Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1908-11-19
ABERDEEN .H0QUIAM
IS Consolidation TO The best
INTEREST," OF BOTH?
Discussion Continues with Unabaf ted
Interest. A Joint Committee from
the CITY Councils and Chambers
of Commerce Suggested to Thor.
Oughly Probe the Subject.

Aberdeen is lined up in favor of
consolidation of the Twin Cities of
the Harbor.
Hoquiam is at present apparently
against consolidation.
Aberdeen says it would be a good
thing, while Hoquiam says it would
not. Aberdeen contents itself with
d declaration in favor of the merger.
while Hoquiam specifies the reasons
why it should not come about.
But the people of both cities are
all talking of consolidation and the
issue is indeed live ne."-Ho-
quiam Washingtonian.
There is no doubt of the question
being alive, and it's discussion at
this time can do no possible harm,
whether the merger be effected next
year or in ten years. In fact a dis
cussion of the matter by Joint
committee of each city council and
chamber of commerce might be pro-
ductive of much good. An expression
of opinions of representative men
would be very apt to bring out all
the Objectionable as we'll as favorable
features, and it is matter that
all possible light should be thrown
upon before reaching decision.
The Washingtonian is either at
fault in saying Hoquiam specifies
reasons for opposing the merger, or
the Herald has not seen them, while
a number of reasons favoring the
plan have been published. Unless,
indeed, the expression of prominent
citizen quoted by the Washingtonian
be considered Specific reasons"
The p. c. begins by the declara-
tions that Mayor Frary's opinions
expressed his sentiments, and that
the proposal is i'll timed. The Her.
aid would like to know. why i'll
timed? Continuing, p. C. proceeds
to fire off questions that he is prob
ably as we'll qualified to answer as
anbody else. We shall try to an
swer the queries, and PROFOUND them
back:
Are commercial conditions ripe
for the mer rger?" They look so to
us. If you do not think so, kindly
explain the unripe ones.
"Do the people desire it?" That
is what we are trying to find out.
"Would it be a good thing?" We
have not the slightest doubt of it,
if the new city be wisely governed.
would the council representing
the greater city show as much inter-
est in the welfare of the city as is
shown by the two councils at pres
ent, and would improvements go on
with equal zest?" We confess a
total inability to discover a reason
why they should not. The city coun-
Gil would be chosen by the people
just as they are now, and, working
from common head for a common
purpose, surely 1t is not extravagant
to expect much better results.
It is extremely probable that the
coming legislature will enact new
laws for the government Of cities, at
ter the commission plan, such as is
now being quite generally agitated
throughout the state, and, II SO, the
! Aberdeen Hoquiam consolidation
should be fully discussed, and II
possible, decided upon before the
legislative action, so that the needs
of the new city could be Incorporate
ed in the law.
The chief benefits the Herald can
see in the merger are, that as a city
of the first class our credit would
have a higher rating, matter Of
no small Importance when the enor'
nous cost of building commercial
city in the wilderness Is considered
where large Indebtedness is newt.
able. And, that neither city is
large enough nor strong enough te
provide separately for commerce
that is destined to come to Grays
Harbor, and the separation Of Alb
erdeen and Hoquiam by petty jealous
les creates a condition that might
cause the starting of another com
mercial center on the harbor. Thi!
last idea is not to be derided. The
ground covered by the twin cities
is by no means all the available site'
on Grays Harbor, and strong com
pany-a railroad company. for In