The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1905-05-03

Iuture could De changed Dy the
next or any other legislature. SEN
ator Avery was opposed to city
ownership Of water works, but he
consented to introduce bill pro-
vided the Portland plan be efollowed
and the committee to build the
plant be named in the bill author
izing sale of bonds. 1t was on this
ground that the members of the
council com mittee of five, consent
ed to the bill in its present form,
well kno owing, that it was the pur-
pose to change the plan of select
ing the commission after the plant
should be constructed. Thus,
there is not now, nor has there
been any act by anybody nor any
plan, purpose or proposition with
reference to the water movement
that prevents the townsmen, neigh
bors and friends of Corvallis from
standing together, from acting to-
gether and for helping each other
to bring to the homes of this town.
pure water for the family, and
plenty of it as defense sgainst fire
and the high-priced exactions of in
surance companies.
Since then, harmonious action
is always the best and since, in the
present instance, united action is
easily possible, why not accomplish
it? Except in the case of those
who have personal and selfish rea-
sons for injunctions and for secret
or open opposition to city owner
ship and new water supply, do
not the great interests at stake I'm
pei all to desire a happy solution of
possible differences? Is it not true
that the knowledge abroad that
pure and best water brought to the
town from the mountains would
prove great attraction to home
seekers, that it would cause them
to buy property and reside in Cor
Wallis, and that such a course by
them would increase the value of
every piece of property in thetown?
Is it not true that if $4,000 in
bonds be issued to build the works
that in great part local people will
buy the bonds and thereby find a
safe investment for their money;
and that large per cent Of the
sum will be spent in and.about Cor
wallis for material and more especial
ly for labor, which will help every
body by giving employment at good
wages?
Since city owned works must
be so conducted that no profit is to
be made Of it, but only the expenses
and interest be annually paid and
the bonds themselves be paid in 43
years, is it not true that properly
conducted publiclyowned water
works will surely place water in the
hands of consumers at lowest rates.
Is it not true that better fire pro.
lection is needed in Corvallis and
that such better protection would
lower insurance rates, just as it did
in Dallas where the reduction was
10 to 80 per cent and resulted in
such saving on insurance pre-
miums that it pays the interest on
bonds issued? Is it not vital, from
a selfish standpoint for the hundreds
Of homeowners in town whose
houses cannot be reached by al
stream of water from a fire hose
that there be better fire protect
ion that will relieve them of the
high prices they now pay for insur-
ance?
Is it not true that nothing would
do so much to draw students to the
college as would the knowledge,
widely scattered over Oregon that
Corvallis had the best water to be
had in the state,-pure mountain |
water from Mary's Peak snow clad |
summit?
Is it not true that the water Cor
wallis people are daily drinking car
ries all the sewage of the upper
Willamette, that it reeks with the
6roir7ona of n oar,1atorxy or,1 f1,ofI