The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-04-02

STEP
TAKEN
Salem Council to Investigate
Water Power Sites
Preliminary Move Towards
Acquiring Electric Plant.


The Salem council Tuesday evening
took the preliminary steps that may
result In the installation Of a munich.
pal electric light plant at some future
time. An appropriation Of $50 was
voted to enable a special committee
of the council to investigate available
water power sites within a radius OF
forty miles OF Salem, with a view to
purchasing the most desirable proper
ty.
The city is now being furnished a
street lighting service by the local
company at $500 per annum for 35
arc lamps Of / 200 candle power each,
under a nve-years' contract, that has
been about half fulfilled. Dissatisfac.
tion with the present service has been
expressed by members of the council,
who allege the inadequacy Of the
street lighting, and this has resulted
In the agitation of the public owner.
ship question. IL is the purpose of
the council, which is a unit on the
matter to be in a position at the ex'
piratlon of the present contract 70
provide for it's own wants in this rela'
tion, unless more advantageous and
satisfactory arrangements can be
made Even should the city fail to In
stall an electric light plant, and util.
iZe the water power II is proposed 10
purchase, members of the council are
of the opinion that the investment
would prove safe and prudent
The matter was presented by Girls.
wold chairman of the special com.
mitteo on electric street lighting, ap.
pointed at previous meeting, to In
yestigate and report upon the present
faulty street lighting service. Chair.
man Griswold reported that the ser.
vice was unimproved, and II anything,
worse than when investigation was
ordered. He thought the time had ar
rived when Salem should take steps
toward acquiring its own electric light
plant. He asked the council for an
appropriation of $50 10 enable the com.
mlttee TO visit and inspect the various
saleable water power sites about Sa.
lem.
Burrows jumped TO his feet and
questioned the proceedings as impru-
dent and ill-advised. Thought there
remained ample time for providing a
different system before the present
contract expired, and cautioned his
colleagues against hasty action. Girls
void replied, and when he explained
that n water power site capable OF fur
nishing 1000 horse power, and con-
yenlently located from Salem, could be
purchased for about $3.50, Burrows
withdrew his objections, and was the
first to vote for the requested $50 ap-
preparation.
-. h.. H.I
gated the matter and had learned that
Il complete electric light plant OF SUI.
ilclent capacity for the city's needs,
could be Installed by the municipality
for $4,000. Since the city was paying
4 per cent. interest on a bonded In.
debtedness Of $4,000. he thought II
might we'll consider the project as an
advantageous one. The installation
and operation OF such a plant would
effect n saving of $4,000 per year ex.
penses for street lighting, which rep
resents interest paid annually on
bonded indebtedness.
Recorder Judah stated that, In a
conversation with Portland parties. he
recently learned that a systematic
move was on foot on the part OF large
manufacturing concerns Of Portland
TO acquire for future control all the
water power OF Western Oregon. In
view OF these conditions he thought
the council could make no mistake in
investing In such a water power before
the opportunity would be defeated by
tho extensive purchases OF the Port.
land corporations.
Mayor Bishop thought II was TO the
best interests OF tho city that the
proposition be thoroughly investi.
gated, as II would be only a matter of
time until all cities that can will own
their electric lighting plants. After
some further favorable discussion
council unanimously voted the ex.
penses OF the investigation. Chair
man Grlswold has been offered FIVE
different water power sites within 40
miles OF Salem, and will at once In.
apect the same. with the assistance OF
"A practical engineer, ascertain the
true values OF the properties and ro-
port his findings 60 the council
The matter OF cleaning up the alleys
In the business district OF the city was
called up by Stolz. This preolpltated
a lively debate, including a spirited
cOlloquy between Stolz and Burrows,
the discussion lasting nearly an hour.
The matter was finally taken from the
hands OF the ways and means commit.
tee and placed with the ordinance
with instructions to EN-.
ploy legal aid. and draft an ordinance
for the graveilng and grading OF al.
leys In the city. the ordinance TO be
presented to the council at lis next
meeting.
The committee ON streets and pub.
lie property was directed tO confer
with the county courts OF Marion and
Polk counties regarding tho annual
repairs 10 the willamette river
bridge.
Council passed ordinance designa-
ting as a public dumping ground that
part OF Liberty street between Ferry
and Trade streets.
Two bills were ordered paid as FOL.
lows; Pohle a Bishop. 1876; Hofer
Bros. So
Monthly and quarterly reports OF
Recorder Judah were read and adopted
as was also the quarterly report of
Street Commissioner Frizzell. SUM
mary OF FriEzell's report follows
Days work, without team, iO9; with