The city says the railroad should do it; the railroad says the city should do it; and the residents say only the railroad or the city is equipped to take care of it. The problem is the Norfolk and Western Railroad right-of-way that cuts diagonally through the Skinker-DeBaliviere area. At one time the railroad track was level with surrounding land, but the existing trench was dug and the track lowered in the 1930’s for safety reasons. For years the Wabash Railroad maintained the right-of-way, until the Norfolk and Western purchased the railroad and began caring only for the few feet of land on each side of the track that belongs to them. The city owns the rest of the slopes, but the Forestry Division has no equipment to cut graded land.
Since the right-of-way has been neglected, residents have been plagued by unsightly weeds and trash and frequent brush fires. Mrs. Blanche Reel of the Skinker-DeBaliviere Beautification Committee contacted Mr. Bone of the City Forestry Division concerning the problem. Mr. Bone suggested that the city apply a herbicide that prevents weeds from growing for one year. At a meeting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Storey, residents of the area strongly disapproved of such a plan and were surprised Mr. Bone would make such a suggestion. They pointed out that a herbicide could be dangerous and that a loss of ground cover might cause serious erosion that could undermine alleys and yards along the right-of-way; piles of trash would become more visible.
The residents discussed the many facets of the right-of-way problem and decided on the following plan of action. Mrs. Reel agreed to inform Mr. Bone that his solution was unsatisfactory. Other residents are to contact various institutions and services to find alternate solutions to weed and fire control. Mr. Mel Archie of the 5800 block of Nina Place agreed to work with managers and residents on his street to see if trash dumping can be eliminated. Residents of all blocks on the right-of-way, as well as businessmen, will be contacted concerning this problem. In the spring Washington Heights Neighbors hopes to sponsor a right-of-way clean up that will involve those neighbors most affected by the problem.
The Committee will also investigate available equipment in the Park Department that might be used by the Forestry Division to cut weeds on the right-of-way. Controlled burning of weeds by the Fire Department is also being studied.
Mr. Beauchamp of the City Beautification Commission has offered to plant trees as a screen along the right-of-way. Residents regretted that his offer could not be accepted until the general maintenance of the railroad right-of-way is greatly improved.
Originally published in The Paper, March 1971.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1971_03.pdf, printed page 5.
