Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1897-01-06
MESSAGE
rContinued from inst page. ]

LIGHTING THE CITY.
Under our system. this Is by far the
most expensive department you are
called upon TO look after. Under an
ordinance passed some three years and
half ago. which / am pleased To note
my predecessor ,at the time, vetoed, Dut
which was unfortunately, for the city
passed over his head, we are paying the
Salem Consolidate Light " Power 20.
the enormous sum OF S5,35l69 per an
mum, or about one. fourth Of the whole
revenue Of the city. This great drain
upon our city treasury should 10 some
way, II possible, be diminished. Legal
opinions differ as TO the validity OF TINS
contract; therefore, II Is doubtful II
you can abrOgate ", but there is one
clause in the contract, whlch the CITY
should avail itself OF and profit by. IL
provides that the city shall not at any
time during the continuance OF TINS
contract pay higher rate than Is pald
for like service in other cities 10 ore
gon and Washington. We are paying
$40 per light each month, while Al
bany pays for like service $500, Two
thirds; Eugene, 80; Portland $500.
These are the leading cities OF Oregon
and should, under the city's contract,
be a guide as to what the city should
pay for its lights.
WATER SUPPLY.
The water supply Of cities IS always
"A great absorbing and perplexing queS-
tiOn and Salem forms no exception 10
the rule.
Many years ago, when the present
Salem Water company was organized
the population OF the willamette
valley was much less than halt What
IL now is. Then native grasses ana
timber covered large part OF theMl IL
lamette's water shed, which caused Tue
rain fall to drain of slowly and TOT
that reason the water OF the william
cite was clear and healthtul, except
during the time OF winter freshets.
But by reason OF largely Increased
population our prairie grass mas Oeeh
plOwed under, our hills shorn OF thelr
timber and the land brought into cul-
tivation, thus permitting the ram
fall TO run of more rapidly, carry
ing with It large and in
creasInR alluvial deposits, decaying
vegetable and animal matters, which
rendertOur water supply turbid and
unwholesome for at least one half OF
the year. This Is an important mat
ter TO our people and We are con-
frunted with the necessity OF lOOklhg
TO other source than the Willamette
river for pure water supply Tor the
people OF Salem.
The city is paying the Salem Water
company Sl.3Sl annually for supply
ing the city hydfants and cisterns. |
submit TO you whether this is not an
eXhorbitant price for the water fur
IA ,,I tul n .n nA +
ant franchise, as the permitting OF
the Salem Water company TO use our
streets and alleys for their water
mains, is not Just and equitable
compensation for the filling Of our city
cisterns and hydrants. Albany only
pays Sl2j annually for "A like service.
THE STREETS.
Our streets are IN need OF much
Improvement and while | would not
recommend lavish expenditure in that
direction. still 10 seems plain 10 me
that an economic expenditure OF tn.
taxes paid by opr people should keeI
the streets in much better condition
than they now are. This subject
needs careful study and practical con
sideratiOn.
Under our charter no street im.
provement can be made at the expense
| OF the adjacent property, unless ma
ioTity OF said property holders con
sent thereto. While this law protects
property holders from jobs, it fire.
quently prevents the city from max
| ing much needed improyments and,in
my opinion, the law should be repealed
or amended and something like the
| following enacted: When the city
deems It necessary TO make any street
improvement she shall prepare plans
and specitcatious,O of the improvement
to be made, and allow the property
holders, who are required To make the
| Improvement, reasonable time in
which To do il, under the supervision
OF the street commissioner. Should
they fail 20 make the required im-
provement, then the city should ad'
yertise aud let the work TO the lowest
bidder. Thus the public would be
protected and allow the city 10 com
pei needed Improvements
In this connection | desire TO call
your attention TO the fact that former
councils have compelled expensive i'm
proyements OF some of the streets at
the expense OF the adjacent property
| holders, and that these holders are
still being taxed for street purposes,
the same as other people, and their
taxes are being expended In other and
remote parts of the city. In my judy
ment their taxes should be expended
In keeping up the good Improvements
already made. For want OF this at
! tentiOn those streets, which have cost
the adjacent property holders 81
much, are now but little better than
Other streets.
think II should be the general rule
| 10 cXpend all street tax upon the
streets adjacent tO the property taxed
| II this system was adopted the people
would ,hen take more interest In
| improving their streets and II would
not be long before Salem would have
| fairly good streets. On the contrary
while our street commissioner is al
lowed 10 spend half our taxes In filling
up a mudhOle here aud there, and for
every one he fills up making two, one
! on either side Of his rock pile, will CuI
! stleetS be " hat they are now, a dis
grace 90 the Capital city.
WILI.AMETvrE BRIDGE.
The question uf who shall repair
aud cane for the great bridge, which
! spans the Willamette river within ouI
corporate limits. Is in controversy be-
tween the counties Of Marion aud
| pulk aud the city of Salem. Thi.
great structure IS la a deplOrable con-