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

veloped that the Public Service Com
mission of Oregon would not .
permit power line and
TELEGRAPH and telephone line to
occupy the same side OF the public .
road Along each side Of the road in
question were already telegraph lines,
one of which belonged to the Postal
Telegraph Company. The California
OREGON Power Company, who as
sumed the responsibility of erecting
this new line, did so, and then eX-
changed. or agreed to exchange the
new line for the old Postal line on
the opposite side of the road. In put
ting in the new line it was found
necessary, where an angle in the road
occurred, to put in a brace against
the pole. or possibly guy-wire and
anchor. and in few instances TO set
a pole on private land outside the
line of road. There are PROBABLY SIX
or seven parties who are affected in
this manner, and efforts have been
made to secure their permission to
allow the guys and anchors, braces or
poles to remain as placed by the Cali
ornia-Oregon Power Company at the
time of erecting the line, but so far
there has been only one right pro
cured. and there seems to be dlspo-
sition on the part of the land owners
to dictate impossible terms. Neither
the power company nor the city pro-
cured these easements in advance,
which should have been done. The
Postal Telegraph Company is not Will
ling to accept the new line unless a
permanent easement is obtained and
conveyed to them for these several
poles, wires and anchors.
The California; Oregon Power Com
pany has shown a disposition to throw
the entire burden of acquiring these
rights on the city, while the contract
made with the company makes no
mention whatever of securing such
rights. and was probably never
thought of by any of the parties in
interest. Now, while the city has
never admitted it was liable Tor these
rights. we have used every reasonable
effort to assist in procuring the same.
Mr.. Lamkin gratuitously made spec
ial trip in his auto up along the line
and interviewed several of these par
ties. in which he tried to secure for
reasonable compensation these
rights. He was successful in only one
instance, that of Fred Homes | also,
gratuitously, spent one half day en-
deavoring to secure like results, but
could accomplish nothing; in fact, |
did not see all of the parties, but
from what information | gathered at
the time, and subsequent reports re-
oeived, / am thoroughly convinced
that no amicable agreement can De
made with the parties, and that II
will be necessary, sooner or later, 10
bring condemnation proceedings
against each of the individuals on
whose land any part of this line is 10,
Gated, if the same is to be maintained
in the future. l would recommend
that immediate action be taken, the
expense of which to be borne by the
power company, as there has beer
much friction as between the Posta
company and the California-Orego1
Power Company, into which they
have endeavored to draw the city OF
Ashland, and force her to bear the
expense of acquiring these rights.
Some time past was informed thai
there are still two easements OF con
siderable extent for mineral watel
pipe lines, which had not yet beeI
acquired. / suggest that the mattel
be investigated and, If possible, pro
cure these easements, otherwise com
plications will be sure to arise in The
future.
1t is worthy Of note that the Berk
ley springs matter, the ]. M. Wagner
matter, the Smith-Emery settlement
and the easements for poles, guy
wires and anchors, and the acquiring
of pipe line easements, either directl!
or indirectly, grew out Of the opera
tions of the Springs Water Commits
sion, and not from any direct lache'
on the part Of the city.
Some weeks ago one of the princi
pal transformers Wnlcn Cne CITY leaoo'
from the electric light company wa'
totally destroyed by fire, and damages
occasioned thereby, not only to thu
loss of the transformer, but also dam
ages to some of the city's customers
in something like the sum of $25O.OO
is still to be adjusted. Shortly aftel
this accident, which occurred through
no fault of the city, | took the matter
up with the superintendent OF the
company, in an effort to adjust the
damages as between the company and
the city, but as / did not have a de-
tailed statement of the damages with
me, the matter has been deferred
pending such statement from the city
electrician.
There are quite number OF city
liens against abutting property, Gre
ated on account of public improve
ments, that are delinquent, and which
should be taken up and disposed OF at
the earliest opportunity, as believe
1t should be the policy Of the city to
promptly collect when due all special
improvement liens, otherwise these