Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-12-20

Oregon, though some of them can dis
count her for size in this line. The
census of 1910 gave the capital city a
population Of 14,094. A comparison of
the school census of 1918 with that of
1910 shows that if the proportion of
school children is the same as then, and
it probably is, Salem should now have
about $4,000.
The first thing that impresses stran-
gers coming here is our streets, which
those who originally planned the city,
wisely made, none of the main ones, less
than so feet and some a full 100. There
are some narrower, few only, and
these not near the business portion of
the city.
Only few years ago street paving
was begun, but now there are upwards
of "a miles of well.paved and splendidly
lighted streets, and the paving spirit
has not yet faltered.
The buildings of the last few years
are also first class, and the U. S. Ma
tional Bank and Masonic buildings
would be called fine in cities much
larger than Salem.
Salem is well supplied in the way of
water, a private company owning the
plant and getting its supply from a
large well sunk in the middle Of big
sandbar in the Willamette river, and be-
fore the water can get into this, it must
filter through half mile or more of
sand. The water system reaches all
parts of the city save, perhaps, very
small portion of the suburbs, and the
supply is abundant, sufficient for many
years yet and for a city several times
as large as ours
The city also has splendid sewer
system, costing neaerly half million
dollars and reaching practically all
parts of it.
Its business men are up to date ia
every way and stocks in Salem stores
are such that almost anything that can
be purchased anywhere, can be found in
them.
The street car service reaches nearly
every part Of the city and is good and
dependable. 1t has 10 and Is minute
service, the cars all starting from a
common center at State and Commercial
streets in the business section.
Another beautiful arrangement in the
laying out of the city was the parking
of one block through its center. On this
parked portion, however, there was
built the court house in the center of
one block. In the center of the next
block east is the postoffice, beautiful
brown stone building. Then comes the
state house grounds, with their magni-
ficent trees and verdant lawns. At the
west end of these ground is the Brey-
man fountain, facing the street and
providing never failing supply OF
fresh and pure water for man and
beast. In the grounds about block to
the east is another fountain which is
Salem Is especial pride and which is the
gift of E. M. Waite. There are foun-
tains and rountains and then there are
colored fountains and this is one Of that
kind, and one of the very finest, too,
there being only one larger in the Uni
ted States. This fountains plays con-
tinually but only shows itself in its
true colors" on certain evenings Of
each week during the summer and it
attracts all strangers and many Of the
residents, and this the more since on the
evening the fountain plays, the local
band does the same thing, and eyes and
ears are thus both treated to pleasant
things at the same time.
The state house grounds are beauti.
fully laid out, are well shaded and con.
tain many trees, specimens of which
can be seen nowhere else in the United
States. The capitol is an imposing
structure built in splendid lines and
well arranged for the officials located
in il, but in the last two or three years
proving too small, principally because
the legislature has given birth to such
a large and unepected family of boards,
commissions and other law.making and
Iaw.enforcing bodies, that the building
could not accommodate them all. To
meet this an annex was provided for,
that is now nearly completed, at cost
of $4,000. This will house the su-
preme court, the state printer, and some
of the overflow alluded to. 1t is a
snowy and solid building with lots OF
light as a feature, and it will add much
TO the beauty Of the "official row."
Salem is city of churches, practical
ly all denominations being represented,
with fine church buildings and parson-
ages, so that strangers coming to Salem
to make their homes, are assured Of