East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1913-12-31
PENDLET0N'S
PROGRESSIVE
SPIRIT
Shown In Selection Of Modern
Type OF Street Improvements

Pendleton through the intelligence
and business acumen of it's citizens.
has unquestionably become the big
gest and most progressive city of its
size in the country
In no single instance has this pro.
gressive spirit been better demonstrat.
ed than in the selection and adher-
ence to the type of pavement laid
here. The same spirit that made the
Roundup of national prominence, ex-
erted itself against all opposition and
after thorough investigation decid-
ed that the best was the cheapest and
none too good for the town. AS a re-
suit Bitulithic was selected and first
laid eight years ago on Main street
and East Court street and the wis
rom and advantage of this selection is
best shown by the fact that these
streets after eight years of heavy
traffic are apparently just as good as
when first laid. and, have not requir-
ed the expenditure of a single dollar
in maintenance. Last year, forty ad-
ditional blocks of this pavement were
laid and at least fifty more will have
been laid or contracted for this year.
The adherence to Bitulithic was not
accomplished without considerable op-
position from within and without and
although several different types of
pavement reported to be "just as
good but cheaper" fought desperately
for an entrance, the Pendleton spirit
in the light of their knowledge of Bi-
tulithic, and its apparent superiority,
refused to experiment.
With the increasing popularity and
realization of the advantage accruing
from this type of pavement, Pendle-
ton will soon be In the first rank OF
cities having we'll paved streets. The
impetus to real estate values since the
adoption Of this pavement on resi-.
dence streets has even exceeded the
highest expectations. In one in.
stance In particular can be shown of
lot on West Court street. which
could not be sold for 100000 before
this street was paved. which sold fcs
100000 after the pavement was com.
pieted and the buyer assumed the COST
OF the pavement besides This renre.
sents practically triple increase in
value, most of which Is undoubtedly
due to the pavement. The record Of
real estate transactions In Pendleton
IN the last two years will show that
fuily 80 per cent Of the property that
changed hands was on paved streets
and at considerably increased value
There are a few more streets ic
Pendleton which are urgently in need
OF hard surface pavement both from
an economic and civic standpoint
and there are any number of lesser
important streets where the invest
ment In good hard surface pavement
at reasonable expense would reap d.
rect benefits greatly in excess of the
cost Of same.
The price of this high type of stree,
Improvement, now available here, is
an extremely low one and was onl,
possible on account of the equipmen,
and organization OF the paving con.
cern being on the ground and in the
expectation of being able, with this
attractive figure. to bring out con.
siderable yardage.
Property owners contemplatins
street Improvement would do we'll tC
bring matters to a head while the paw.
Ing equipment Is still here and take
advantage OF the favorable price of.
fered. At the rate of s1.45 per sauar,
yard for gravel bitulithic, the tota
cost Of street Improvement for a 3;
foot frontage lot on street paved
80 feet wide would be about sa25. in.
cluding necessary grading. curbins
drainage and proportion Of intersec.
tion. II the property owner desire.
to take advantage of the bonding ac
he is allowed 10 years to pay for tn,
Improvement (semi-annual payment
at the rate Of 50 per month and In
terest at per cent? while the I'M
!. provement to the property togethe
with the comfort and healthful sani
tary conditions are his for all time a
soon as the work is completed
.Adv.)