Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-06-06
Street Paving.

ing. The cost of paving is, ap-
proximately speaking, very little
more than the laying Of cement walks,
yet, the non-progressive policy has
never paved street nor done anything
Of permanent nature for the public
streets Of Salem. A reasonable esti-
mate places the total expenditure for
street work on Commercial, state and
Court streets-covering the past 30
years-at $150,000 Divide. this $780, |
900 into yearly expenditures and it
means about $4,000 a year for 80 years
on her streets, and today the streets
are not paved. Once more, divide this |
yearly expenditure of $4,000 among the
property owners and we find that over
seventy-fve principal owners have
been paying about $65 year each.
All owners have been paying approx
mately this assessment in the way of
city taxes for every year they have
owned property, dating ownership and
possession any time back for 80 years.
The pioneer property owners have been
paying many years this heavy expense.
The newcomers are also paying IL, and
will be compelled to pay IL for years
to come-unless progressive spirit
showers its infinite blessings over the
administrative powers Of our fair city.
If our street work Of the past had
been what IL should have been, or, in
other words, Of any account, the expen'
diture should have diminished every
year. The portions improved would
not need further improvement, and af-
ter lapse Of 30 years the streets Of the
whole city could have been properly
paved for the same expenditure which
has left the streets in their present
condition. All this is due to the policy
Of saving present penny and paying
out future dollar. That streets
treated to improvement for 80 years
should still require the same amount
Of expense for yearly maintenance,
shows without argument that some
poor judgment has been exercised and
the principle Of true economy buried
by factors whose eyesight dimmed af-
ter reaching the end of their nose.
II the people OF Salem today were
asked to spend $l5O,OOO for any kind
Of street improvement and for the out
lay got our present condition of streets,
the howl would be as justifable as it
would be loud, and the kick a right
eous one Of indignation. An amount
like $15O,OOO spent on any kind of
legitimate pavement would have given
us better streets than we now have.
Where is the economy Of going on, year
after year, wasting our good money in
so-ealled Improvement, which is no i'm
provement at all, and 80 years. expe-
rience tells us soi Had the improve
ments been truly economical, the taxa
tion for this department Of our city
government would have gradually de-
creased every year. The policy is ex-
actly like the foolish man who con-
traeted to dig ditch and as fast as he
threw out the dirt, he employed others
TO throw II in. SO, for 80 years, we
have hired men to haul on gravel in the
summer and haul Off mud in the win
ter. These very streets we daily gaze
on with tears in our eyes are streets
which have had $l5O,OOO spent on
them. What do you think Of thatf
Wouldn't IL make your heart ache to
think Of so much economical foolish
nessi And, further, if you dare spring
movement TO pave, then "listen to
the band" who still want the old style
management of patch, repair, haul on
aud then haul off.
Some of the anonymous communi'
cants TO our papers have been pretty
free with their mud slinging-the mud
being easy 20 scoop up on our principal
streets and free after dark-and some
Of them have been taking snapshot
judgment at the city council and its
eommendable efforts TO benefit the city
in every way possible. Without fear
Of contradiction it can be safely said
that with every move yet made by
the present administration towards
public work, there have arisen these
angels OF spleen and venom to spit
upon the effort aud east slurs upon the
good intentions of our city council.
The writer, for one, is tired Of the pal
pable and lily concealed jealousy, or, if
not that, the spirit Of wanting to hin
der everything the council tried to do,
through means and ways not altogether
honorable. 1t might be well for these
disturbers to stop long enough to make
a eo,o,narison ~ nolieias Tat than, in