The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1903-01-07
THEY TALK ABOUT IT
The Fair Appropriatlon-Some opin-
ions That are Expressed,

posed appropriation OF halt NIL
lion dollars by the state legislature
for the Lewis and Clark fair to be
given in Portland in 1905. The
near approach Of the legislative
session. which convenes at Salem
next Monday, makes the question
live one. Some of the farmers
are said to be against the appropria-
ton. A well known farmer said
in the TIMES Office Saturday that
perhaps majority Of them were
against it. He thought their op-
position was due in large meas
ure to a failure to understand the
benefits to accrue as a result of the
exhibition. He said:
Personally, am heartily in
favor of half million appropria-
tion for the fair. It has been fig
ured out that but 28 per cent of the
appropriation will come out of the
farmers of the state. Under the
new arrangement, Mu1tnomah
county will herself, have to pay
nearly one third of the proposed
appropriation. The state taxes
are no longer paid on total val
uation of the taxable property in
a county, but ou total of the ex-
penditures of a county for current
expenses. Under law passed by
the last legislature, this will con-
itinue to be the case in the future.
By the arrangement, Multnomah
county pays 3I.23 per cent of the
total amonnt of the states expend-
.itures, and accordingly will have
to pay in taxes, nearly one-third
of the proposed half million appro-
priation. Benton county will
have to pay but 2 OF per cent, or
only about one-fftieth of the
amount, making but $500 per
year for two years. By this, it
will be seen that Benton's portion
Us very small. If by the reason of
the appropriation, as is sure to be
the case, considerable immigra-
tion is attracted, an advance in the
price of land is sure to result, and
an-increase of few-eents per acre
on the price of land will more than
pay Benton's portion of the ap-
preparation. The mere settlement
of a score of well.to-do families in
the county, and their purchase of
land and consequent disbursement
of money, will advance the price of
land more than enough to make up
the amount Benton would be taxed /.
for the appropriation. If hundred
come between now and the pro-
posed fair, and I believe many more
than that will settle in Benton dur
ing the time, the benefit to our
people in a direct way, will be
many times more than will be our
portion of the appropriation. It
seems to me that this matter ought
to be discussed in the newspapers,
to the end that all the people may
come to understand the question.
A Corvallis business man talked
on the same subject He said:
.'Bepton county's portion of the
proposed appropriation at half
million, would only be $5, 900
year for two years. Benton county
receives every year from the state
a regular appropriation of $25, 900
or $40. 900 year more than she
pays out. This $4,000 a year is
spent to build up and maintain
the Agricultural College. That
institution is benefit indirectly, |.
but not only to the people of Cor.
wallis. but to every land owner in
the county. I personally know
that when newcomers arrive here
looking for location, that the very
first thing they admire is the Agri-
cultural College, and that they are
at once in many instances, seized
with desire to locate near it so
hey may educate their sons and {
daughters. Some of them locate
within a mile, some within 10 or a
dozen miles of the institution, and l
10 my mind, there is no doubt that !
he result is very great benefit
% every property owner in the coun-
y, in that it centralizes and pop-
11arizes and adds to the value of
Every piece of land in the county. F
This addition of value when the
,wner goes to sell, and all expect
% do SO sooner or later, is benefit
hat is tangible and material. The I
.ost of the appropriation, SO far as G
Benton county people are concern q
d, will be as nothing compared to
he resultant benefits 4
Another farmer spoke on the n
ubject. He said he was opposed
o the appropriation of half mil r
ion. He knew the sum was to :