Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1917-01-01

liens grow from year to year and
finally become so large that the par
ties abandon the payment altogether,
and where one abandOns and refuses
to pay, it encourages others to do
likewise, which is too apt to result In .
a multiplicity of foreclosure suits lat
er on, or a taking over of the prop
erty.
am pleased to report that the
State Water Board found that the city
of Ashland is entitled to 500 inches
Of watT, measured under a six-inch
pressure, from Ashland creek, for do
mestic. irrigation ana other municipal
purposes; that their report was duly
made to the Circuit Court of Jackson
county, and that while the entire re-
port of the adjudication Of all the
waters of Rogue river and its tribu-
taries were referred back to the Board
for further consideration, the 500
inches of water awarded to the city
will not he disturbed as there were
no objections or exceptions filed to
this finding. I feel that the city has
won a decided victory in securing
such liberal allowance of the waters
of Ashland creek.
The matter of acquiring rights Of
way and opening up the Grand View
Drive has occupied great deal OF
the time of both the city engineer and
the city attorney during the past year
and half. The city engineer has
accurately surveyed this driveway,
and at numerous times has inter
viewed people across whose land this
Grand View Drive will be extended,
in an effort to secure deeds from
them to the city. He at one time had
secured the consent of most of the
people to donate their right of way,
but afterwards some of them changed
their minds, some could not be found
, and others refused absolutely to con
vey an easement without compensa-
, ton. It was finally concluded by the
committee having the matter in
; charge that the better plan would be
, TO prepare the deeds and go directly
, to the parties, and have them eXecut-
ed at the time of presentation. |
. accordingly prepared about dozen
, deeds. which I still have in my office,
none of which have ever been exc
cuted. regard this as a matter OF
, great interest to the city, and one
, that should be consummated If posi-
BILE.
: It is quite important that future
/ councils will not hastily or without
| due and careful consideration change
[ the present ordinances of the city
There is usually good and sufficient
reason for the passing Of any given
I ordinance, or at least the former
q council must have thought so, or the
I ordinance would not have been enact
, ed. 1t is only fair to suppose that
g each and every ordinance was care
I fully considered before its passage;
= that the people have become accus,
| toned to the existing ordinances, and
/ there should be a good and sufficient
e reason existing before any such ordi'
q nance is amended or repealed.
n therefore recommend against the in
| discriminate repeating or amending o.
n ordinances
Y In conclusion sincerely hope thai
t the incoming council may realize the
e Importance, might say the great ne
cessity of Immediately employing
( capable lawyer as my successor in OF
: flee to care for the legal matters
r hereinabove referred to, and to lool
n after other legal matters which from
r time to time will surely come up.
= If the council should make the un
l. pardonable mistake of employing
g thirty-cent attorney instead of ap
pointing a lawyer to the importan
position of city attorney, the city ma.
;. possibly get thirty cents worth of ser
!. vice, but more likely will be plunged
- into much expensive litigation ant
. wind up with more experience ant
. less money. The council should con
> stantly keep in mind that there Is
!. vast difference between the capable
> conscientious lawyer supplied with
. well-equipped office, and the ordinar!
cheap shyster. The one will rendel
! but little If any service, and is al
q expensive luxury at any price, while
s the other keenly feels the RESPONSE
s bility and will render effective, faith
e full service that cannot be measured
: in dollars and cents. The best lawyer
y to be had is none too good for city
J, attorney, and it is surely false econo
r my to object to paying him reasonably
h for his services, or hire an inferior
T attorney.
e The city cannot expect to get first
e class legal services for the same price
d she would employ a man to pick ap-
= pies, break rocks or cut wood. How
h ever this seems to be the standard by
!, which many people measure the value
of legal services Any lawyer who is
capable of properly serving the city
Y is surely worth $4,000 per month
: The city of Medford, where there Is
: no public improvement going on and
nothing like as much legal services
t rendered as is given the city OF Ash
8 land, is paying her city attorney
D $76. 90 per month, while Grants Pass,
! under like conditions, is paying her
e city attorney $4,000 per month,