Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-01-07

excellent. In fact the thorough report;
which we have upon the pavements in
dicate that their life will probably be
not less than fifteen or twenty years
which is above the average.
am pleased to state that the Clarl,
& Henry construction company has cx,
ecuted bond on Church street from
Court street to Mill creek which winds
up the Church street job completely,
The bond, however, has not reached us
as yet
As indicated elsewhere in my mes.
sage, desire to say at this point that
owing to pending litigation 1 Am
strongly of the opinion that it is un-
wise to undertake any considerable
paving contracts until such time as
several points which will probably be
raised in the two suits now pending are
disposed of by the supreme court, un-
less the charter can be amended as 1
have recommended elsewhere.
Third. Miscellaneous improvements
not by the city, The most important
piece of public work, I think, executed
during the past year of a public nature,
but not directly due to the expenditure
of the city funds, is that which has
been partially accomplished on Front
street by the Oregon Electric Railway
company under the terms Of their fran
chise passed during the administration
Of Mayor Lachmhnd. The concrete
bridge which the railway company has
built is a very fine piece Of engineer
ing work and when the fills on either
end of the same are completed the i'm
provement will make an imposing piece
of public work. At the present time
the work is being interefered with by
an injunction proceeding which has
been argued and submitted and is now
under advsement of Judge Galloway
in the circuit court The city looES
forward to q favorable decision and
the early completion of the work in the
spring, after which the freight traffic
through the center of town now carried
on by the Oregon Electric Railway com
pany will be diverted to Front street,
where it properly belongs.
Another Improvement.
Another marked improvement com
ing to us from the last administration
is the removal of practically all Of tho
electric light and trolley poles from the
downtown business section This is
a very marked improvement and the
conn lCion of the same during the pas!
year La3 very materially improved the
appearance of the business section Of
tie city,
I w,'h To commend the past council
for the solution of the auto fire engre
problem and to say that l believe that
the city has done wise thing in the
purchase of this piece Of apparatus. I
believe it will be an economy in the
expenses of the department
and insure a much better protection as
well as covering very much larger
area of territory. This engine should
be here some time during the month |
Of April if not before,
wish to note with satisfaction the
Efforts Of the fire and water committee
in securing fire escapes on, believe,
all of the buildings in need thereof,
This is an important matter and has
been one of no small difficulty to ac-
'omplsh owing to the peculiar coudi.
.ions surrounding tho same, aud | am
pleased to note that the school board
mas co.operoted with the city in this
natter heartily
also look with satisfaction upon the
completion Of the fire cistern ON Fair.
mount hll which win furnish, as soon
Is our auto engine comes, adequate
to growing section of the
ity which has been heretofore dcsti-
ute Of adequate protection,
There are two other matters which
ne Of public nature which deserve
mention, and that is the completion Of
he reconstruction Of the fair grounds 4
ailway line by the Portland, Eugene &
Eastern Railway company and the com.
lction of the South Commercial street
racks from Mission street to the end &
f the line with heavier rails, Botn Of
hose pieces Of work are a very great !
uhlic improvement which have b,cl
oeded for II good many years and O'e a
{ material benetit to the city,
Future improvements, Under this !
eading | viii treat Of a few matters q
'hiCh think need attention as quest \
ions Of policy IA
Garbage Plans, q
In the first place the question Of n n
arbagc iucineatoh feel, is probably In
he most important Our present meth +
Il of disposmg of our garbage is, | be- I
ava ne thn nrnsnut tt,uo rnoannohIv