The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-08-11
Property Owners Encourage I'm
proyement ofThoroushiares.
MANY PETITIONS ARE FILED
Growth Of City and Erection Of Many
New Residences Demands Better
Streets -- Various Property-owners
Signify Willingness to Better Streets.

INC IhPH CROWN VI Ahtoih oniHk
the past year; the building Of large
number OF new residences, and the in
crease in the population, has necessi-
tated demand for the opening Of new
streets, as. owing 10 the scarcity OF
houses in the city, many people are
anxious 10 build. There are two streets
which the property.owners have peti.
toned the Common council TO be opened
or improved One is Irving avenue, from
Seventeenth to Twenty.sixth street, ly-
ing on the hill south Of the city.
There are several new and handsome
residences on this street now, and sey.
eral other property are anxious
to build, When the Common council
made It's estimates for the expenses OF
the city last January they did not take
into consideration the rapid growth OF
the city, and consequently could make
no provisions for II. The loss OF reye.
nues TO the city, aggregating over sl2,-
900. was not taken into consideration,
and the result is that with the build
ing Of the new City Hall, the city finds
itself nearly up TO its limit Of indebted.
ncsa. Most OF the members Of the
council are anxious 10 open Irving ave
uuc and Seventh and Eighth streets
from Harrison To ioungs bay, the only
question being the necessary funds TO
pay for them.
The streets running 10 Youngs bay
are Travelled by large number Of farm
ers coming in from contiguous country,
and especially those engaged in the dairy
and milk business. There Is no ques.
ton but the improvement Of all the
thornughfares are badly needed, and II
il only a question OF finances that may
deter the building Of the streets. There
i. another matter that has to be taken
into consideration, aud that is, when
Seventh and Eighth streets were i'm.
proved seven years ago, the improvement
was petitioned for by large majority
Of the property owners, but when the
Improvement was completed, instead OF
paying their assessments, some OF the
property.owners enjoined the city from
collecting the assessments. and there is
still due the city over Sl,700 on those
two streets, together with seven years
interest.
Most Of the property. owners have sig.
nihed their Willingness TO pay for the
improvement, and would no doubt do so,
hut they demand more expensive i'm
provcment than the assessed valuation
of the property Will justify The
Common council are willing to make an
improvement TO meet all present re.
quirements, and for which the assess.
ment could be collected from the prop
erty. and make more permanent i'm
provement next year, when the city is
in a better financial condition, but the
property owners will not listen to this.
0ne thing is certain, the city cannot
appropriate money out of the general
fund TO pay half or third of the cost
of the improvement asked for, which
II would be compelled to do il il were
made,
As to Irving avenue, IL is recognized
fact that considerable portion of the
property would not stand the cost of
the improvement, and the city would
have 10 pay che excess. The estimated
cost of the improvement is about $50.
900. When the contract is let, the city
assumes the liability to pay the con-
tractors, whether they collect from the
property or not, and this can.
not be done in the present financial con.
dition of the city. There is another
matter to be taken into consideration.
Owing to the loss Of revenues, the city
will be compelled to levy 20.mill tax
next year to make up deficiencies in
several departments of the city govern
meut.
The bulk of the taxes will have to be
borne by property in the bust
ness districts, as those on Irving ave
nue. pay comparatively small portion
of the taxes. If any way can be de.
vised to improve the street without in
to the city, no one will OBJ
ieet. Every one wants to see streets and
avenues opened, because it means the
building Of new residences, and there is
no doubt they viii be opened as soon as
the city is in a position to do so.
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