Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-03-15
TO PERFECT PLANS
FOR FREE FERRY SOON
Businessmen Take Steps to
Get Ferry Service Free
for Everybody

By unanimous vote, the 200 busi-
ness and professional msn who met at
the Commercial club this morning,
voiced their opinion tnat Salem should
have free ferry and thers should be
no further delav in providing means of
crossing the river.
At the meeting of the club members
last evening +. G. DE e.kobaoh rold a
few plain facts. "This town today is
staring in the face of great cslemity.
Trade is going away. Farmers think
we are doing nothing, he said ave
sit as if we ,xpe ,ted Cod Almighty to
help us. Every business house in town
is suffering. We are .leeay and doing
nothing''
With the object of bringing the needs
of the city as 30 ferry transportation
before the county court and the city
council, the meeting was held at the
Commercial Club this morning. PIesi-
dent Albert presilad, cpeGing the msot-
ing by saying thlr conditions wcra be-
coming intolerloie ana that something
must be done Cor 4 free ferry.
Cut Off From Business.
Mr.. Deckebach thought it was an
outrage that city of the size and i'm
portanee of Salem should be cut off
from one-third of its business territory.
Thousands of dollars in business are
being diverted and it was about time
to do something" he said. "We have
made more sore heads among the farm
ers by not providing them with means
of getting across the river than we can
cure in year"
81 think there ought to be a free
ferry and all the time / thought that
was what we were coming to, but ]
wanted the sentiment to crystalize,' -
remarked Judge Bushey He felt will
ing to do what he could for the estab-
lishment of free ferry and told of
how it had been the custom of the
county to maintain a ferry wherever
bridge was being constructed He
thought it might pay to buy a ferry
and operate it free until new bridge
was built.
Mayor Walter E. Keyes was emphati
cally in favor of free ferry and ex-
pressed his willingness to do his share
in maintaining one. In fact the opin-
ion of all the county and city officials
present, as well as the business meI
of the city was unanimously in favor
of free ferry.
Committee Named.
| In order that the details of the mat
, ter might be worked out, committee
, consisting of Dan J. Fry, Fred w
+ Steusloff and F. G. Deckebach were ap
pointed to provide for free ferry ant
4 handle any of the questions that nigh
: arise. This committee will also maxi
e it part of their business to hurry tn
e work of preparing the landing on thi
). side, between Court and Chemeket
g streets. 1t developed that Polk count
J. had already expended about $500 i
the building of a roadway and landin
on the west side and that the presen
delay was that of the contractors VIII
were excavating and building the land
ing on this side.
Mayor Keyes offered help from tn
! city's working forces 20 hurry the worl
| on this side. There is a general feel
] ing that in appointing this COMMITTEES
President Albert has selected the righ
men and as the county and city OF
ficials and the entire business interest
of the city are working in harmony
there will be something doing With
few days by which there will be fire.
passage across the river.