Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1911-02-28
ASK MAYOR TO sign
BUSINESS MEN OF SALEM PRE-
PARE STRONG PETITION.
Attorney For Salem, Dallas, & Falls
City Road Says Electricity Can
not Be Used.

will Mayor Lachmund veto tn
franchise of the Salem, Falls City {
Western railroad?" is the question
that is being asked these days when
ever bunch of men get together. l
is heard every place-in the ciga
stores, in business houses, in offices
says the Salem Statesman.
The mayor is not in town, ant
whether or not he has changed hi
mind about the matter is a mooteC
question. He is quoted by severa
people to the effect that he would vett
the franchise, while others assert will
equal conviction that the mayor viii
sign it.
Showing the sentiment of the bust
ness men of Salem, is the fact that 6
petition, asking the mayor not to veto
the franchise, which was circulated by
a representative of the Business Mems
league, was signed by about a hundred
of the leading business and profes-
sional men of the city in less than two
hours.
Cannot EIcctrify Road.
When asked as to what position the
Salem, Falls City & Western would
take in the matter, Charles l.. McNary,
attorney for the road, said:
1T is impractical to electrify this
road for many reasons. One of the
main reasons is that this road is pri-
mo At.i1N hull
freight, such as logs. 1t taps rich
timber in the mountains, where heavy
grades are encountered. Electricity is
all right as a motive power for pas
senger traffic, such as is the principal
business of a road like the Oregon
Electric. But electric engines are too
light to haul big loads where there
are steep grades of four or more per
cent
LAS to the proposition to have cleo
trio engines kept in town for the pur-
pose of hauling the trains through the
city limits that also is impra cticable
because of it's eXpensiveness. 1t would
involve the building of plant, and
of money and it would nee
essitate the breaking UP of trains
each time one went through the city.
The company is seeking to come
into Salem under the terms of the
franchise granted by the city council,
and can not consider any proposition
which would require it to electrify it's
road. If that is insisted upon, the
road can not afford to come into the
city.
This road will mean much to the
upbuilding of the city, and 1 believe
should be encouraged for railroads,
opening up new trade territory, are
what is needed to make a city out of
1 town.
Falls City Sends Message.
The Falls City Commercial Club
adopted a resolution concerning the
bridge over the Willamette River, a
copy of which has been sent to Mayor
4achmund. The following is a copy:
ITO the honorable mayor of the city
If Salem, Oregon:
Whereas, the erection of a rail-
oad bridge across the Willamette
river at Salem is greatly needed byI
he commercial and farming interests
# Polk County; and
Whereas, the erection of such a
ridge would be of inestimable benefit
n furnishing better transportation fa-
ilities by providing an outlet from
POLK County into the city of Salem,
nd thus bringing into closer commu-
ication the commercial and social in
erests of Polk and Marion Counties;
nd
Whereas, the construction of such
bridge is in line with the develop
1ent of the entire willamette Valley;
therefore,, be it
Resolved, by the Falls City Com
nercial Club, in behalf of the people
f said city, that we ask you to use
our influence with the council of your
ity to secure the passage of an ordin-
nee granting the use of the necessary
treet. or streets, for such railroad
urpose.
Falls City Commercial Club,
BY w. J. Hooker. Secretary.
Adopted Feb. "a, 1911"