Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-05-16
THE OPEN FORUM
X 4 4 y 4 x x a X X x X * X y
Makes Some Observations.

Makes Some Observations.
Ed. Journal:--Having recently re-
turned to Salem from one of the val
ley cities | may be justified in max
ing some comparisons. The town
refer to is not dead by any means.
1t has paved twice as many streets
as Salem has, is putting in a filter
plant and building miles of sewers.
l know as matter of fact that busi-
ness property sells for twice as much
per front foot as it does here. So l
was surprised to hear some talks at
the Business Mems League l was
not surprised to hear Col Hofer
boost for public ownership of water
and decent water at that He said
any private corporation like MIR.
Welch's at Portland would be
tickled to get this water plant at the
price offered the city, spend 100000
an filter plant and extend the
mains to well settled parts of the
city, and then bond the whole thing
for million dollars and sell the
bonds and make the water users pay
enough to float those bonds and
pay the interest each year. This
was applauded by all the business
men present except my old friend
John P. Robertson. He made a
strong talk against the Water Com
pany and was opposed to buying
them out. He sold his farm and
moved into the city twenty years
ago and has recently joined the bust
ness mems league on the strength of
his wife running a boarding house.
He has never given anyone a days
work or contributed a dollar that 1
have ever heard of to any public
enterprise, never made an improve
ment of any kind but draws down a
good stiff pension and cusses the
town. Compared to his pessimism
l was pleased to hear Henry w.
Meyers talk for the water plant. He
employs about forty people at his
store, draws trade to the town and
contributes to about everything that
has any merit, and is building him
self beautiful home. He pays
$1,000 taxes a year and is willing to
pay more to build up the town. He
said he was doubtful about the price
the water company wanted for its
property but he was in favor of the
present proposition and handed a
bunch to Robertson and that class
of knockers who never do anything
but are always ready to cry calamity
l was surprised at E. G. Minton who
always has a different plan from
anyone else, and who is making
more money off public improve,
ments than he ever made in his life
This class are all enriched by the
policies that are forced onto them
/ by men like Col Hofer. My friend
Sam Manning also told of the dole.
full prospects of the city that haC
according to his figures about -four
million dollars of debt staring it il
the face. Things were different
when he was Mayor of McMinnville
l do not know of this city creating
any new bonded debt in the pas
twenty years He figures bonds fol
street improvements but they are
against private property. But its
anything to make a case against the
town and stop progress, and yet SaT
Manning has never made so mucf
money in his life as since he strucl
this town and left the job of being
Mayor of McMinnville or the jot
left him. He has made fifty thous-
and dollars here in a few years an(
yet he is not satisfied. 1t is thil
spirit of ingratitude for blessings re
ceived that makes a man who hai
seen the spirit of progressive meI
rebuked by men who are knee-deeI
in clover sick at heart and doubtful
whether Salem will really go aheat
and be a city,
FIDES CIVITATUS.