The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-09-17
WILL THE orpoRrUNIrY BE LOST.


With our usual slowness 1t seems that
we are about to lose the benefit of ex-
ceptiona1 advantages now offered to Sc
cure first class driveway or boulevard
at cost far below what the work could
be done for in the future. 1t is under
stood that the Pacific Paving company
is through with the concrete work on
the reservoir and will in a few days
remove the large crusher and heavy roll
Ter now in use there to Portland. Per-
haps not in years will such a large roller
be In Astoria and on the hills again.
To permit the removal of the roller
from Astoria would seem very short
sighted policy on the part Of the city
authorities, even though there should be
no occasion to use II this fall. It should
be purchased by the city and kept here
as 1t will be needed in street work right
along. The city is on the eve Of
rapid growth and extensive street i'm
provements will be among the first work
undertaken. The big 2O-ton rock crusher
ought to be utilized, and even should
the authorities allow the present unex-
celled opportunity pass Of paving the
pipe line road-a work which ought to be
Undertaken at once, still they should
have large quantity of rock crushed and
stored away for future use, because 1t
can now be done so cheaply. Or better
still, let the crusher and engine be pur-
chased, and then the city will be prepared
for any work next season and I'm future
years. 1t may be argued that to buy a
thing simply because 1t is cheap is not
good business policy, but in the handling
of municipal affairs where the cost of i'm
proyements Is borne by the taxpayers,
the RUE does not always hold Further
more, at the present juncture in Astoria's
history the future must be provided for
as well as the present, and the time is
rapidly approaching when we shall have
reason to regret not having provided
ample means for securing good roads at
the lowest possible cost. The one thing
| above all others that should be done
at once is to macadam the pipe line,
use the facilities at hand, put on a large
force of men, complete the work this fall
and then by next season when the move
ment of better times comes on
we will already have laid the groundwork
for those Improvements which more than
anything else build up any city or COM
munlty. Look at the magnificent roads
just completed in New Jersey and other
eastern states, which 1t Is estimated have |
already largely aumentei the wealth of
the people. Oregon. If ever any state
did, needs good roads, and her cities are |
and boulevards, yet these, more than any
other class of public Improvements, tend
to bring wealth and happiness to a
people. That city and that community
y hlch shall first secure substantial streets
and roads, parks and drives. will be sure
to reap the benefit of new and desir-
able immigration. With railroad, to be
completed next year, and the large lmm-
grafton which is being worked up by or
ganlzed effort OF societies formed for the
purpose, Astoria should not be asleep,
nor wait TIL the wave of prosperity
passes by but by immediate action
should prepare to secure her share of the
increase and be at the front of the pro-
cessIon in all things pertaining to the
progress and upbullding OF the CONNER
clal supremacy which all hope to see
soon established in oregon and the whole
Northwest.