The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-03-30
ANOTHER LETTER
ON ROAD QUESTION
COuncleman Nelch Defends His Pos
ition On the Smiths Point Road.
TIE ROAD not 4 COUNTY ROAD
Caanot Therefore Be Legally Improved By
the City Matter Of l'ublie Interest and
Not Personal Spite work
'uR ROAD NoT COUNTY ROAD

Astoria. March 49, 1897 (Edltor As.
torian. I'm your issue ~ Thur@iay
APPEARS an editorial crdtlclsdng the in
terfcrcnce by certain meddler' with
tho proposed repair 20 the roadway
around Smiths Point II the shoe hts
put IL on. and conclude the article
referred TO me. and | am willing TO
assume the responsibility. Briefly an
sw-ring th. article. desire FIRST 20
state that thorv must be a wrong con.
ccption on your part as % the facts
in this case You say. What possible
objection can there b. to the Astoria
Iron Works expenditure Of its own
money In repairing the road" Now.
that shows uneHcuSable ignorance of
some one who must have furnished
the information. and Il ls misleading
and calculated 90 deceive. The Astoria
Iron Works are not spending their
own money. but II In the money OF
the city. Of the taxpayers. that Is be-
Ing spent on this alleged road There
is no question that the city ot Astoria
cannot legally repair or improve an
abandoned street road over private
property. The roadway where this
proposed work is to be performed was
formerly county road. but was va
Gated on the petition Of the PENN
Nular Land 4 Trust Co. and the chair
man ~ the street committee, | pre-
sumo. IL well aware Of the fact.
am in favor OF an legal expenditures
OF public money for the Improvement
~ roads and streets, 50 far as the
city Ia abb TO make the improvements
without creating an additional burden
10 tho taxpayers; but l am opposed TO
H
the rcqustlon passed by the common
council. which was, I'm fact misleading
In It's intcnts and objects. and was
not for general repairs 90 crossings.
which the cty II bound to make, but
was passed calling for over $1,000 feet
OF lumber for the express purpose OF
improving the roadway around Smiths
Point, and In direct contravenuon OF
the express provisions Of the city
charter am in favor Of all enter
prhscs. and have assisted as much as
anyone 20 encourage them. would
be pleased 90 see a good road or
street around Smiths Point as II
would accommodate n large settle
ment. and would vote for an ordinance
to that effect when passed under the
requirements OF the charter, In con-
clusion you say: "It makes no differ
ence what the former disputes may
have been; the question now In issue
IL not one which concerns the con-
vcnience OF the iron works alone, nor
the possibility Of future benefit to the
Taylor estate. II Is one that relates
TO the general welfare OF the whole
community" And I may add that
when money Is illegally attempted TO
be spent on private property It Is
the duty OF every officer of the city
10 resist such expenditure. am not
actuated by personal motives In this
matter, as you insinuate, but simply
by n desire TO perform my duties ms
an officer OF the city as | understand
them. That this expenditure Is illegal
there can be no question. That the road
was legally vacated in 1898 upon a
sworn petition OF T. A. Taylor. and
as appears OF record In the office OF
the county clerk, upon an order drawn
by their attorney for the petition. and
the question attempted to be raised
by certain interested persons that th'
proceedings OF the county court wer
illegal savors Of jobbery, which MOI
any other rlght-minded citizen car
either countenancc or indorse Th'
following Is the order entered OF rec
ord on December (. 1898. in the journal
After reciting the preliminaries' an'
that everything was regular and legal
Il recltes. "It is therefore ordere'
and adjudged that the same he an'
Is hereby vacated.
: C. A. MCGUIRE. Judge.
r. CARRUTHERS,
r. NJ. WOODEN.
Commissioners"
In reference TO the charge that
have used my official position to IT
duce certain residents in the west en-
: of the city to enjoin the city fror
going ahead with the proposed In
provements. desire to say that
have neither seen or asked any res
dent to institute legal proceedings I
stop the work; but II had purchase
and owned lots that crossed the apar