The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-10-20
WILL BUILD
CITY HALL.
Council Is Determined to Dis.
pose Of Present Location
and Buy Another.
OFFERS ARE TO Be INVITED
Proposal for Property Already
Received and Others will
Doubtless BE Sub
mitted Later.

The city council has decided to sell
the property on which the city hall
stands. A new city ball Is to be built
and the sale Of the present site viii be
the first step towards the Improvement
At last nights meeting Of the council
the matter was thoroughly discussed,
| and there was unanimous sentiment in
favor Of the new public building. The
proposition was brought before the coun-
ell by communication from s. 8. Cor
don, which read as follows.
Astoria, Oct. 17.-Hon. J. w. Sup
renant, mayor-On behalf of business
man OF Astoria OF means I wish to
make an offer OF $4,000 In cash for the
iot now occupied by the city hall. the
bnildlng to be removed or not, as the
council may elect. This offer may re-
main open for a reasonable time, say 90
days. IL accepted the purchaser would,
as soon as possible. erect handsome
building for business purposes. proba-
bly, three stories in height. Time would
be given the city to build a new hall
elsewhere.
II have no interest In the. matter
either than to see he city have more
suitable building for It's use, and also to
see the purchaser erect building that
would be credit to our business center.
II is very plain that the city does not
need so valuable location for its bus
mess as 1t has now, and as a city official
realize that 1t will soon have to move
or spend large sum on repairs. which
would be only patchwork when done.
IS. $. GORDON"
Councilman Hansen said he thought
the city ought not to rush into sale,
but that 1t should get all for the prop
erty that might be offered. He added
that he had heard OF a man who would
pay 81 1000 for the lot. Mr.. Leinenweber
believed the council should take some
action by which the sentiment OF the
people Of the city could be obtained.
and City Attorney Smith said the mat,
ter might be brought before the voters
at the coming spring election by plac-
ing on the ticket question to be voted
on as to whether or not levy of / mill
OF IL mill should be levied for city
hall purposes. There seemed to be a
unanimity Of opinion that the property
should be sold and new city hall
erected.
Mayor Suprenant and City Attorney
Smith spoke Of the available sites that
could be secured at a reasonable figure
the best. perhaps, being that at the
southwest corner OF Commercial and
Seventh streets. The mayor has COM
municated with the owner of this prop
erty asking him what price he demands
for 1t. Should the city hall be built
there all public buildings would be to-
gether. There are many other sites in
different parts Of the city, some council
men favoring a location on Sixteenth
street. Mr.. Burns would oppose the
purchase of site not on sold ground,
and this opinion was generally shared.
A resolution was finally adopted
authorizing the committee on public
property to advertise for bids for sale
of the present city hall site, and also to
advertise for offers for new site, the
property to be at least 10Ox10O. 1t was
also agreed the advertisement should
contain calls for bids for lot for an
engine house. The committee viii SUBJ
NIT the bids to the council. which will
take up the matter at the next meeting.
The present city hall is tumbled-do
and extensive repairs viii soon be re-
quired if the proposal for new hall is
not carried to successful termination.
1t is figured that the city property at
Commercial and Eleventh streets-the
most valuable corner In Astoria-will
bring enough to buy new site and
leave large balance to go towards the
erection of new building. A frame
structure would cost in the neighbor-
hood of $25. 900, while substantial im-
provement. of stone and brick, would
cost about $4,000.