The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-08-08
SEA WALL WOULD
COST SSOO,OOO
OF THIS SUM MUNICIPALITY
WOULD PAY Sso0,00o AND IN
TERESTED PROPERTY OWN
ERS ALL THE REMAINDER

matter OF the seawall. though prob
ably minor questions will yet be dis
eussed. The committee has spen
many hours in going over the sea
wall matter and has threshed out cy
cry detail, so that each member oi tn,
committee has become quite familiar
with the subject matter, Other ques
tionS will also be taken up prepara
tory to framing them into amend
ments to place before the people Al
an election next December.
/ The seawall amendment to the
charter was prepared for the common
council committee by Attorney A. NJ.
Smith, who is to be paid for his serv-
ices out OF an appropriation OF $3.50
already made by the council for that
purpose.
The amendment as prepared by Mr..
Smith is a lengthy document, fully
covering the matter, Following are
given some OF its salient features:
First, the bulk-head, or retaining
wall, is to be paid for out OF general
taxation OF the whole city,
Secondly, the filing in Of lands be-
hind the retaining wall is to be done
at the cost OF property owners who
are directly benefited; and the taxa
tion districts for this purpose shall in
no case extend beyond high water
mark. That means that only the
property owners Immediately benefit
ted are to pay for the filing in OF
their own property, although for the
construction OF the retaining walk
which is considered benefit to the
whole city, all property owners within
the municipality must bear their share
OF its cost.
Bonds in the sum of 100000 are to
be issued for the building OF the re-
tanning wall
Bonds in the sum OF S500,000 addi-
tional are to be issued for the pur-
pose of filling in the tide lands that
is, the municipality will meet the first
cost Of filing in the private property,
and will give the individual owners
period Of ten years to pay for their
assessments, paying so much each
year If property owner desires to
pay for the work at once out OF his
own pocket he may do so, but it is
presumed that all would elect to have
the city meet the payment in the first
by means of the bonds issued
for that purpose, and then the prop
erty owners would make their annual
to the city; thus leaving the |
final payment, Of course, upon the
owners of the flled-in lands.
The bonds, in both instances, are
to run for a period Of 40 years, It is
presumed that the municipality will
nave little difficulty in negotiating
such bonds, though, of course, it is
not always an easy matter to float
bonds unless on terms quite
to investors.
In short, the amendment calculates,
Is it now stands that the cost Of build
ng the seawall and filling in the tide ),
ands will be about 100000, Of which
he municipality is to pay merely the
the $500,000 ultimately must
,e paid by the land owners directly
The city, meanwhile, is
,eholden for the sum issued in bonds
md has for its security liens against
he lands benefited.
Upon the whole the amendment is
considered most excellent one by
hose who favor such measure.
The amendment provides for the
Of commission Of nine
who shall now be named in
he amendment, to hold Office until
ol5, when new officers shall be elect
d by the people. Provision is also
made for secretary, attorney, etc, to
,e paid salaries. The length Of the
etaining wall and other like details /
would be left to the members Of the
five of whom shall con- .
titute majority. II
As far as can be learned any elector
nay vote on this proposed amend
nent, and the charter amendment it.
elf makes no provision for any re-
friction upon the electorate as TO
qualifications or otherwise.
The charter amendment committee
t the city council consists Of the fol-
owing: Councilmen Logan, Kaboth,
Jansen, Leinenweber, and Robinson.
heir action has no real authority,
ther than that Of any body Of men
nd others may submit such an