Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-05-17
THE CITY
FATHERS
IN SESSION
Ordinances introduced AID
PaSSed---SIOt Machine Res
Oluti0n introduced


ing was dispensed with on motion and
the reports Of the various committees
heard. The report Of the committee on
current expenses on bills against the
city was read and warrants ordered
drawn for the respective amounts. A
petition to improve Oak street at an
expense Of $3.50 was read and after
some discussion the amount was re.
duced to $25 and the request granted.
The committee on streets reported
favorably on the construction Of a cul
vert on Sixteenth street between B and
c streets. The report was adopted.
The committee on fire and water re.
ported that Steiner and Berger had
submitted plans and specifications in
accordance with the order of the coun.
ell in respect to the proposed construc.
tion Of a corrugated iron building with.
in the fire limits and the committee
also reported that Mr.. Policy had with.
drawn his previous objections to the
construction Of the building. In view
Of all this the committee recommended
that tho request Of Steiner & Berger
be granted. This was accordingly
done.
The above mentioned committee also
reported favorably on the necessity for
the building of cement sidewalk on
the west side Of the city hall, leading
to the fire tower. The report was
adopted The request Of the fire chief
that repairs be made on the FIRE en-.
CINE to the amount Of $50 was granted,
The committee on FIRE and water was
instructed to purchase so bushels of
oats at a price not to exceed As cents
per bushel.
Alderman Gesner Of the special COM
mittee on bridges then submitted a
communication from the Taxpayers
league in regard to the proposed re-
pairs to be made on the different
bridges in the city. The report is here
with appended in full;
Salem, Oregon, May 10, 1905.
To the Honorable Mayor and Common
Council Of the City Of Salem,
Gentlemen; On behalf OF the Tax
payers League Of the city Of Salem,
Oregon, am requested TO acknowledge
receipt Of your communication Of the
18th inst, enclosing formal resolutions
Of the council relative to proposed re.
pairs to the bridges Of the city, and
10 communicate to you statement Of
the action taken thereon by said league
at meeting held on Monday the 10Th
inst. and 10 submit a brief statement
of the reasons for such action.
There is evidently a misapprehension
upon the part Of the council as to
the action which has been taken by
the league in submitting in detail the
views in regard 10 the present eondi'
tion Of the bridges Of the city, and the
probable cost Of needed repairs. It's
action was based upon the report Of a
committee Of its members who were Sc
leeted because Of their supposed expe'
rience in the matter Of street and
bridge building. This committee made
a careful examination Of the bridges
in company with one of the best known |
bridge builders in the state. Upon the
completion Of It's examination the com
mittee submitted a detailed report set
ting forth that "After an examination
of the piling bents, stringers and floors
of the various bridges, We find that
they can be placed in safe, servicea'
bic condition at an expense not ex'
eeeding the following sums and total
This is followed by a detailed state
ment indicating that the bridges speei'
fed can be placed in good condition for
the total sum Of $4,000. This report,
which was adopted by the league, and
by II submitted 10 the council, closed
with the following words; "In our
opinion, il the sums we have estimated
are judieially expended upon the
bridges designated, they viii ] be made
good and safe for the next four or five
years"
The report has been construed as a
proposition" upon the part Of the
league TO enter upon the contract for
doing the work proposed, and it has
been invited to at once file bond 10
the sum Of 100000 TO carry out such
contract, and to report the action taken
al a meeting Of the council to be held
this Tuesday evening. The eonstrue
tion put upon the action Of the league
Is unwarranted, and the decision Of the
council to ignore the suggestions Of the
league unless II shall at once bind itself
ia the sum Of t5,OOO.OO to enter into
a contract to build the bridges certain
" has not the appearances Of meeting