St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1912-01-12
Mr.. Cook Gives His Views
Concluded from first page).


had a smaller force, that this paper
could scarcely have existed without the
city printing, which has always been
appreciated, aud is yet. With an ordi-
nance covering nearly everything, and
little street and sewer work in prospect,
little can be expected in the way of city
printing this year. In business way
annexation has no terrOrs for us, for we
have reason 90 believe that we could
draw considerable work from Portland
were we part OF Il. The effect on the
city at large is what actuates our stand.
Yes, we know about the school census
The presumption that nncxation would
take place before this has had a killing
effect on population. And, strange TO
say those who have gone were the very
staunchest advocates of annexation, or
many Of them were, reminding one Of
rats escaping from scuttled vessel An
neKation would only aooentuatc this
condition.
tS. Would the red light district
be allowed to extend this far? Ans.
The kind of industries that are
found in or rather constitute, a
red light district can only flourish
in a populous center; if the popu-
lation of what is now St. Johns
should after annexation quickly
increase to so, 900, yes, It is quite
likely the red light would come.
OF course.
10. Would we get more street
lightsl Ans. Did you know that
the city of st. Johns has not paid
for its street lights since Sept. 1910
and are now owing the Portland
Railway, Light and Power company
nearly 10000 for lightsp We now
have IS arc lights burning aud 10
more ordered aud owe nearly 10000
for them Maybe we would not
get any new ones for while.
Provision has been made Tor payment,
The company is not worrying. Mr. Cooks
council did figure mighty close when
making provision for this council. No
We We would not get any more lights,
nor could wC retain what we now POS
scss.
90. Would building permits cost
morcp Ans.-Thc cost OF building
permits IN Portland is computed
on the square feet of floor space
with a minimum OF Soccnls. That
is, no permit will be issued for less
than so cents What does a build.
ing permit in Portland mean? ItI
means that your plumbing will have
TO be installed in such a manner rs
to prevent disease, sanitary. Your
electric wiring will have To be done
in such a manner as not 10 set your
house on fire, your llucs and chin
nics will have 10 be built Ere proof |
II means that ii you have house
worth $4,000 that you have built
with great care to guard against fire,
that the man that owns the adjoin.
ing lot would not be allowed To
build llimsy fire trap, with the
stovepipe through the roof, right up |
close To your good house.
A building permit costs 81 in ST !
Johns, and what do YOU get for it2 |
Nothing, absolutely nothing
II, Johns has no building code, |
and except in half dozen blocks |
in the fire district, there is nothing |
10 hinder the erection of any kind /
OF fire trap building anywhere, no
matter how much Il cndangcrs OH. |
CT valuable buildings, provided only |
you happen 10 own the land,
A permit iu 81, Johns gives the priNil- |
II d 4 a.. ..|
property lot plliug material during con.
sIruelion. That may be nothing.
a. Would 1t cost more to build
an ordinary residence under the reg
ulations OF Portland than II now
does in ST. Johns' Ans No, not
II the buildings were as well built
A we'll known contractor iu ST. Johns
states that % costs about $3.50 more 10
build a housc in Portland Than il does
ior the same house in So, Johns, and hr
has built them lu both places. That /,
the difference between theory and ptlc-
tiShl experience.
% Would rents be cheaper2
Ans, Rent is subject To the law of
supply and demand OF popu
lation II We could do something To
rapidly increase our population
would expect rents TO rise.
Correct Stay annexation.
p. Would a representative from
the Peninsula on the city coun
ell OF commission do as much
for ST. Johns as the present
representative on the board OF conn
~ commissioners Ans. That |
suppose would depend on the ma.
terial OF which the representative
was made, on whether he was the
imam OF the hour To illustrate,
we might write the story: How we
Got a Free Ferry. About a year
ago, while | was chairman OF the
street committee, one Monday morn
ing was approached by one OF !
The owners OF the ferry boat with a
request that the company be allowed
10 tie the boat up for while, as
hey were running the boat at a q
oss of S OF dollars a day, I re- a
piled that the council had no pow ]
II to grant their request but ii they II
would make the city a proposition L
o sell, would do what | could as ~
/ member of the council to get the "
natter before the people lie agreed
O this proposition and Immediately al
vent up one side OF the street and ID
Iown the other and called a meet, y
ny at the city hall for that same a,
80 ht ~ arVangA IN bV,r ont thu Far- . .