Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1905-03-17
MUCH DISCUSSION.
At Regular Meeting of the Coun=
Gil, Monday Night, Something
New Came Up.

The city council convened in
regular monthly session last Mon
day evening. During the course
of the session it was proposed
that the city take up the matter
of surveying and estimating the
probable cost of constructing a
water route from Corvallis to,
Rock Creek.
This provoked great discussion
for and against the proposition.
Mayor Irvine was perhaps the
most ardent supporter of the
movement. 1t is stated that ne
championed the proposed action
and said the survey and estimates
were necessary in order that when
the matter of bonding the city
for $500 to construct city wa
ter works came up at the next
municipal election our people
could vote intelligently.
AS isweH known, atthelast ses-
sion of the legislature bill was
passed granting to Corvallis the
power to issue and sell bonds not
10 eA.e,d $4,000 for the pur-
pose of constructing water works.
A water commission was named
in the bill and, as we are inform
ed, this commission perpetuates
itself by vote within its own
body on the retirement of any
member. The members of the
commission are in the saddle for
life if they continue to pay taxes
on $I,oo and do not reside out
side of the city, nor live beyond
the age of "a years, according to
report. This commission is to
select from among themselves a
committee to construct the sys-
tenn, provided the city elects to
build public works. This ex-
planation is necessary for an un-
derstanding of the discussion in
the council Monday evening.
Councilman Emery said that it
was unnecessary to go to the ex-
pense of several hundred dollars
in having survey made at this
time, and by the city, in view OF
the fact that she has already got
enough debts to her credit. He
argued that provided the city votes
for bond issue of VS., 900 to1
the construction of these works
that whoever contracts to con.
struct them will do so on thei1
own survey and will not accept
an estimate from any other source,
even the commission might moi
see fit to accept the survey apd
estimate after it was made, pro
yided the bond issue carried.
He stated that two experts hat
already been over the prososee
route and made estimates, one be
ing accepted as the basis on which
the present water company hat
submitted proposition to tn
city. He thought this ought t
be sufficient for the eniighten
ment of the average voter in cast
ing his ballot.
Mr.. Emery further stated tha
$4,000 is the limit of the amour
the city is authorized to bond fol
and that this sum is to pay for a
these preliminaries; that whe
the people vote for a bond issu
n the sum above mentione
the commission will take tn
matter in hand and see that it
attended; and that the people,
supporting this bond issue, sign
fly their willingness to pay ft
/, a $75, 900 water plant. A SUI
vey and estimate could then I
made and if it is found that
cannot be constructed within II
= bond limit, then it could be drol
ped. On the other hand, tt
councIlmen declare that the PEE
pie might vote the bond issr
down. In that event, if the e,
pense of survey and estima
was at present incurred, the cit
would be out of pocket just e,
actly the cost of SO doing.
Those who were in favor
employing some party to NAL
the survey and estimate SCENE
quite certain that the city wou
vote for a bond issue, and STATE
that in the event of the issue ca
rying, the water commissie
could reimburse the city in Il
essrsr fhe rifxy vyas nfff. IN cffrvl