The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-12-16
MATTER UP
TO COUNCIL
Must Either Build New City Hall
or Spend Larger Sum on
Present Structure.
OTHER OFFERS ARE LIKELY
Several Persons Anxious to Buy
City Property and Proposals
May Soon Be Pre-
sented.

Members Of the council are of the
opinion that the city hall site is to be
sold. Because of the failure of the me-
gotiations looking to sale Of the prop
erty to M. S. Copeland, the impress
sion has gone abroad that the move
ment for a new public building has
collapsed, but this is pronounced to be
erroneous.
A number of other persons are said
TO he anxious to acquire the property
Offers have been made to various men,
bers of the council but owing to the
progress of legislation looking to the
Copeland sale the councilmen were un-
able to give would-be purchasers any
satisfaction. Now, however, the Cope
land deal is off, and the council is in
position to do business with other in
tending purchasers.
Among those who desire to purchase
the property are several Astorians,
who have formed a company for that
purpose. Those gentlemen will, it is
stated, make definite offer of $3.50
for the property either at the meeting
Of the council next Monday night or
at the meeting two weeks later. That
the proposal will he accepted is re-
garded as certain, for the deal carries
with it, so the story goes, the erection
of a three-story brick building.
The council is up against a pretty
hard proposition Just at present, and
one which must be solved very soon.
Either there will be new city hall or
else the present building will be reno
waited. The structure Is valued at
about $4,000, although it is probably
NOt III Oh ALtiC llC llCCCoostty
repairs will cost $1,000, to say nothing
of the cost of new engine house and
site-estimated at about $25OO. 1t will
thus be seen that, If new city hall is
not built, almost $4,000 will be neces-
sary to renovation of the present build
ing.
1t is this state of affairs that causes
aldermen to scratch their heads and
look worried. 'Ought we spend $4,000
on that old shack. or should we build
new hall for $4,000 or $20,0OO?" they
are asking themselves. The sentiment
is decidedly against the big expendi-
ture on the present structure, and it is
likely that no action looking to reno
walton of the building will be taken.
With the exception of Councilman
Hansen, the members are in favor Of
selling the property. Mr.. Hansen
wants a new city hall, but he Goes not
favor sale of the present site. He be-
lieves the city ought to keep 1t, saying
that its value is increasing every year
and that 20 years hence it may be
worth five times it spresent value. IF
it's good buy for some one, it's good
thing for the city to hold onto, "he says;
and members of the coucil appreciate
the logic of the contention.
But there's no possible chance to get
a new city hall unless The property is
sold The city's finances are in better
shape now than for years past but
every dollar is needed to apply on that
old debt. Therefore, unless a special
tax is levied, there will be no money
for city hall purposes other than that
purposed to be made available by sale
of the site.
AetldlIl IL lS lhdt SoillC ucLlhtS dSblOh
must soon be taken, The greatest need,
perhaps, is for new Jail. The present
Jail is almost ready to collapse. Only
q short time ago man was locked
up in cell for drunkenness and dis
orderly conduct, and during the course
OF few hours he kicked hole in the
floor almost large enough to permit
him to escape. Recently the police ar
rested one Of the worst crooks in the
There were half dozen
standing rewards for him. He vas
wen up in prison life, understanding
its tricks, and in very short time
gained his liberty. 1t will cost large
sum to repair the Jail, and there is
general opposition to such application
of municipal funds,