Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1903-07-23
FOR PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.
Hon. J. w. Morrow offers Some
Good Suggestions.

people Of Heppuer, standing amidst the
wreck of ruined homes, and haunted by
the memories of friends and relatives
hurried to untimely graves by sudden
disaster to recover their equilibrium. 1t
must needs cost an effort to turn from
the contemplation OF the devastating
deluge, which cost our people SO much
in life, property and suffering. Yet the
part of wisdom and duty demand res
olute and purposeful facing about and
calm survey of the future for the prom
ise it holds.
US has any compensatlng features, they
should not be neglected. Every new
and valuable advantage purchased at SO
great cost, as We have paid should be
seized upon and made to yield the most
possible for the future safety and well
fare of our people.
That the disaster which has befallen
us has opened the way for number of
needed improvements and reforms, be-
fore practically impossible. is beyond
question. The original builders OF
Heppner encroached upon the creek
with walls, buildings and shade trees,
at what cost we have just seen. Now
while a wide stretch adjacent to Willow
creek is swept bare OF everything, a
strip of land $50 feet wide extending
along the creek ought to be condemned
and he eieafter no Instructions placed up
on it.
Again, Heppner ought to have park.
At present there is no suitable place for
out of door meetings or recreation. A
part of the land swept by the deluge is
eminently suitable for park purposes,
and if set out to trees of rapid growth
such as box elder, balm, etc, would in
few years make a beautiful and pleasant
spot.
Ever since we have had a railroad
our people have been daily impressed
with the inconvenience of having our
depot with the telegraph and express
offices situated mile from the business
portion of the town. This was made
necessary when the road was built by
the impossiblity of securing at rea-
sonable cost right of way to a point
further up town. Now there is nothing
to obstruct the building of a railroad to
the center OF Heppner. Why not give
right of way to the O. r. & n. Co., to
the lot of G. A. Rhea in front of the
court house and ask the company to
build a depot there. 1t would be a
gracious thing to do in view of the re-
cent kindness of the O. r. & n. to the
people of Heppner and might secure q
great and needed convenience Tor our
citizens.
Another improvement which has al
ready been delayed far beyond the point
of prudence and safety is sewerage
system. This is now an urgent need
and the growth and development which
our coal mines and other natural re.
sources, together with the logic of oul
situation as a trade center must bring tC
our town in the near future, will render
proper system of sewerage an una
voidable necessity. This improvement
can be more cheaply and economically
made now than 1t can year from now
or at any other future time.
have every reason to believe tha
most of the land required for the pur
poses mentioned would be donated by
the owners. For myself, | will gladly
give any land | have along the creek fol-
, any OF these purposes. Moreover, j
the citizens of Heppner will take VI
r these matters and see that they are ac
5 complished, | will in addition be will
ing to bear any increased taxation
= which may fall on me, and plat out q
} lots living on the high ground between
The court house and the school hnnsa