The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1916-04-06
CITY COUNCIL
TO INVESTIGATE
COST OF OILING
Paving Program Has Practically
Been Abandoned as Luxury
the City Can't Afford
TO CONSIDER CHEAPER WAY
H. A. Hover Tells City Fathers That
Proposed Improvement Would
Retard Growth of Town

There will be no streets paved in
Kennewick this year. At least it is
very evident the city council does not
intend to carry out the Improvement
plans as outlined in the recent resolu-
tion of intention. The protests from
property owners have been so pro-
nounced and vigorous and there are al
ready so many delinquent assessments
that extensive improvements at this
time seem i'll advised.
Members of the council, however
have not yet abandoned the idea of
doing some Improvement on at least
Second and Washington streets. At
the regular meeting Tuesday evening
the question of oiling these two streets
was taken up and the public improve
ment committee was asked to report
on this method of Improvement at the
next regular meeting. The cost Of this
improvement would be very small and
it is thought improbable that there
will be any strenuous objections from
property owners, especially those on
Second street.
Altho several property owners were
present Tuesday evening no formal
protests were offered except by H. A.
Hover, president Of the Hover Invest
ment company. Mr.. Hover said his
record in Kennewick would justify the
statement that he had always stood
for public improvements but he main
tanned present business and financial
conditions do not warrant extensive
He read statement
of revenues and expenses of his Ken
newick property showing that last
years deficit amounted to $120 lot.
The statement covered the Hover
block, seven residences and seventy
lots.
In arguing against the proposed inn
provement, Mr.. Hover contended that
to pave now would be placing the city
on the same footing as the man who
buys an automobile and steam yacht
for pleasure and leaves his grocer, his
butcher and his baker unpaid. He ar
gued that the town with improvements
in prospect is often more desirable
than the town having improvements
for which it cannot pay. He cited
Pasco and Goldendale as examples Of
towns. The growth and
progress Of these towns, he insisted,
had been retarded because improve
ments had been made before they were
needed OF could be afforded. Kenne-
wick today. he said, stood better with
the prospective settler or investor
than either of the towns named, or
any town that had outdistanced its
resources and crippled its credit.
Mr.. Hover did not attempt to argue
that Second and Washington streets
did not badly need improving. Altbo
he owns property along both these
streets he would make no objections
to any improvement which the resi-
dent property owners might favor.
He objected strongly to the improve
ment of Pacific street from Second to
the N. p. depot. This Improvement
he said would cost his company more
than $500 on non-income producing
Altho the protests of Mr.. Hover and
other property owners undoubtedly
carried some weight with the council
the thing which really caused them to
hesitate was statement from Treas
urer ]. L. Johnson showing that in the
several improvement districts the de-
assessments amount to more
than $4,000.