St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1917-08-31

There still seems to be some
disposition on the part of cer-
tain disgruntled and disappoint
ed property owners to cause the
commission of public docks to
rescind its action in the pur-
chase of the st. Johns property
for the grain elevator site. The
plea is made that they offered
to donate land free for the loca.
tion of this important system of
elevators, whereas, the site
chosen had TO be acquired by
purchase. The reason for their
grief and disappointment is oh.
vious when il is realized that
the free sites were evidently
offered to act as lever in
hosting the price Of their ad.
jacent property and make IL
more marketable. II would be
difficult TO convince the ordin-
airy mortal that their interest
was wholly disinterested and
unselhsh. But these property
owners who lost out. after sub
hitting their propositions to the
dock commission, should now
have the good grace to hide
their disappointed grief from
the public gaze. The prorosi
tions they submitted were fully
considered. aud even as n free
gift their offerings found less
meritorious than the land nc.
quired by purchase. The Port
land Realty Board is said TO be
taking n belated interest in the
murmurinRs of the disappointed
ones. If this be true, Il would
not seem difficult TO find al
motive for such interest. The
Portland Realty Board may
scarcely benefit by the st. Johns
location. as il may not have a
tendency TO stimulate the realty
market within the three mile
limit The claim of Commits
sioner Muck TO the strip of land
along the river fronting the
elevator site will not necessar-
lily influence the dock commits.
sion one way or another. AsI
we understand il, without en-
tering into the merits or de-
merits of Mr.. Muck's claim, the
owners whom have disposed of
their holdings to the dock com.
mission have agreed to take
care of any claims that may
arise. So il is quite apparent |
that the sale will stand and the
elevators be erected as pre-
viously announced. The dock |
commission has shown excellent |
judgment in the matter and
are deserving of the warmest |
commendation for the wisdom
they have exercised. The arti-
cle by Marshall A. Dana on the
irst page of this paper conveys
some convincing reasons why
the site chosen is by all odds the
best of any submitted. The
elevators undoubtedly will be |
erected in st. Johns. i'm spite
If any effort put forth to the
A point that should not be
overlooked or forgotten in con.
lection with the purchase of
he ST. Johns property is that
Ifter the dock commission has
Utilized all the land needed for
elevator, coal bunker and other
tructures they may have in !
mind, if the balance of the land
'e placed on the market a price
Dual TO that of the purchase I
rice for the entire property
ould no doubt be obtained,
hus giving the dock commits
ion virtually a free site for
heir institutions. The dock =,
Ommission in their foresight
4 purchasing more land than {
eeded for the purpose. certain I
I have as much right to secure |
dvantage of enhanced valua. .
on by reason of the elevator I
instruction as would an indi- q
idual who offers a free site i'm =
he expectation of adding the Y
llue of the free land and then '
'me to his adjoining property q
7 reason of the elevator con. n,
ruction in close proximity. y
he st. Johns purchase is an =
,cellent buy from whatever u
viewed