St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1908-03-27
Council Proceedings.


the improvement of Learned street,
between John and Charleston
streets. This was referred to the
street committee to endeavor to
have the street improved from
John street to Burlington so as to
avoid extra advertising, the adver-
tisement for the whole costing no
more than it would for the single
block.
Petition for the privilege of run
ming knife gambling joint was
referred to the committee on license.
Communication from the Mer-
chants Savings & Trust company
asking for an expression of approv-
al of their bond in behalf of S. V.
Davidor. This brought up the
matter of the gas franchise and
Attorney McAllister in behalf of
his client, Mr.. Davidor, asked
that the council suspend action on
the franchise indefinitely and per-
nit them to go on with their work
of installing their plant; stating
that the plans for the gas plant had
been perfected in satisfactory
manner, that a member of the man
uiacturing firm was at this time in
Portland to sign the contract and
would do so the morning following
this meeting If the council would
give them favorable verdict. Mr..
Capron, the agent of the manufac-
turers, was present with the spec
ifications of the plant and substan-
tiated Mr.. McAllister's statement.
Then the question of the 5000
cash bond was discussed and Mr..
McAllis,er declared that as the
other bond had been accepted and
the franchise granted thereon the
cash bond could not be demanded
by the city. This placed Brother
Jobes in the position of the boy
who opened the cage and allowed
the bird to escape. When Davidor
offered $500 recently, promising
to finish the 5000 bond, Mr.. Jobes
insisted with all his power that ii
the full 5000 could not be put up
that the council should accept none,
and despite the fact that half loaf
was better than none. he carried
his point with the council and the
$500 were turned down and the
city is just that much the loser.
After a full discussion II was de-
cided by the council that action
should be suspended indefinitely.
The contract for the plant as
signed Wednesday morning by a
representative of the Western Gas
Construction Co. OF New York,
aud the provisions Of the contract
are that the delivery Of the machin.
cry will be commenced within 90
days and all will be on the ground
within 90 days from the date Of the
signing Of the contract. II was
developed in the discussion that
Mr., Davidor had paid $500 on
lots for location for the plant aud
that the party now refused to make
conveyance, and that there was
now in progress a suit TO force him
TO do so. This makes il look as IL
we were going to get the gas plant
this summer after all.
A communication was read from
III. T.. Harris OF the Harris Bros.
Ice Machine Co. asking the city TO
r;linquish their rights TO the street
running through the property re-
Gently purchased by his company
from Mrs. caples. The matter
was referred to the city attorney
for investigation.
The most important measure that
has been brought to pass during
their entire term of office, in our
estimation was successfully accom-
plished at this time. viz. the clos
ing of a deal whereby the city of
ST. Johns acquires possession of
supply OF rock sufficient to cover
every foot OF all the streets Of the
city, and is the nearest available
rock to the city. IL is located
about 200 feet from the ferry land
ing on the west side OF the river in
the canyon and gives a down hill
pull to the ferry landing, This
property was purchased from the
West ST. Johns Land company for
81 aoo-S2oo cash. S2oo in 90 days
and the balance i'll warrants payable |
one and two years distant. This |
puts the city on easy street SO far
as crushed rock is concerned, and
we believe there is enough rock |
there to enable the city TO sell
enough to clear the entire purchase
aud leave enough for the city to
use for hundred years.
The matter OF lowering the
water pipes as the streets are i'm
proved came up at this time and it
was decided that the contractors in
bidding sholld include the lower
ing OF the pipes when they had
been placed according to franchise
by the water company and when
they were not placed deep enough
by the company that the water COM
pany should be the one to lower
the pipes at their own expense.
The attorney was directed to draw
up an ordinance to this effect.
The attorney was instructed to
draw up an ordinance creating the
office OF plumbing inspector and