The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-12-14
oosvALLIs, OREGON, DEC. Il, 1904.
THE WATER BOND QUESTION.

The CITY u 70 again ADVERTISE TOT olus
% water bonds. Such action was taken
Mt khs council meeting Monday night.
The result viii be anxiously awaited.
For over two years the matter has been
Eving issuo, but Is now no nearer consunl-
nation thaa 1t was eighteen months ago.
The stoey Is long one, and familiar to
eli. Four years ago this fall, petition
vas circulated asking our representatives
10 sseare the passage of an act, providing
. new charter for the city of Corvallis.
1t the following session of the Legislature
the Law was passed and carried with it
provision for the purchase, maintenance
and operation of water works. The
money necessary for the purchase of such
works, to the amount of $4,000, was to
BE- had by the sale of bonds. Before
issuing the bonds, however, the charter
crowded that the council should cause
to be submitted to the voters of the city
the question whether or not such bonds
should be issued. In August, 1891, such
special election was effected by q duly
advertised call, and large vote was
polled; the result being In favor of the
bonds by large majority. Acting with
this expressed desire Of the masses, the
city council took up the theme and car
ried 1t on through series of legislation,
such as was necessary to evolve and per-
feet the bond scheme. They proceeded,
step by step, with apparent care and
watchful discrimination. They seemed
to have been we'll entreuched in law and
public sentiment In due time an ordi-
nance was passed by the council, author
izing and instructing the police judge
to advertise for bids for bonds, stating
the amount at $50, ,ooo-Ioo bonds denom-
mated at $500 each. Some. twenty bids
were received. A Cleveland firm made
the most favorable offer, advancing a
premium of about s., 500, and to whom
the sale was contracted, they to furnish
the Autograph blanks for the bonds.
They performed their part of the agree
ment entered into in every particular.
Several ordinances were passed from first
to last in the course of the necessary iegis-
lation, every one of which was regularly
vetoed by the mayor; and, standing by
their guns" the council as promptly
passed each ordinance over each veto,
with but one dissenting vote. This was
the completion of the proceedings which
eliminated, as the councilmen thought,
In the perfection of the city water bonds.
The bonds were received in May, 1892,
and lacked only the signatures of the
mayor and police judge, and here the
matter has rested until now.
Meantime, during all these delibera-
tlons sullen opposition would now and
then crop out. If it was irnpotent in Its
disparity of numbers at first, it was none
the less determined, 'vigilant and subtle
1t wormed itself into public sentiment
with telling effect; and at that late day,
when 1t wanted bat the stroke of pen
to crown the plan with the signet of a
grand consummation, an injunction suit
was brought, and has until now barred
the way to another step forward, and for
period of sixteen months the water
works improvments have laid pulseless
under the frown of the august court man
date; when the case was dismissed at
plaintifps motion. At that time, and
even now, this action was looked upon
az species of ''snap judgment" quite
without the pale of fair dealing, and, ali
things considered, from the first step in
the election to the last ordinance passed,
as unwarranted and tyrannical as it was
unfair
The Corvallis Water Company owns a
franchise for its works throughout the
streets of Corvallis. Between that cor
poration and the city there exists con-
tract extending to the year 1900. By the
terms of that contract, the city is held
for five years to come, besides the ten
years already expired, in a stated sum
annually for services to the city.
Though this sum was thought to be out
Of ali proportion to the benefit received,
it still had to be greatly augmented to
provide for the city adequate security.
To avoid friction with tileawater company
already equipped and i'll running order,
or, rather, to avert creating competition
that would prove damaging, if not disas-
trous, to ell concerned, the council nego-
tiated with the old company for the pur-
chase of its works. The price placed
upon the plant by the company was S2S,-
900. A competent engineer, after care
full estimate, put; the value at $4,000
The complaint in the injunction suit
averred that the plant in question was
mot worth greater sum than SIC, 900. !"
1t is the iike1iest thing in the world that
a compromise could have been effected
to the satisfaction and just treatment of
the negotiating parties on both sides, If
only a reasonable amount of forbearance
could have prevailed. It must be rerne1n-
bered, however, that the enjoinera did
not confne their restraint to the pur-
chase of the old works, but struck direct
1y at the fountain head, and cut off nego-