Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1910-12-27
PROUD OF PAVED STREETS
Merchants OF Woodburn Report Enor-
nous Increase of Business.

One year ago the city of Woodburr
cided to pave the streets in its business
district. As is always the case in thu
smaller cities, the improvement was no
begun without certain amount of mis-
giving among the taxpayers, the feal
being expressed that the expense
might prove burdensome. The pro
gressive spirit prevailed however. ant
the streets We're improved with hart
pavement. Now, like all other paved
street cities, Woodburn is preparing t.
extend the work in every direction tt
meet the requests of property-owner'
in the residence district. 1t has beer
found that paved streets have doubled
the trade of the merchants, stimulated
building operations, enhanced proper.
ty values, and proved an invaluable ad.
vertisement for the lively little French
Prairie city. The Observer is pleased
to reprint an editorial on the subject
from the Woodburn Independent, will
the hope that every property-owner ir
Dallas will read it from beginning tC
end:
"Old residents go about the city
now days with a new expression or
their countenances A satisfied
pleased light beams forth from where
in seasons past, came unpleasant
grimaces caused by the villainou'
condition of our streets. Farmers
brought their produce to market here
and found the highways within this
corporation so rough and muddy that
they either got hub deep in the mire
or broke most of their eggs before
getting to the desired place for trading
them off.
1T is vastly different now. Oul
farmer friends bring their produce tc
Woodburn in large loads, sit high or
their wagon seats without fear oil
trembling, look into the store windows
as their teams easily haul the heavy
loads, all because of the changed con-
dition of our streets. The trade of this
city, it can safely be stated without
fear OF contradiction, has doubled since
the improvement of the streets.
"Our business men and property
owners, realizing that the streets had
10 Ue lIupIONCN, oitS tAiSi Wiiiih6
ness to pay for the best hard surface
pavement that could be procured
After lengthy investigation on the part
of the common council, bitulithic pave
ment was adopted and contracts were
let for the paving of more than a mile
of streets. Some of our doubling citi-
zens cried, Bankruptcy and predicted
that calamity would result, but as soon
as the work was well under way that
spirit entirely died out and, upon COM
pletion, the property owners were SC
we'll pleased with the fine showing and
the apparent durability of the paving
that only about one-seventh of the
entire cost was converted into bonds
the balance being paid in cash.
THE bitulithic pavement already
completed, with perfect drainage, is
giving such general satisfaction that
not one of our citizens would go back
to the old era of mud for double the
cost of paving, and residents along
several other streets are talking seri-
ously of petitioning the common coun-
Gil to continue the work as soon as
spring opens. The Warren Construc-
tion Company has taken contracts to
pave SeNeTdi DlOChS III tuS opihi5 ofu
more is bound to follow.
"The paving of our thoroughfares
has brought farmers to this city who
for years went elsewhere to trade
1t has led to the construction of many
residence buildings, brick blocks, a
$22, 900 Masonic Temple and an opera
house; greatly enhancing the value Of
properties on paved streets, and Great
ing therefore a much livelier de-
mand. The paving also has done more
to advertise Woodburn than any Other
medium, and we have made advance
ment along lines that no good citizen
should attempt to discourage.
1--WE must urge the paving OF more
streets and. above all, pave with tht
most desirable, best appearing paving
material that can be obtained"