Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-05-10
Mr.. Knott's View.

commissioners court signed the con
tract awarding the public free
ferry at Corvallis, Commissione,
Knots took occasion to explain hii
position and had a statement
spread upon the records of the
court. We have been requested te
publish this statement, and it ap-
| pears below:
In the matter of the position OF Com
missioner VIM. Knots regarding the
establishment of the free ferry at Cor
wallis, Oregon.
Now at this time Commissioner VIM.
Knots not concurring in the action Of
the majority of the court in the estab-
lishment of free ferry at Corvallis, Or,
presents paper setting forth his posi-
ton on said matters, and asks that
record be made Of the same. 1t is there
fore ordered that said statement be
spread upon the journal of the court in
full, as follows:
In regard 10 the county assuming to
operate a ferry between Corvallis and
Linn county, I regret that am unable
to concur in the view taken by the ma
jority of the court in the premises.
Independent of the merits claimed for
this radical departure in county affairs,
it seems to me doubtful experiment at
best, and one which promises much en-
barrassment to the court in the future.
While due Difference should BE given
to the petition, representing as it
does many substantial citizens, still it is
known fact that any usual petition is
| numerously signed, whether meritous or
otherwise. Various reasons are sug.
gssted to my mind why the court should
not embark in this novel enterprise.
Among others, it is inequitable that Ben
ton county should assume the costs of
the ferry business, as the claimed bene-
fits TO be derived by Linn are certainly
equal to those of our own county and
under any equitable base Linn county
should bear one half the expense there
of and Corvallis and our own county the
remaining half.
The action of Albany changing Its
bridge spanning the river to Benton
from free bridge to that of toll is very
suggestive at this time, and clearly ia
dicates that experience has demonstrated
that even free bridge maintained at
county expense has been disastrous.
If at county expense we establish
free ferry at Corvallis for the benefit of
citizens of Linn, adjacent it would seem
for strong reasons that we should grant
free transportation to our own citizens
in the north end of the county to Albany.
When We make departure from the
usual course, and use the county funds
to operate franchise under Corvallis
management, that has from the begin
ming been in private hands, we place
ourselves ina complicated position to-
ward the public.
The moment We establish precedent
by free ferry at Corvallis petitions will
certainly be presented by our citizens
for like privileges in Fairmeunt and
Soap Creek precincts to Albany.
For like reasons we will be confronted
from the south of the county for tree
ferry at Peoria
The court will be forced to be consist
ent with itself-all citizens must receive
equal attentions when their claims are
based Oh identical grounds. Besides
the county funds are made up by the
taxpayers of the differeut precincts of
the county, and Monroe and other pre-
cincts in the south, Philomath. Kings
Valley. etc., in the west, and Soap Greek
and Fairmount in the north, are certain
to claim with much force that we are
using their tax money for the special
benefit of Corvallis.
1t is claimed that the several Corvallis
precincts contribute large portion of
the county revenue and for that reason
should receive special consideration.
In this connection, it is to be remem-
bered that located in Corvallis is the
court house at a cost of $4,000, that the
most expensive bridge in the county is
Marys river bridge, that all the county
officials are maintained at public ex-
pense in Corvallis, aggregating the rise of
$1,000 annually. Taxpayers of the
county precincts naturally claim, in view
of the facts, that Corvallis has and is
now receiving all considerations that she
merits from the public revenue. Taxes
are Uniform the citizen pays on all of
his property, Independent of his particu.
lar precinct. While some precincts pay
more than others, it by no means follows
that they are entitled to greater consid-
| Grafton at the hands of the court.
Under the old system in private
hands the court regulates the toll rates,
at the Corvallis ferry which are only
nominal.
Owing to the condition OF the public
road in Orleans precinct for several
miles in Linn during the winter months
this ferry is used TO limited extent and
for at least a month Of each year on ac-
count of high water, this ferry cannot be
operated at all.
For these and many other reasons it