Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1905-05-26

a large river, where many dead
bodies might putrity without SO
much as one microbe reaching
the water intake.
The smaller supply from sever
al springs, sealed up, and lead to
one main pire line, would insure
both purity and gravity. Taking
other, older college towns for ex-
ample, l do not foresee for Cor
Wallis a population beyond the
capacity of these springs, for
many years.
This letter is written without
the knowledge or connivance of
the water company, DR.. Farra or
anyone else, and is the result of
my own personal observations,
and expresses my own views as
citizen interested in the welfare
of my native town.
I notice number of open
charges and covert insinuations
in papers circulating in Corvallis
to the effect that private opinions.
thus and SO, have been expressed,
and that the makeup of the
water bill is open to criticism and
graft this, and graft that might
occur, and the mischief be to pay
lgenerally.
I do not believe, nor do I think
that any other right minded
citizen believes, that this water
commission bill was conceived or
promulgated with any other
design than to solve, if possible,
a situation which had become
accute in some ways, and to
enable the city, if its inhabitants
SO desire, to carry out their own
| wishes in the matter of obtaining
a water supply. The manner of
suggesting the names of the com
f missioners, I can approve (being
a presbyterian where our presby,
tiers relieve the 1aitv of much
vexations duty) and small refec-
ton, indeed, is necessary to per-
ceive the chaotic state of affairs
. it the persons drawing such a bill
5 should call for volunteer COM
t missioners. Then you might
get graft in earnest, mot that
there are any such known TO live
r in this town). I do not believe
!, there is citizen in this town
t who would distinguish himself
f that way, even in the dark, and
e certainly there is no such named
on the water commission. We
y must remember, sir, that con-
i versations, however animated,
t touching the possibility of i'm
/ proper conduct, are not to be
d taken as imputing such conduct
e to any one. 1t would be happy
S condition could a law be framed
/ which would exactly suit every
S one.
:. The perpetuity features of the
IS water commission bill, appear to
IS me to be only an excess oi
e caution; a desire to insure con.
e servative business methods and
Y management in this public mat.
l. ter. 1t might have forwarded
+ the movement to have had some
IS public discussion on that poiut,
J. but it must be remembered tina,
this bill was drawn within a very
J. limited time; its trainers and ad
leI visers had no time to call fo
m public expressions; and it is alst
le to be remembered that com
b. munity foresight has not ye
re proved to be as good as its back
t, sight. And with my own per
S: sonal views on the net results O
N this mountain water movement
m the state of wrapt alteration G
n. the mountain water fetish whicl
at seems to have possessed the mind
ch Of many excellent and worth
sh citizens, is a demonstration
ofI my vulgar mind that communit
OF foresight in this matter is obscu1
he ed by other than reasonable cor
is siderations.
an To assure my readers that TIL
for is purely personal statemen
to and not in any way to be attril
Is, uted to the water company, {
oe- DR.. Farra, its principal owner,
en will say that I have severed a
is; professional relations with bot
in he and the company.
ia j.. H. WILSON.