Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-04-09
MAYOR LACHMUND'S
OPINION ON WATER
Statements Taken From Capital Jour.
nal of January 5, 1912, When
Mayor Began His Term.

Mayor Laehmund announces progres'
sive policies for securing for the Capi,
tai City a municipal water supply and
at the same time undertaking to acquire
power plant and make the electric
lights needed for the city,
The people of Salem voted in 1910 to
amend the city charter to acquire public
ownership of water system, in con-
junction with the state, and there is
authority for expending $45O,OOO of
bonds for water system adequate for
the state capital At the time the state
officials and heads of state institutions
were ready to join the city in any for
ward movement for mountain water
Since then the state has expended a
great deal of money on improving its
water supply, and is spending 10000
at present for a we'll for drinking wa.
ter at the asylum. As a matter of cold
hard fact, not a state institution has an
adequate supply today. The state fair
board must dig another we'll, and the
same is probably true in greater or
less degree of all the state institutions.
Hence the mayor s message on this sub.
ject is of the greatest Importance, inso.
far as it aims at any practical solution
of the water problem, On that subject
the message is as follows,
Favors Water Supply.
I regret that I could not bring myself
about to approve the ordinance relative
to the purchase of the present water
system by the city, but tine price asked
was, in my judgment, entirely out of
proportion to its true value, hence did
not hesitate to affix my veto the the
bill, but l am and have been in favor of
reopening negotiations with the com.
pany, looking to its acquisition by the
city, and then, if it is impossible to ar.
rive at a satisfactory basis of settle.
ment, institute condemnation proceed.
ings for its possession,
The question of water in its applica.
tiOn to quality, volume and rates is of
the greatest Importance to the commun,
ity, and deem it both urgent and nee,
essary that proper legislation be inaug
urated and enacted to bring this about
The installation of a satisfactory filtra
tion plant should be ou- first thought
as it assures us of a grade of water to
which every citizen is Justly entitled
for the protection of life and presery
alton of happiness. The extension Of
mains in every direction and more par
ticularly in our outlying districts is Of
such Importance that any failure on oui
part to bring this about would be little
short of criminal. The citizens living
in the outskirts of the city have beer
subjected to an enormous expense fol
sewers, and, unless they secure prope,
and prompt relief, this vast expenditur,
will have been in vain. Water user
have just complaint during the sum
mer months on account of the made
quacy of the service, and no privileged
corporation has any right to exact pay
ment for a thing in which its equiva
lent has not been rendered. The rate
charged is another matter which re
quires investigation and adjustment
and, taking the subject in its entirety
is one Of such an important nature tina
immediate steps should be taken t,
bring about conditions, through prope
legislation, which will have the effec'
of furnishing the desired relief and t.
this end I assure you my hearty coop
Grafton.