Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1906-03-23
AN IMPORTANT QUESTION


The city council, at its meeting
Monday night, decided to ask the
voters for authority to borrow $4,000
to be used in purchasing a rock
crusher and road roller for the city
The question is to be voted on at the
approaching municipal election. The
movement was sprungon short notice,
and two of the councilmen were absent,
not having been informed that such a
proposition was being considered.
1t VIII be remembered that former
council submitted rock -crusher prop
osition to the voters one year ago
and that the improvement was voted
down at that time The old council,
like the present board, saw the utter
hopelessness Of trying to improve the
streets with gravel, and so, asked the
people to indorse the purchase of a
crusher and roller. The proposition
made at that time, however, was
different from the present proposition,
In that it was definite and certain in
all particulars.
The old board first obtained figures
on a good secondhand crusher, and
then began a careful investigation Of
the methods Of road building and the
cost of crushed rock, and also OBJ
tained definite figures as to cost Of
operation, freight, teaming, etc The
result OF this investigation disclosed
the fact that the basaltic rock 10 the
mountains above Falls City could be
crushed, hauled to Dallas by rail, and
delivered on the streets for 95 cents
per cubic yard
The board decided that the project
was entirely feasible and desirable,
for the reason that they could lay
down the rock in Dallas for 95 cents a
yard, whereas the usual cost is from
$1.25 to $1.50 yard, and could install
the crusher and a suitable roller for
$500. 1t was not necessary to issue
any bonds for the sum of $500,
with the improvement without sub
mitting it to vote of the people, but
the question was placed before the
voters simply to learn their desires in
the matter, just as the water works
proposition had been referred to the
people a few months before. When
the election was held, the movement
for crusher was defeated.
AS to the latest proposition for the
town to assume an indebtedness Of
$4,000, the OBSERVER has little to say
further than to urge the taxpayers to
consider the matter carefully before
making a decision one way or the
other Three thousand dollars is a
much larger sum than $500. and the
matter of mourning this heavy in
debtedness will bear the closest
investigation and most earnest con-
sideration.
The OBSERVER hesitates to speak on
the subject, as it has ever stood for
the upbuilding of Dallas and desires
to promote in every right way the
future growth and improvement of |
the town. That the streets need i'm
provement all will admit; and the
present council has discovered what
all former boards have found, namely, |
that permanent improvement cannot
be made with LaCreole gravel. But |
whether the town should load itself up
with $4,000 Indebtedness just at this
time is a serious question. If it |
wasn't good business to spend $500 a
year ago, would it be wise to spend |
$4,000 for the same purpose now?
The OBSERVER believes it would be
we'll to wait little while before spend
ing the $SOOO 1t is possible that de-
velopments in the near future will
make us mighty glad we waited.