Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1908-05-05
NEW COUNCIL GETS BUSY
Plans Extension of Sewer System t
Cover Practically All
of City.

Dallas new council is business
like body. This fact was demonstrated
within two minutes after Mayor Mui
had finished reading his annual mes
sage last night, The Mayor had lait
much stress on the importance o
extending the sewer system SO as t'
include practically the entire residence
district Of the city, and he had scarcely
taken his seat before Councilmar
M. M. Ellis was on his feet and offer
ing motion that the City Engineer
be instructed to begin the survey a
once and that plans for the complete
system be prepared at the earlies
possible date. The motion was
adopted without a dissenting vote
In this brief and business-like
manner, one Of the most important
improvements ever undertaken by the
city Of Dallas was gotten under way
and to Councilman Ellis, who had
been In office scarcely Is minutes
belongs the credit for the prompt
action. To the large audience Of bust
ness men and citizens present, II
seemed like getting back to the good,
old days, when city councils were
always busy making Dallas better
town and taxpayers were given
important and permanent improve
ments in return for their money.
The new sewer district will include
practically all of that portion Of town
North Of Mill street and all Of the
area South of Court street to a line
midway between Clay and Maple
streets. Nopurchase of rights-o of-way
through private property will be neces-
sary, as connection can be made with
the present city sewer at the foot Of
Mill street by digging less than three
blocks of deep sewer on that street,
thus providing an outlet for the
sewage OF the entire northern portion
Of the city at a nominal expense to
each individual property-owner.
The usual monthly bills we're ordered
paid, and much other business Of a
routine nature was transacted. A
committee consisting Of Councilmen
Ellis, Cosper and Coad was appointed
to take up the matter of the appoint
ment Of a nightwatchman, and after
comforting with the business men, to
report at the next meeting.
Standing committees for the coming
year were announced as follows:
Finance-Cosper, Myer, Ellis.
Streets-Coad, Stafrin, Myer.
Ordinance-Shaw, Cosper, Ellis.
Health and Police-Stafrln. Coad
Uglow.
Fire and Water-Uglow. Shaw, Ellis.
Mayor Muir's annual message was
brief, being devoted almost entirely to
the subjects Of street improvement
and an extension of the sewer system.
The text Of the message follows:
MAYORS MESSAGE
Gentlemen of the Council:
In pursuance Of that section Of the
City Charter which makes it the duty
Of the Mayor to submit a message to
the council at the first meeting In the
month OF May Of each year, I desire
at this time to call your attention to
few matters which consider of first
importance to our city.
In my annual message one year
ago, I urged upon the Council the
importance Of purchasing a rock
crusher, steam road roller, and other
street making machinery necessary
in the improvement OF Dallas thor
oughfares, which have long been
inadequate to the constantly increas-
ing traffic Of the city. The prompt
action Of the council in needing the
demands Of the taxpayers, as set forth
in that message, is highly gratifying
to your presiding officer, and 1 am
sure that your work is indorsed by
every progressive citizen Of the town.
Having first obtained a suitable
rock quarry, at a very reasonable cost,
large crusher and steam roller-both
first-class machines Of their kind
were purchased, and are now ready
for operation. An ordinance, recently
passed, provides for the grading and
macadamizing Of nine blocks in the
business portion of the city. together
with the improvement OF the inter-
sections Of the streets. That this order
meets the approval Of the property
owners is demonstrated by the fact
that not a single objection was urged
against 1t by any Of the persons
interested.
Iwould recommend that this work
be proceeded with as rapidly as the
weather will permit, TO the end that
further Improvement may be made
before the rains begin next Fall 1
would further recommend that as soon
as the improvement Of these business
streets is we'll under way, an ordinance
be introduced covering such portions
Of the residence district as you may
see it to improve during the coming
summer.
As the work OF building rock streets
is new to all Of US. would urge that
every officer OF the city give 1t all Of
the study and personal attention
possible. 10 order that the very best