed to secure a list of assessed valuation of all property in the town, that taxpayers can make comparisons of assessed valuations, there having been considerable discussion on this point.
Police Judge McDonald reported the sum of $119.50 in fines collected during the month of June, and turned over this amount, less his commission of 25 per cent.
“"Probably the only way the street can be opened is to make proper showing before court in a condemnation suit."”
A railroad that laid its tracks before the town was platted could choke off a main street for decades — the 1910 equivalent of a highway or rail corridor dividing a community today. Newport's fight over Fourth Street is the same argument cities still have with railroads and utilities over who controls the ground beneath a town's streets.
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