The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1913-01-30
COUNCIL SIGNS
HYDRO CONTRACT
STREET IMPROVEMENT CONSIDERED
The Employment Of a Paving Expert is
Recommended Salaries of Appoint
i've Officers Fixed


city at large as well as to the entire
valley came before the city council at
its Monday night meeting. One of
them was the action taken by the body
to enter into the term Of the contract
for lighting the streets of the city by
the Hydro Electric Co. This contract
has been hanging fire since last year
shortly before the resignation Of Mayor
h. Il. Hartwig. The council entered
into the contract with the Hydro COM
pany and il was Immediately placed in
allegiance by the temporary injunction
secured by J. f. Batcheder. The case
had never come before the circuit
court for a hearing, but was expected
to be tried at the last term. However,
the Pacific Power & Light Company's
management IN the interest of whom
the injunction had been secured, with
drew the suit and the council was en-
abled to enter the contract unham-
pered. At the council meeting all
members of the body voted for the
hasty consumation of the terms of the
contract with the exception of Council
man James Stranahan.
The other matter, and one which will
be considered by the merchants and
business men of the city as more i'm
portant than any other now touching
on municipal affairs, and one that will
create an interest among the orchard
lists, was the attitude the councilmen
took on the question Of paving. The
following communication from Mayor
+. o. Blanchar was read to the body:
Gentlemen: With your permission,
the mayor will deviate from the usual
procedure of preparing a lengthy re-
port at this time of the year with rec
concentrations, ETC., believing that
more effective results may be obtained
from more frequent communications
bearing directly upon the needs of the
city and our ability to provide for the
same. We are entering a new year
under favorable circumstances. The
city's financial condition is splendid
and much credit is due to the former
council for the faithful service ren.
deied.
"We should Immediately proceed tC
take up the matter of street paving,
carefully reviewing the work of the
former council and ascertaining beyonC
any possible doubt what kind of paving
will give proper results and yet be thu
most economical. This is no small
problem and the former council wal
obliged to hurry matters more tha
they would liked to have done on &C
count of the short time given them j
which to decide. We, however. hav
ample time in which to work out thi
problem if we start now.
at is therefore recommended thf
the street committee be instructed [
secure the services of a competer
paving expert, in the capacity of
consulting engineer, requiring him
make a personal investigation of tn
various phases of the local problem
the variation in grades, weather cond
tions during winter season, preser
valuation of abutting property whic
will be required to pay for the pre-
posed improvement, and give to th
council his opinion and recommends
tions.
cit is further recommended tina
steps be taken to macadamize the prlI
cipa thoroughfares from the pave
district to the city limits, where tn
same has not already been done, a
early as weather will permit, and tha
the street committee be authorized t
proceed Immediately with the judiciot
expenditure of not less than 81 90
upon further improvement of the Eas
Side grade, while labor Is plentiful.
Respectfully submitted,
Il. O. Blanchar, Mayor. y
The councilmen expressed themselvC
as thoroughly in accord with the re,
concentrations of the communication
They are very earnest in their desil
to see the city paved as soon as POI
| sible.
/ A communication was received frol
the residents on Columbia street ash
; ing that the snow ordinance be el
forced. The residents on that stree
believe that the ordinance at presel
i on the city's books is just and shouI
be carried out.
The salaries of the appointve officer
II were fixed at the same figures as prt
Il vailed last year, namely, city alto
II ney, SIS per month; city marshal ar
II street commissioner, 500; city watt
clerk, $50; water superintendent, SlOC
II city engineer, rs cents an hour, viii
minimum of $50 per month and
maximum of $3.50 per month.