The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-11-12
CONSIDERS
PROPOSALS
Council Committee Formally Re.
celves and Discusses Offers
for New Hall Site.
FINAL ACTION IS DEFERRED
Locations TO BE Examined Be-
fore Report IL Formulat.
cd tor Presentation
to Council.

Mayor Suprenant. City Attorney
Smith and couneIlmen Burns, Leinen-
weber Nordstrom and Wright were
present at last nights meeting Of the
special committee named for the pur-
pose OF considering the proposals for
purchase Of the present city hall and
site and sale Of n new site. Several
property owners were also in attend
ance. After Auditor Anderson had
read all the offers made to the council.
the committee took recess and con-
sidered the various propositions. Up
on being called together again, the
committee decided upon adjournment
until next Wednesday night. On Sun
day afternoon at the committee VIII
meet and visit the various locations
offered.
OF the offers presented that Of Mrs.
D. X. Warren IL regarded by members
of the committee as the best. Mrs.
Warren offers 10 sell about half the
block directly south OF Fishers for
$1,000. The property faces on three
streets and is almost twice as large az
other tracts offered. Mayor Suprenant
says II could be filled at a reasonable
cost and that II would afford ample
room for city hall. city jail and engine
house. The property offered by r. A.
Taylor. at Duane, Exchange and Fiji
tcenth streets. Is also regarded as a
very fine site for a city hall, but Mr..
Taylors price is believed by members
Of the committee TO be little too high.
This view Is not shared by some prop
erty owners. however, one OF whom
stated last night that he would not sell
a single lot IN the same locality for the
price asked by Mr.. Taylor for two lots
While the Alder property at Fifteenth
and Exchange streets Is regarded as
the most slightly tract offered. objection
Is waged against II because location
so far removed from the business
streets Of the city would necessitate
maintenance OF patrol wagon, at an
additional cost OF about $4,000. Econ
omy Is the watchword OF the present
council, and any plan looking TO an In
crease Of the city's running expenses
is generally opposed.
city Attorney Smith stated that he
had received ovortu;es OF another
phase. A business man had assured
him that he would pay $500 yearly
rental for the property now owned by
the city. but Mfr. Smith believes a
much greater sum could easily be real
ICED II the city were TO make a depart
ure OF this kind. Mayor Suprenant
says he will oppose the expenditure OF
any sum IN excess Of that required to
repair the present hall. He states that
the building must be repaired immed-
lately, and that vault and new Jail
must be put In. This work will cost
fully $1,000, and the city has on hand
sufficient balance TO carry out the
work, II the present site and building
can be sold for $4,000, as has been
offered (si5.125 for the property and
$4,000 for the building) total OF s24,-
ono would be available for city hall pur-
poses, The mayor is willing to pay out
about $4,000 for a new site and the bal
ance for the new building, While he
would oppose a special levy, the coun-
ell might decide to make one. II there
was a prevailing sentiment for bet
ter building.
The impression has prevailed that
the council will never build a new city
hail. but II Is evident that the NUM-
cipal guardians intend getting the inn
provement under way very soon. They
are strongly opposed to renovation of
the present tumbled-down shack, and
are quite as anxious to provide vault
sor the city's valuable documents.
which at this time are not safe from
fire.