The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1914-05-02
DISAPPROVES OF
NICHOLAS METHOD
FIFTH WARD VOTER CALLS At.
rENrioN 10 CONDITION or
S,DEW AIMS AND SEWERS. AND
iSkbR EIRk rRorktsTioN
E.litor Herald /.

Editor Herald.
We are asked TO support Mayor
Nicholas for a second term because.
Ne are told. the city Is In sound
financial condition and On cash
basis, We might AS we'll be expected
to cicct him because this season has
hecn favorable for spring blowing.
HIS administration has about AZ much
tho other.
As a matter OF fact. tho city ts not
In good financial condition. II Is
true warrant Indebtedness has been
substituted by bonded Indebtedness.
This Is an Improvement. As no system
could b. much worse than warrant
Indebtedness. but 1t must be admit
ted. although No are reluctant to do
SO. that $3.so viii have to be returned
ia principal and interest for every
dollar borrowed. A sum aSErcGatins
close to half a million. aud but little
to show for Il. while tho present
mayor is not responsible for all this
waste. Il might b. well for voters TO
examine u few facts before accepting
without reserve the statement Of on.
cials seeking reelection.
II the financial coalition OF tho city
is unsatisfactory, the physical con-
dition Ii more unsatisfactory.
In order to save few dollars that
might have been expended advantage
ously for inspection and repair Of
sidewalks. S3.50o Was lost TO the city
In a damage suit through the nsgii.
gence OF city officials.
At the corner OF worden avenue
and tpham street the sewage from
the dairy was dumped in the street
for upwards OF two years. and al
though many complaints were made
to the mayor. councilman Of the Fifth
wrad and the health ofiiccr. nothing
was done until shortly before an cleo
iion in the Fifth ward last fall. A
few weeks ago some more work Was
attempted. but some OF the sewage
still stands in \ pool, to be n menace
to health until the voters Of the Fifth
ward and the city at large have ex-
pressed their disapproyal BY eiectinK
competent men to NIL the places OF
those whose terms are about TO ex-
pirs.
Outside of Main street the city Is
almost withou, nre protection. Re-
cent events are proof OF this. The
volunteer hremen have done all that
could be expected OF them and q good
deal more. but their efforts were OF
little avail without hose and hydrants.
In the case OF the Redfieid house in
Hot Springs and the Byers house in
Fairview. hose cart had to be hauled
up hill. but unfortunately the mud
was so deep that In the case OF the
Byers home the horses were unable 70
haul the cart. and the house was
burned TO the ground.
One whole row OF houses was burn
ed In Shippington because there was
no hose. hydrants or pump. Two
boats burned at the wharf isst year
for the same reason.
Luck and land speculation have In
large measure Offset the unfortunate
effects OF incompetent city manage
ment. Luck. because buildings failed
to catch fire, and when they did catch
fire. land speculation has provided
many vacant lots to precipitste the
sparks before reaching other roofs.
The residents OF the Fifth ward
have asked for IRE protection repeat
edly. and their requests have fallen
on deaf ears. but on the 4th OF May
they will have q chance to replace
present officials with men. who will
give more heed to their demands.
The greatest financial achievement
was the acceptance OF the Grant COM
pany's altered bid. whereby the city
treasury will be enriched by $4,000.
for which the taxpayers viii have to
pay $4,000.
The members OF our present ad-
ministratIon may be brilliant hnsn-
ciers. In Wall street. no doubt. they
would shine as stars OF the first mag
nitude. but In Klamath Falls men Of
a more practical turn would seem bet
ter fitted for the management OF Its
affairs. Respectfully,
FRED w. HYNDMAN.