The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-08-19
no THn TAx-pAYnns on AsroR1A

1 a.
On the suggestion Of the city's attor-
neys, Messrs John II. Smith and Full
ton Brothers, the common council has
called an election Of the tax payers
to be held Tuesday, the 21st inst, for
the purpose Of authorizing the city to
institute legal proceedings for the con,
demnation OF the necessary right-of-
way to lay a pipe line to Bear Creek,
that the city may have better supply
Of water.
From several routes surveyed, Mr..
A. L. Adams, the hydraulic engineer
employed by the commission, has with
their approval, selected different
route than is followed By the present
pipe line, consequently rights-of-way
must be obtained before the pipe line
can be laid.
Many of the owners of lands over
which the new line runs have granted
the right-of-way at almost nominal fig
ures; others ask more than the COM
commission think is fair for the water
consumers Of the city to pay, and all
who are acquainted with land values
pronounce their claims entirely beyond
reason.
The commission may be mistaken as |
to these values, therefore they desire
to leave the question of valuation to
the courts to determine
One suit has been instituted and
judgment rendered for condemnation
at less sum than was asked; other
suits can be brought without" the
vote of the Taxpayers on the 2Ist inst,
but the attorneys" have advised this
lction of the Taxpayers and the author
ties are acting accordingly. A pretty
air road will have to be opened along
he line, in order to haul the pipe, and
o travel over afterward in maintaining
I. A well-graded road has been con-
tructed along Portland's new water
'ipe line, and from this, the idea oc-
urred that public road might be laid '
long this line, and kept in repair by a
he city or by the city and county com I
ined. h
The owners of the property between h
ne city and Bear Creek were asked for n
eeds to strip Of land sixty feet wide h
18th permission to the city to lay Y
pc and II 1t choose, maintain a hiEh-
ay SO much was asked for the Nft.ht-
way on this basis, that the width
as reduced to thirty-three (33) feet, :,
i'll the price asked in most cases m
ems excessive. W
In condemnation proceedings in the ~
urts the city can obtain NO right to B
en or maintain a public road" only in
e right to lay and maintain the pine 10
V BI
With the exception of two small mi
Icts the pipeline does not run mi
rough foot of improved land. In ~ =
fact, without water, of road, the DR.
I'd is absolutely worthless now, and to
yer would have value. res
Is impossible for new works to be ais ais;
In this winter, but rlght-of-way pla
! be determined upon by the courts dy'
ing the winter, If that should be
nd necessary, and the line cleared
active work next spring. If right \
way Is not secured this fall or win , ma
next summer may be consumed I'm Gas
eHort to obtain rlght-of-way and ass
ding be again postponed another clrt
p Cla
by
nile the Taxpayers are the ones aga
do the voting on this subject, IL to
ne water consumers" and not the uui' m
P"SSiS "Ho pay the ponds, and ria,
expenses of the Wa.pr denartmen, fror
works can only be built by monies az, -
ined from the sale Of bonds, and
bonds, together with the interest
be met by the water consumers.
not by the taxpayers, as many
led to believe. -,
e question has often been asked. Kra
the work has not been pushed callS
n; to this question we can onl, muc
'er, Because we have never fel. sa'.e save
lied in assuming the responsibility mini
rchasing these rights-of-way at ex- head
ant figures aslsed ana ,,,,th. neve
o,-,,,,,, "'e "i'iout mucl
""S no "ater-works can be sUles
Respectfully,
w. w. PARKER.
SAMUEL ELMoRE, Or rO'
c. S. WRIGHT,
j. @. A BowLBY. CC
II. G. VAN DUsEN, M,
VI 'he water commission. at tn
oria' oregon. August Is, 1891. publ
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