The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-01-07
THE GRAND CHANGE.
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the general tax leVies viii thereby I've re-
duced below what they must otherwise
r~eCeSS1rily be
With the completion % the new water
system. now under construction, the city
will h. furnished with an abundant sup
ply OF pure. wholesome water, sufficient
i'm AMOUNT. Il is estimated. 10 supply a
city OF fifty thousand inhabitants At
the present time therefore, the supply
largely exceeds the demands of tho city,
FOR domestic purposes About one hun.
dred fire hydrantS are hcing placed
throughout the city, At convenient dis
,anccS and in such manner as 10 furnish
a sufficient water supply for use IN Tho
cxtlnguishmSnt OF drcS The present fire
syStre consists % three steam engines,
one chemical engine. and one hook and
ladder truck. with equipment, the main
teaance Of which cost the city the past
year Y2IN& With the completion o.
the new water system It Is believed that
a change may he made IN the nre depart
n,en'. whereby instead % rVQuiying the
use Of steam engines IN eN%tinguishing
hres water for that purpose may he pro-
cuucd directly from the hydrants con-
ncctet with The clty's water mains; that
equal, Il not better protection will he
ancuied the city thereby than is Afforded
under the present system. and at a great
ly reduced cost TO the city.
\ water power OF between ttty and six
~ horse power is obtained at the gate
house. near the reservoir, which can be
utilized in driving machinery. without
the loss Of any water for consumption IN
the city. or for use as power IN me
lower levels Of the city, as the water
after being used to drive machinery az
the gate house passes thence into the
reservoir. Provision has been made IN
he gate house. whereby machinery can
adm be placed therein. and the water
power utilized 10 light the streets and
public BUILDINGS OF the city.
am not prepared at this time 10 make
any recommendations in these matters
hut l desire to call your attention TO them
for the reason that they Will very soon
REQUIRE your earnest and careful con-
sideratlon.
The matter Of the public property OF
the city is one OF Importance. h city
oW rs. besides the lots upon which the
public buildings OF the city are situated
cre block in Shlvely's Astoria. which is
used for cemetery purposes and Is known
as HILLSIDE Cemetery" and upwards ot
~siNty-one acres Of land on Clatsop. which
was purchased several years ago for GEM
cfery PURPOSES. on this ~last-named tract
a cemetery WAS plated. and some lots
have been sold and hurials made there
in. Owing 10 The dltiCulty in reaching
the place. but little interest has been
shown In the PAST in its Improvement
n care. but with a prospect OF rail-
road communication between the city
and the cemetery, within the next three
or four months. at most. steps should he
taken 10 put the tract in shape and make
Necessary improvements thereon. While
h tract has been plated. Il Is believed
that il Is not plated 10 conform TO the
natural lay Of the ground. and In such
manner as TO produce the most pleasing
effect. when improved. ! therefore re-
commend that steps be taken 10 have
the entire tract cleaned up. hat arrange
ments be made with lot owners for re-
plating the same. and that in the re-
plating the same. the services Of a spe-
cialist in that line be procured, TO the
end that the grounds nay I've so laid out
as to give 10 them the most pleasing
appearance
The Hillside Cemetery Is upon the hill
overlooking the city. at a point where
it will soon be surrounded by handsome
residences and other improvements. l
recommend that steps b. taken 10 cause
the removal Of the remains Of those who
ere buried there, ami. IL practicable. the
said site De converted into 4 smai, park
block. From time to time 1r~ins the
past years. lots have been conveyed
10 tbs city by lot owners. to avoid pay
rnent Of assessments thereon for Street
Improvements. As no power anpCars to
fgaua EWgzs- I ~ tho nFsr 10 Ga1a n gnnVaE
said lots. the legal title 70 them must
still be In the city. I recommend that
the SAID matter be investig I;ed. and ::
be ascertalned II the city Is he owner OF
any such lots.
The Cay Is at present without either a
park or a park site. This Is a matter
which should be considered. and acted
upon as soon as possible. There are
many sites within the city which are at
present available for park purposes, but
which. after a few years, will probably
be plated. n tracts and lots sold
therefoTm. 50 that il will be difficult TO
procure a body OF land sufficiently large
for park purposes, without having 10
deal with many different owners. and at
great additional cost TO the city.
The matter of wharves and water
frontage is one which calls for serious
consideration at this time. The charter
provides that all streets within the city
limits and at right angles 10 the Col
lmbia River are extended to the ships
channel for the use Of the public, etc"
These streets extend into the river at
intervals Of two to three hundred feet,
thus making it impossible to construct
large wharves or warehouses on the wa
ter front Of the city. I recommend that
public landings be established at the foot
Of streets at suitable and convenient
points throughout the city, and that
where the existence Of other streets eK-
tending 70 the channel will in the future
interfere with the erection or mainte-
nance Of large structures along the wa
terfront, provision be made for vacating
Of such streets, or 80 much thereof as
interferes with the making Of such i'm
provements.
The first important question 10 be IN
sidered. Is the question Of finance. ]
recommend that the present floating in
debtedness be converted into a bonded
indebtedness, thereby reducing the inter-
est thereon from eight 10 six per cent:
that careful estimates be made Of the
moneys necessary to carry on the bust
ness for the ensuing year: that a tax
be levied accordingly. and that all expen-
ditures be kept strictly within the esti-
mates.
The future outlook for our city is good.
With the probability Of the completion OF
the Astoria and Columbia River railroad,
and the opening Of the canal and locks
ut the Cascades Of the Columbia the
present year, and with the prospects that
In the near future the distractions to
navigation Of the entire Columbia Will
be overcome, Astoria is destined, In the
near future. 10 be the chief seaport city
Of the Northwest. But while we have
cause 10 congratulate ourselves upon the
bright outlook for the future, enduring
prosperity can only be obtained through
a wise and judiciOus administration Of
our public affairs. Let US then endeavor
to 50 conduct the affairs Of the city that
we shall not only prosper, but that our
prosperity shall De enduring.