Letters

Trail correction

Thank you for the news article about the meeting June 5 in Pullman to discuss the fate of the Colfax to Pullman rail line. This line is out of service and has been since August, 2006, when fire destroyed a trestle just south of Colfax.

However, there is one major flaw in the story. The article says the purpose of the meeting is to determine “the fate of the state-owned rail line corridor.” It further states “DOT owns the asset.” This leads one to believe the State of Washington owns the rails, the ties, the road bed and the land under the rail line. With only a few exceptions, deeds from the 1880’s are “Right of Way” deeds, for “legitimate railroad purposes.” This indicates the state only has a right of way, the state does not own the land the rail lies on.

Property owners along the line maintain the line should be abandoned and reverted to the adjoining owners as our forefathers intended.

Do you want millions of our tax dollars going toward the development of a recreational trail between Colfax and Pullman? Not only would the trail have to be developed, a bridge to replace the missing trestle would have to be built, and the remaining 13 run down trestles would need extensive repairs. More money would be needed for yearly maintenance expenses.

We must have a say in where our tax dollars are spent.

We ask concerned citizens to come to the meeting June 5 in the Community Congregational Church, 525 NE Campus St. in Pullman at 6 p.m. Come help the Rail Corridor Property Owners defend our property rights and protect our tax dollars.

Larry Farr,

Albion

Rail Corridor Property Owner

Why no flags?

I drove up Colfax’s Main Street today, Memorial Day, and was upset that no flags were flying. The VFW sold the Main Street flags to the city with the understanding that the city would put them in the holders on Main Street for Memorial Day.

The mayor and town council seem able to fly WSU flags over and over with no problem. It would seem like once a year they could manage to fly the American flags like our town has done for years and years on Memorial Day.

What a letdown for veterans and for members of our community who have enjoyed the display of flags on Main Street. It was good to see the colors fly, and it reminded people driving through town what they were celebrating on their long weekend.

Shame on city hall.

Donald R. Henderson,

USN (ret), Colfax