Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1907-10-18
PAVED STREETS NEXT.

The sentiment in favor OF paving
the principal business streets IN
Dallas steadily grows. The merchants
without exception, want the improve
ment, and it is believed that majority
of the property owners are in favor OF
it. Opinions differ slightly as to now
much paving should be done at first
but all agree that not less than hVe
blocks should be improved as a
beginning. This would include three
blocks on Main street, one on Mill, ana
one on Court 1t is believed that II a
start we're once made on these blocks,
the adjacent property-owners would
not rest content until Main street had
been paved from Academy hill south
to the public school building, and
possibly those portions Of Church and
Washington streets leading down
from the Southern Pacific depot
The city has already purchased a
rock-crusher, and the council is nego-
tiating for the purchase OF 12-ton
steam roller. With these two machines
already owned by the city, and with
plentiful supply Of rock close athand,
q large portion Of the expense of paw
ing would be eliminated, as 1t would
be possible for the city to supply GER
tain necessary labor and material at
actual cost to the property owners,
thus saving the profit q contractor
would be obliged to charge to cover
the purchase of rock and the use Of his
crusher and roller.
The subject Of street paving is one
that is worthy Of the serious consider
alton Of every citizen Of Dallas. The
town has passed the village stage, and
Is destined to become one Of the live
cities of the Willamette Valley, in
fact, it is already so rated, and it has
only begun to grow. Waterworks,
sewerage, electric lights, good public
buildings-all Of the municipal
improvements it has, except paved
streets. Paving is the next improve
ment to be considered, and the city
may as well face the problem now.
1t is true that paved streets are
expensive, looking at the matter only
In the light Of first cost. The cost Of
construction, however, fades into the
background, when one considers the
increased value in property that would
be sure to follow. This increase in
valuation would more than pay the
cost Of the Improvement, and the
property owner would find his paving
paying investment. This has been
the experience of every city that has
paved its streets.
Nothing could be done to advertise
Dallas more right at the present time
than to pave few blocks in the bust
ness district Eugene is just now
carrying on an extensive paving i'm
provement, and Eugene is the most
talked-of town in Oregon. The fame
OF her wide-awake business men and
citizens is being spread by every trav-
cling man, tourist and newspaper ia
the Northwest, and the city is growing
by leaps and bounds as Il result. Some
thing like five blocks were contem-
plated in tho original paving ordi-
nance, but once the work was begun,
the people caught the spirit Of the i'm
provement, aud now 35 blocks are to be
paved.
The OBSERVER hopes that the busi-
ness men of Dallas will start a cam
paign for paved streets, and never
cease until the work is actually under
way. Paved streets for the business
district, and crughed rock streets for
the residence section" should be the
slogan. Dallas led the way in Install
ing a rock crushing plant in Polk
county she led in securing a gravity
water supply and a system Of city sew.
erage 1t is now up to her to lead
every town in Oregon Of like size by
paving her business thoroughfares.
Lane County is now planting cher