Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-09-07
AT Special Meeting This Morn
ing Steps Taken to Buy
Plant In Albany
OLD PLANT COST $4,000
FORCED TO BUY OR RENT
Plant In Albany VIII Cost
SIS, ,OOO---4O,OOO Yards
To Be Paved
Six thousand dollars Of the taxpayers

~ ehous"hu uollars OF the taxpayers
money is ready for the junk pile.
That is the price paid last year for
the city s paving plant and now it is
worn out and useless and the city is
compelled to get another plant in order
TO complete the paving that has been
started.
Six thousand dollars was the cost of
the machine, and it was purchased by
the street committee of last year s coun-
ell under protest.
This morning the council held spec
ial session at 9:15 O. clock for the pur-
post of considering the advisability of
buying paving plant.
Yesterday evening the street improve
ment committee, which has special
charge of the paving work, went to AL
bany to look over the paving plant of
Mrs. Travis, which was dismounted for
the winter, with the purpose of rent
ing it to complete the work here, and
the meeting this morning was the re-
suit of a call of Councilmcn Elliott,
McClelland, Unruh, johnson, Buckner,
and Ward.
The meeting this morning resulted in
the street Improvement committee be.
ing authorized to go to Albany and
either rent the machine or secure a
thirty day option ON it. The committee
left this morning by automobile for
Albany.
Bought Under Guaranty.
When the present machine was pur-
chased by the street committee, which
was composed of Councilmen Elliott,
Mills, and Cooke, it was guaranteed to
lay 800 yards of two-inch top a day
but it is declared the machine never
did come up to its guarantee.
At that time, Councilman Ward
brought an injunction suit against the
city to enjom it from paying for the
plant He stated in the complaint that
it was the opinion of engineers that
the plant was not worth the money and
could not do the work. He went to bat
on the case before Judge Galloway but
the judge overruled him and the ma
chine was paid for.
Now, with scarcely a years use, it |
is ready for the scrap heap. A few
days ago, the boiler fell out and the
city is paying So a day for the use of
another one.
Forty thousand yards of top pave
ment is yet TO be laid by the city be-
fore the summer s work is complete.
With this work ahead the council met |
in special session today to rush things
through.
Mrs. Travis will rent the machine to
the City of Salem at the rate of ten
cents a yard superficial area, or the
city can purchase it for $4,000. The
freight ON it to this city will be about
1850.
Cheaper To Buy.
If the machine is rented at the rate
Of ten cents a yard it will cost the
city the sum of $4,000 to finish the 49,,
900 yards.
Councilman Elliott moved that the
council rent the Travis plant and deter
mine at the first meeting in October
whether or not to purchase it.
1t was pointed out that the plant
was three years old and had been used
by the county last year and at Albany
three months this year and was in per-
feet working order.
Councilman johnson suggested that
the council offer Mrs. Travis $4,000 for
The machine and SO save $500. Council
man Buckner was in favor of offer
ing her $4,000 with the machine laid
lown in Salem ready for business.
Councilman Ward moved that the
matter be left at the discretion Of the
street improvement committee with in
,tructions to get the machine on
thirty day option and a price limit of
$4,000.
1t was the opinion of Councilman
Roberts that the securing Of an option
IN the plant was the better policy as
here might be undiseoverable faults
levelop with the machine. He favored /.
enting it with thirty day option. He .
aid he was no hand to trade horses
without trying them out. He even sug- ,
rested ten day option. .
Some Advice Offered.
Both Couneilmen Elliott and Buckner!
Who went to Albany yesterday to se41
Mrs. Travis, said they did not believI
he would take any less than s5O00t
or the plant Councilman Buekner
itated she appeared to be very deter
mined and set on her price and that
he wanted $4,000.
Mayor Keyes stated that the proceed
ngs brought to mind the time he
bought a second hand automobile. He
aid the experience was good but the
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