The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1917-11-29
oNTARIo's PROBLEM

To solve the water. sewerage and garbage
nroblems Of Ontario is not easy. There are
SO many things to be taken into consdera-
tion which the average citizen does not think
of that snap Judgment often time does an M
Justice. Yet these problems must be solved
or Ontario should give up its character as
municipality and abandon the pretense OF
being an up-to-date and progressive com
munity.
In the first place Ontario covers 100
acres of ground On that much territory a.
city of 1000 or 5000 people could reason
ably be cared for. If that many people were
in Ontario every foot of ground would have
a valuation which would permit of the inn
provements necessary with IA comparatively
low proportionate cost per lot. Ihen, TOO,
there would be such demand for service
that u municipal water plant would be able
with reasonable charges for service, to show
an earning that would care for the bonded
indebtedness.
But Ontario is not so situated AS mat
ter of fact if municipal improvement were
called for here, owing to the fact that conf
parativcly few people own property, the
burden would fall on tlion, and objection is
bound TO be raised. 1t is case OF too much
real estate speculation. IL is no doubt true
that large portion of the real estate owned
by the few landed proprietors pays no divi-
dcnds and never has. Yet against this land
that has never paid there would he laid an
additional cost of improvement, that the
owners. with too much money invested now,
see but Il small chance of getting back.
While all these things are absolutely true;
not one nor all of these. can Justify an eva
sion of the duty of the City as n Corporate
b.N1 f.,, Hn tha on
ditions for the protection of the inhabitants,
AS matter of fact il is only question OF
good business to provide the things neces-
sary, regardless of the cost. What
would all the property in Ontario be worth
If the city takes inadequate steps to combat
typhoidi When property owners realize
their investments are deprcciating in value
and must be protected.
Merchants ON Oregon street have been
told during the past few weeks by more than
one person that they do not trade iii Ontario
because of the typhoid.
Standing by the post office last Friday
noon the writer heard woman who lives be-
tween Ontario and Nyssa make this state
ment to her husband:
eve II go home now, for want drink
and | don't intend To take a chance on ty-
phoid by getting drink here"
0n the day before in lawyers office a
man from Dead Ok Flat in discussing the
situation said;
II have not taken drink in Ontario for
two months.
The Argus is printing these statements
IRA purpose That purpose is merely to
lake those who own property here and OH
llom the burden of cost will fall, realize
lat it is To their best interest to get behind
the movement started by the City Council to
get an adequate water suppl, for Ontaric
Unless they do this they themselves are
bound to be the big losers, The man who
merely rents on has his investment IN per-
sonal property, while he might lose few
dollars by the continuance of these condi-
tions does not stand to lose as does the owner
of real estate and the more property man
owns the greater will be his loss unless he
sees to it that conditions are improved.