The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1914-03-26
CITY OF UTILITY
CAUSES TALK
PINE GROVE FOLKS INVESTIGATE
Questions PrOpOunded to Promoters Of
Unique Plan Of Incorporating Lower
Valley Orchard District

SHOWN az meeting OF the flne 6fONe
Political Research club held last Thurs
day evening at the home of Mrs. l.. Z.
Clark, the subject Of the proposed mu-
nicipality of Utility City is being deeply
considered by the voters Of, and especi
ally by the property owners, of that
section.
The chairman, Mrs. A. !. Mason,
called tine meeting to order (at which
nearly 100 voters were present.. Mark
Cameron was first introduced. He
read a paper prepared by J. b. How
land relative to the proposed municipal
light and power plant which Utility
City would make possible. He went
on to state that with a municipal plant
to light and heat their houses, and do
their cooking at no more than the pres
ent cost for lighting alone.
At this point little humor was in
jected into the meeting by r. f. Scott,
who asked if il were not presuming a
little too much to suppose for an in
slant that 500 homes could purchase
electric ranges at $50, totalling $40, 600,
this in addition 10 other expenses to be
taken into consideration.
Mr.. Hartwig, of Hood River, then
spoke at some length on the legal as
poets of the municipality problem. he
stated that contrary to common belief,
the present county roads would not be
taken over by the people of Utility
City, although the mayor and council
might plat streets parallel to the roads
if they deemed il advisable.
EnpN;nuinpx fnr1bor Az uartui,x coi IA
that the only officers required for elec-
tion within 20 days after the voting in
of the municipality, are mayor, six
councilmen, city recorder, treasurer
and marshal. The mayor and council
fix the salaries of the latter. Also,
while they are not required by law to
appoint city attorney. health officer,
street supervisor, engineer, policemen,
dog catchers, etc, they have the power
to do so IL they so desire it.
MIR. Hartwig then spoke of the ad-
vertising this community would re-
ceive, there being no parallel case of
1000 people establishing a city in an
area of 36 square miles. The papers
all over the country would make much
of il. In addition to the fame that has
already come to this section OF the val
ley by virtue of the Hood River apple,
an equal amount would be the result
due to the changing of the name of the
community from Hood River to Utility
City.
The chairman next called on F. p.
| Friday, who recalled to the minds of
those present several examples of Ais-
management of irrigation projects in
the valley in the past few years, stat
ing that in every instance the actual
cost had far exceeded the first esti-
mate. MIR. Friday said this would no
doubt be true Of municipal lighting
plant, and urged those present to con-
slider a matter of this kind deeply be-
fore making any step. The speaker
stated that he did not believe the peO-
pie of this community had 5000, 900 to
spare at this time, but if they did, it
should be used in the exploitation of
the Hood River apple and other prod
ucts. The financial condition of the
Valley today should make it impera-
tive that the people seek income, not
expenditure.
MIR. Friday said that the people of
the Valley we're not paying at present
light rates an average of over $40
yearly, and he considers this expendi-
ture too trivial to bring about the es-
tablishment of a municipal light plant.
especially since the matter of reduc-
| tiOn in light rates in the Hood River
Valley is already before the Public
Utilities commission, which will hold a
hearing in Hood River in the near fu.
ture.
After hearing the remarks of the
various speakers discussions we're en-
tered into by the various members and
and con being at that time very equally
divided. In conclusion the following
questions were submitted by the ladies
of the club, and the speakers of the
evening were called upon to answer
them, if possible:
What guarantee could the citizens of
the new municipality have of an eco
nomical administration?
How could the organization of the
ne city avoid increased taxation aris-
| ing from the creator expense of gov
erning the proposed territory as mu.
nicipality?
Since the state laws are supreme in
defining the organization and powers of
municipalities, how will the proposed
city be governed differently from any
other legally incorporated district?
Can the municipality incorporate tC
establish light and power plant, and
escape all the other responsibilities and
expenses attendant on a municipality?
How would the road and school dis
tricts of the new city be supported ex.
cept by added taxation?
2 Would not the cost of all road i'm
provements be assessed to the abutting
properties?
How would the formation of the new
city affect our rural mail delivery?
What would be the commercial effect
on our products in changing the post
office addresses of 1000 citizens OF
Hood River, Oregon, to Utility, 0re.?
In addition to fixing the salaries OF
the city recorder, city treasurer anC
city marshal, as prescribed by statute
would not the mayor and council have
the power to create and name the sal
aries for the following Offices: City
attorney, city street supervisor city
health officer, city engineer and other
subordinate officers, policemen, ETC., as
they may see fit?
Is the establishment of a municipa
power plant of enough Importance fol
the practical disruption of our county
government, and the trying of dan
gerous experiment?
Since all investment of 5000, 900 will
be necessary to install a power plan
and distribution lines to reach all con
sumers in the proposed bonded district
(which has less than one third the tota
amount Of light and power business o.
the Valley, with a gross revenue o
Sl4, 900 at present rates) how will thu
deficit be provided for?
Inasmuch as the state has Publ,
Utilities Commission, for the purpos,
of enforcing inst and reasonable rates