East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1912-02-10
Mayer MatIock Has Extensive
Plans For Improvement of
City's Highway.
TWO ROADS TO ASYLUM
Mayor Favors Hard Surface Paving
and VIII Himself Pay Heavily for
Inproyement-Wan County to
Cooperate in Building New Bridge

To improve the streets of Pendle"
ton and the roads leading in and out
OF the city in permanent and sub
stantial manner is the chief aim of the
administration of Mayor w. F. Mat
lock and comprehensive plans which
the mayor outlines today show the
nature and extent of the work he mas
in view.
One thing which comes early upon
the program of the mayor Is the con-
struction of a good highway to the
branch asylum grounds. He favors
the construction of a hard surface
street leading from the Main street
bridge TO the Walters mill.
"I believe that a hard surface
street, 80 feet in width. with side
walk and wide parking should be con-
structed from the bridge to the mill,
said he to the East Oregonian today.
SHOULD that improvement be made
will have to pay for the paving OF
four blocks and my property brings
me no income at all at this time. But
I favor the paving just the same be-
cause 1t is up to Pendleton to pro-
vide a good highway leading to the
branch asylum"
Incidentally it may be stated here
that the mayor hopes to obtain a
more favorable price from the War
rem construction company than was
secured by the old council when the
contracts were let for the paving of
East Alta street He is of the belief
lower price may be had.
Wants Water Grade.
But perhaps the most interesting
part of Mayor Matlock's plan for
reaching the branch asylum is a
scheme for the construction of road
down the river. via West Court street
and the old o. r. & n. grade. He
would have West Court street paved
to the Roundup park and sub
stantial roadway, not hard surface,
built from that point down to the
asylum, crossing the river on q
bridge to be constructed at the site OF
the old wooden railroad bridge. pro-
vided the county court will cooper
ate in the construction OF such q
bridge
The mayor points out that such a
road as he outlines would give ac.
cess to the branch asylum without
SVihE ONGl lilc sue Hlll. L
would be a short route and an easier
grade. However, he favors the i'm.
provement of the north side street:
also so as to have two highways by
which the asylum may be reached.
Would Aid Farmers
Advantages of the river route, as
pointed out by Mr.. Matlock, are thai
such a road Is needed anyway ant
has been for many years. Such a road
with the bridge located as mentioned
above would be of great convenience
to farmers who enter town from be.
low the city and 1t would also serve
stockmen who take herds of cattle
and bands of sheep through the cit,
while enroute to and from winter
feeding quarters. At this time al
such stock must be driven directl,
through the city and it is very in
convenient to stockmen. Because O.
the aid such road would be to farm
ers and stockmen the mayor hold,
that the county should cooperate II
the construction OF the bridge across
the Umatilla. He states that he IA
vors the plan provided such cooper
alton can be had from the county.
Other Bettermcnts.
Aside from those mentioned abov,
Mayor Matlock is also busy will
plans for the matchmaking of Eas
Court street from the Byers mill rae,
to the city limits. He has a promis
from the county court that ma
cadamized highway will be built b,
the county from the edge of the cit,
northward If the city will improve tn,
highway to the edge of town.
Another project upon which plan
are not yet formulated, is that of th
Improvement of West Alta street t.
the edge of the city to the west.