Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1921-03-16
Interest Matter
Stulnps Council

Silverton, Mar. 16.- Because of
prolonged litigation growing out
of the improvement of McClaine
street in this city several years ago,
assessments against the abutting
property have not been paid and
the accrued interest has become a
burden to the property owners.
The cit ycouncil, at recent meet
ing, was asked to waive the ac-
eumulated interest, bet the propo-
5ition was taken under advisement
by Mayor Eastman and the ceun-
cilmen.
The improvement of McClaine
street with hard-surface pave
ment was completed nearly ten
years ago. Claiming inferior quail
ity of pavement, property owners
refused to pay the assessment as
provided by the city charter. Since
that time three different cases
have been instituted in an effort
to get the matter settled, and each
case has been carried to the su-
preme court Three years ago,
however, the city voted to amend
the charter in manner to provide
for the re-assessment of property
adjacent to improved streets, and
under the provisions of the amend
ed section of the charter the city
proceeded to collect for the street
improvement. M. ]. Brown. ct al.
Immediately commenced action to
restrain the city from collecting
the assessments, and in circuit
court the case was decided in ia
Vor Of the city. 1t was carried TO
the higher court and the supreme
court confirmed the decision OF the
circuit judge, making it mandatory
upon the several property owners
to settle for the improvements
Now that they are confronted with
this necessity, they have asked the
city to bear the burden of interest.
The city has already spent nearly
enough in litigation to pay for the
and many citizens are
inclined to boject to the PROPOSE
ton.
II a bill for an ordinance to be
introduced at the next meeting of
the common council becomes law,
jitney and truck drivers operating
within the city limits will be re-
quired to pay tax, and there will
be a material change in traffic
regulations in Silverton. At a re-
cent meeting of the council the
city recorder was instructed to pro-
vide an ordinance dealing with
these subjects.
w. l.. Fry has sold his pool and
billiard hall in this city to L. j.
Calavan, of Scio, and Mr.. Calavan
is now in charge of the business.
His son. Gilbert, will assist in the
pool hall Mr.. Fry intends to de-
vote his time to the real estate bus
mess which he followed before en-
tering the pool and billiard busi-
ness.
"A movement has been started by
property towners on Phelps street
to have that street improved with
hard-surface pavement. A petit
ton has been placed in the hands
of the street committee of the city
council, and it Is probable that the
work will be commenced in a short
time.
The matter of obtaining more
land for the Silverton cemetery is
now under investigation. An ad-
dition to the cemetery was made
several years ago. and it now be-
comes necessary to secure more
territory adjacent to the cemetery
or procure another field.
A meeting of the city council
was held last evening to hear
proposition made by NJ. C. Murphy
and f. b. Keelan to buy a fire
truck. The city has this improve
ment to the fire department in
mind. and will eventually buy
new truck and chemical engine.