Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1900-05-04

Peterson also says: 81 assert that B. F.
Jones never graded nor built foot of
sidewalk on public street in Toledo.
This assertion, by most people in the
county, Is considered as quite Joke.
While l do not as Il rule blow my own
trumpet, under the circumstances and
for the purpose of branding the council
man as cold -blocded liar, l think |
may be pardoned for making this denial
and while | make no prentensions of
oelng III any way public benefactor,
and have done no more than number
Of the other old citizens and pioneers
VINO settled in this county many years
before the distinguished councilman had
left his dear "Fadcrland. 1t was thirty
years the 2Sth of April, 1900, since l
settled on portion of the land where
Toledo now stands, and the most of
these years have spent here, and | un-
dertake to say, without fear of contra
dlction, that had spent more money
and labor in improving the streets and
roads III and around the city of Toledo
before Mr.. Peterson ever saw, Oregon
than ne has spent in improving all his
possessions III the county; and since he
became member of the council have
built and paid for $50 feet of sidewalk
on a public street in Toledo and paid for
grading on First street $210 in front of
my property, and have opened for travel
over 400 feet of public streets in Fifth
addition to Toledo. For five years | had
the only team in town, and cleared from
logs and brush every street that trav-
eled. Councilman Peterson saws the
city has not paid out dollar on private
property except on Third street. Now
let us see if in this statement he has
only stretched the truth little, or Just
simply told a plain, unvarnished false
hood. The city of Toledo has drawn
warrants for improvement in front of
private property ON Graham street, and
1t Is a matter of record. The CITY au-
thorized by its council warrants drawn
to pay for work in front of private prop
erty on Fourth street. This is a matter
OF record. The common council author
lied warrants drawn on the treasurer in
payment OF 200 feet of sidewalk on Fifth
street, and this is u matter of record, +
could mention more cases, but space
torblds' The records are open for in
spection. Councilman Peterson voted
Tor a resolution to place $500 in what
was known as the general improvement
fund, and part of this was used in i'm
proving and cultivating private persons
IN the spring of 1896. Again, he says
the city bought a lot and park from
Jones. This is only half lie. The
city did buy q lot, but never park from
Jones. The facts are that at regular
meeting of the council held September
., 1898, a committee was appointed to
receive bids for lot for city hall and
city park. AS a result a number of bids
were filed with the committee, and at
regular meeting Of the council October
3, 1898, the council voted to buy a lot
from Jones for $2l0 and block from
Buford and Others for $3.50. | filed my
bid with the committee on the goth day
of September, 1898. Myself and mem
Der of the committee examined the rec
ords at the clerks office, and at that
date the judgment mentioned by the
councilman was not a matter of record
in Lincoln county. The city recorder
was also instructed to examine the rec
ords as to title. In suit appealed to
the supreme court from the circuit court
OF Lincoln county by U. G.. Hale judg- |
ment was given against me for $13450, |
but as above stated, when my bid was
made the mandate from the supreme
court had not been filed in Lincoln |
county. But without my knowledge the |
was secured by information of |
an eX-clty official and filed with the |
clerk q few days before the deed from
me to the city was recorded. The suit |
for which the judgment was given in
the supreme court was instituted by me |
at the request of DR.. Bryant of Caiifor-
mia and Hon. Il. A. Bensell of Newport
to recover some coal lands, with the un-
derstanding that they would pay all |
costs that might be adjudged to the
plaintiff, and they put up bond to that
effect, and have shown their good faith
by paying portion Of the costs, and |
will, they say, settle the judgment in
the near future. This the councilman
was fully aware of when he filed his
article by proxy. He does not seem to
be clear in his mind as to what the CITY
indebtedness is for, although twice a
member of the council. u would suggest
that he examine the city records and
refresh his memory. | think he is
little late in discussing the resolution
through the papers, when he admits
ana makes the assertion in his article
That the matter has already been settled |
by the councilmen out of session, for
the records in the recorders Office do
not show any such state of affairs. Does
the councilman sound this as a note of
warning to the people that no little mat
ter OF a tax sale representing several
dollars is of sufficient import
ance for the people to have hearing,
and that matters of this kind should be
settled by the council while not in ses-
sion and given to one of the members
to be carried around in his vest pocket
until such time as he may see fit to
place it, upon the council journal? |
make the assertion here and now that
when he made the assertion in his arti-
Gle i'll this language: ('but now, as the
matter is understood by the council")
he slandered and libeled members OF
that body, for | believe the other n,an,-