Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1893-03-18
SATURDAY NIGHT OBSERVATIONS.

new city hall building. Members of
the city council all seem to be In favor
of going right ahead with II. The
year will not be far advanced before a
contract IL let for building on High
and Chemeketa streets 10 accommodate
the city Offices, and jail, and fire de-
partment, all Ia one. The location IN
the heart Of the older residence portion
Of the city necessitates an ornate style
OF architecture aud more expensive
building than II II were located In the
business parts Of the city. The latter
location would admit Of q palmer and
more business like style Of structure.
The architects are all at work on plant
for the new city hall. II will be quite
feather In the cap Of the man who
hits upon style OF building that will
meet the different demands that come
In play In this matter. He must moi
only suit the ideas Of the city father
and fire department, but he must hit
the bulbs eye financially, as well ~
public taste. These three points arch
itects no doubt instinctively consider.
There IL another element that may
raise the deuce. lis the fact that arch
itects are apt to be quite progressive
people. They are profession and pro
fessions know no barriers Of state lines.
Their art tends TO the universal. All
the plans will tend toward producing
modern building, something our city
has not now within Its limits. IL may
be- modern in price, good business men
talk OF aS50 900 city hall building. The
conservative throws up his hands In
horror Aldermen talk Off $50, 900 or
S35, 900 city building. They have $l5,.
00O building fund and can issue S2O,.
600 bonds. If Salem can build an hon
est city hall the money will be well in-
vested.
ASSESSMENTS.
There IL much hesitation among off,
cIals about taking hold Of the assess-
ment job. The result under the new
law In what they seem TO be afraid OF.
II Ia likely TO prove surprise. No de.
ductIons for assessments ought to swell
tho total valuation nearly a third. II
credits are tested as the law plainly re.
quires, the total will be still larger.
The writer who would not sell his
home for less than $1,000 wonders what
the Assessor will list IL at? Al what
figure will his rich nelghbor, who has
Just bought business block for $50, 900
cash get his property entered on the
assessment roll? Shall Oregon asses
sors turn over new leaf and assess
property at its true cash market value
or continue the old farce Of estimating Il
at oue-third or ope-fourth Its value
At half fair valuation Salem would
rise TO u $2,500,0OO valuation, 10 say
nothing OF personal property, capital
In banks. II the truth were known
the money In the banks would aggre.
gate nearly that sum. A two aud a
hAlf-million valuation would yield the
city government $3.50, 900 on ten mill
levy, enough to pay It's entire debt and
run n year besides.
GAMBLING.
This II subject much talked Of,
hut few people knowing anying
about Il. Those who talk the hartiest
Of Salem m gambling city know the
least concerning the subject. IL is
doubtful II any city ON the coast the
size Of oregon's capital has No little OF
II. 10 few gambling resorts, 80 few pro-
fessional gamblers. A few business
men buck the tiger, but not 20
an alarming extent, unless II Ia
20 be held proper cause for alarm
that business man do any gambling
whatever. OF late u story has been
floating In the air that modern gam
Ing parlor IL being fitted up In our
modest aud virtuous little city. The
walls and iloors are 10 be deadened. A
double-doored labarinthine hallway is
10 be excluded with two sets OF locks for
lntrusive police. Two sets Of exits To
other parts Of the building are for the
nnAl emergency Of n possible raid.
LADY CLERKS.
This subject has been dropped from
he repertoire Of street and barbershop
gossip. II is not too late TO call atten-
Ion TO the fact that the general charac.
er ef the clerks was higher than two
tears ago. There were no disgusting
candals this winter, as two years ago, /
vhsn several ofths legislative employee .
Igured Ia the newspaper. The frail a
Ady nom Coos was not with us, ~ to y
peak, aud u she had beeo. good grand. o
= Upton would have kert her oal of O
Ioable at all events. Keeping down
heir compensation 10 from $500 10 A
100 day and paying oniy from date Il
actual service had much To do with 4
sspiag tho eyprlans al their n,ore A
crasivs plaess of employment MT "a,
Drd al Marion deserves not . little n
rdit Zoe keeping down the compsnsa- Ia
~ aud keeping on the horde of fiorid 90
ns.... - "A a ~