The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1892-04-29
PUBLIC IMPRO VE.uE.yTS.

newspapers and among the lead
ing taxpayers of our city of late.
1t seems to be the prevailing opiu-
| ion of majority of our leading
citizens that some steps toward
permanent improvements such. as
the grading of streets, a sewerage
or drainage system, the purchase
and control by the city of all
electric plant and water works,
should be taken at once. Each of
these enterprises will involve the
expenditure of large sum of
money and each has numerous
supporters. Under the provisions
OF the new city charter the city
can incur a bonded debt in the
aggregate for various purposes to
the amount Of about $I65,O00 up
on the approval Of the majoriy of
the taxpayers by popular vote.
For Il city the size of Corvallis,
this is too large sum of money to
eXpend all at one time, and the
question naturally arises, which of
these improvements would be of
the most benefit to the city at the
present time, and what are the
best steps to take towards securing
such improvements. It seems that
the present council is not inclined
to take any action in the matter,
and that the entire responsibility
of a movement toward securing
these Improvements will be placed
upon the shoulders of the new
council to be elected at the muni-
clpal election next month. While
large majority of our citizens are
in favor of progression and imme-
diate action in these matters, they
seem to be all at sea and have no
definite OF concerted plan of action.
Some want this and some want
that; each one seems to be pulling
his own string according to his
own peculiar ideas and views, but
all want something done. There
should be some definite plan set
tied upon as to which of these i'm
provements are of the most i'm
portance to the city at the present
time, and how to secure the best
results towards such improve
ments for the amount of money to
be expended.
First of all, we need good
streets. Our streets have been
surveyed and grade established,
the charter provides that the ex-
pense Of street . improvements
shall be assessed to the property
adjacent such improvements. The
council has the power to have one
or all of the streets graded as in
their judgment it may be deemed
necessary, hence the improvement
of the streets remains entirely
with the council. 1t is very i'm
portant that this work should be
done properly, much money can
be wasted by injudicious manage
ment of this work. TO fill in with a
little gravel here and there will do
little or no good, and the money
thus expended will be virtually
thrown away. A systematic plan
of permanent improvement should
be adopted and as the work is
done, do it to conform with this
plan. The streets should be built
up with good macadam with side
cutters to carry away the surface
water and they will last lifetime
with little or no cost for repairs
in the future.
The next question that seems to
meet with general favor among
our citizens is a system of sewer
age or drainage. Bonds can be is
sued to the extent of $4,000 for
this purpose, but here comes in
the question of water supply. A
large amount of extra water will
be needed to flush the sewers to
keep them clean. Will it be more
profitable for the city to enter in
to a contract with private corpor-
alton to supply this water for a
term of years, OR shall the city
own and control its own water
works? This is the question that
naturally arises and the two go
together; we cannot have sewerage
without water. The prevailing
opinion seems to be in favor of
the latter proposition and for this
purpose an Indebtedness of $780,
900 can be incurred. Now comes
in question OF economy. Ii
system Of sewerage is established
and the city owns its own water
works, would not the same power
also serve for the purpose of
furnishing electric lights? The
city is now paying the electric
light company about ST. per
month for light and 1t would seem
to be economy for the city to own
the electric light plant. A debt of
$4,000 can be created for pur-
chase of such plant. Thus it
would seem that the three propo.