The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-08-22
RAILROAD MEETING.
THE PROPOSITION OF PREs'T KoHLER
DISCUSSED AND REFERRED TO
CoMMIFTE OF FIVE.

SOM oF F1f
Pursuant to call of the Mayor, the
citizens OF Corvallis met in mass con-
vention at the court house last Sat.
urday evening. August 10th, to con-
slider the proposition of the Western
Oregon Railroad Company relative
to the right of way through the city.
The meeting organized by electing
Mayor Jacobs chairman, and Messrs.
L. Royal and J. Il. Bryson secrctar-
les.
The communication of Mr.. Kohler
was read. The following extract
tIeretrom will show the extent of the
assistance asked of our citizens:
| 1.-The right of way would be required
over and across streets-lst, over Second
street from north end of town to a point
where the line would run into block s of
Dixon's second edition; I'd, over First street
| from the point where the line leaves block
2. in Dixons first addition, to the south end
of the town; Sd. over all the cross streets
which the line intersects in it's course
| through the town limits; 4th, across private
property. to-wit Lots Z, 8. 9, 10, II and
II of block 8, and lots l, 2, 8, A, 5 and 6 Of
block 2, in Dixon's first addition.
| II.-Street vacation would be required for
that part of Madison, Jefferson and Adams
streets between west line of first street and
east line of next lane; also, for the west half
of First street, between nerth line of lot 8.
in block 5, of Averys original town site, and
south line of Adams street.
II.-Private property would be required:
| Lots l. 2, 8, in block 5; lots l, 2, 3, 4, 5
and 6, in block 4, and lots !, 2, 3, a, and
6, in block Sail in Avery's original town
site.
Judge Burnett moved that COM
mittee of five be appointed for the
purpose of ascertaining what the
property could be purchased for, and
how much money could be raised for
that purpose.
Pending which, remarks were made
by Messrs. Burnett, Chenoweth, Nash
and others.
Judge Burnett said the matter was one
| that should receive due consideration. He
showed the great inconvenience that would
result from having the depot located beyond
the corporate limits, and expressed himself
as being decidedly in favor of having the
road run through the city, provided the same
could be secured upon terms that the citi-
zens could afford.
Judge Chenoweth said we had waited long
for the railroad it was the thing long look
ed for and desired above all things, and now
that it had reached our vicinity, he was in
favor of doing all in our power to welcome
the desired stranger. The request of Mr..
Kohler was one to be treated with the ut
most Difference He was in favor of the
committee, and hoped they would meet the
question fairly, and do all in their power to
meet the views of Mr.. Kohler; and if we
could not do all that he wanted, let us do
all we can do, and show our appreciation of
| the enterprise now about to open new facili-
! ties to the business and pleasures of our city.
The request is in the main, reasonable and
proper. If it is possible to get into First
street, it is the most suitable, and would in
convenience the people less than any other
place. There is the place to receive and
land freights and pass Iigers = giving the
shippers an option between the railroad and
steamboats,. There is no other place that a
road will be so little in the way of wagons
and teams from the country as that Three
fourths of all the teams from the country
don't cross First street, or come further
than Second street; only one time in the
year livery important time, it is true,) do
they cross First street. Let it run where it
will, some persons will be put to inconven-
fence. We can't expect SO large benefit
without some sacriface. And after all, the
most dangerous and hurtful roads are those
that never come. Experience shows that
railroads can run through the hearts of cities
without hurting any one There is one
thing, perhaps, we don't fully understand
and perhaps Mr.. Kohler does not mean what
We have understood from language used by
him: lst, that streets or portions of streets
should be vacated; I'd, that those streets oc-
.cnp;ed by the railroad should be to the
ercl,ssion of the public. As to vacating
streets, there is surely no power in the city
council to do it /; those streets leading to the
river, as well as aIE others, belong to the
public, and every one has an interest in
them, and there is no power in the city
council to vacate them. The city council
may regulate their use in any way to SUBJ
serve the public convenience may allow
railroads to put in and across them, but not
SO as to obstruct the public in passing over
them. IT the use of the streets for all the
purposes of the railroad is what Mr. Kohler
wants, then he could see no trouble in grant
ing his request. But if the occupation of
the streets to the exclusion of the public, or
oacating and closing streets is what is want
ell, of course the proposition could not be
entertained Valuable as a railroad would
be to US, it is of vastly more Importance to
keep open full and free communications to
the river. 1t appears to be settled that the
road must pass up First street or run west of
town and clear of it. If it passes up First
street there would be no change of the local
ity of business, but our town would grow as
it has begun and is now growing. But if
depot is established west of town, active
business would cluster around it. The
warehouses on the river would only he used
to store grain fer river boats. The farmer
would be compelled to determine in advance
which line he -vUnr1d-shi,,% yrain hv ~.