The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1922-05-25

state fire marshal, and is reproduced
here for the benefit of the citizens
of this city. The report would seem
to be entirely fair and is complete
as to details:
Introduction.
Heppner Is a city with a population of
one thousand three hundred twenty
four. located In the central part of
Morrow county. Of which it is the coun-
ty seat. 1t is the terminus Of the Hemp
ner branch of the O.-W. R. G. N. rail-
way and will. in the near future be
connected with the Columbia highway
by an improved state highway. The
resources of the surrounding country
are agriculture and stock raising prin-
cipally. The city has an approximate
valuation of $1,000, ,961.00 and the cur
rent rate of taxation is .053 The pres
ent city Indebtedness is s115,000 and
the amount of deposits in the two
banks ss50.OOO.
General Conditions
The city is built on slightly sloping
ground in a deep valley on the banks
of Willow creek. The creek divides
part of the residential district from
the business district. The surrounding
country side is very hilly, open, untim-
bered and devoted to grazing and farm
ing.
The buildings in the fire district are
generally well improved and eighty per
cent of fire resisting construction and
about one-half are two stories or high
er. There are two ranges of frame
which could easily be ma
terial for a conhagration. The streets
are wide with macadamized surface
and supplemented with alleys. Most
all of the sidewalks are of cement. The
main streets run north and south, par
allel with the valley and creek.
The elevation Of the city above sea
level is one thousand nine hundred fifty
feet. The weather conditions are ra-
ther severe. The maximum temperature
erage annual rainfall Is fourteen inches.
There is much prevailing summer wind
from north to northwest The season
from July to October is usually very
dry.
The city has suffered both severe
flood and fire in the past The position
of the city is the very path of flood.
together with the general character of
the surrounding country makes this a
constant danger.
The inspection revealed the condi-
tions in regard to rubbish and house
great deal Of defective electrical wir-
ing was found, owing to the fact that
the city has never adopted an electrical
ordinance. There is also a great deal
of overhead wiring in the city.
Summary of Inspection
13 Defective wiring.
% Rubbish and trash.
Floors and walls unprotected from
stove,
Gasoline kept in unsafe manner.
! Number Of drip pans for waste oil
ordered.
/ without proper fire escapes
/ without proper fire exit signs and
lights.
81 Chimneys found on brackets.
Places where smoking was prohi-
bited.
20 Fire extinguishers ordered.
Water System and Source.
The water system is owned and oper-
ated by the city. 1t was put into op-
Grafton in November, 1920. The source
of supply is Willow creek, twelve miles
southeast and at an elevation of one
thousand feet above the city level,
The intake is from a small concrete
dam across Willow creek. The water
is conveyed by gravity through an
eight inch main, nine miles of concrete
and three miles of machine wound red
wood, and delivered direct to the dis
tribution system, connecting at Main
and Canyon streets There is an over
flow at Monahans ranch, one and one
half miles from the city, at an eleva-
ton Of one hundred feet. This head
r,,s o,.aneou, oon ho c,osed haweyer
-, ao,,h,os tho stot,c nressura
r,o.o 20 two roservoirs ono on oman
oansn,o - ,lo ma gollons conocitv and
oua .toro ord concrats ~ ian nm gal.
,ons oon,oit,, ,ocated n short distance
-. ~ IT,, ~, hiI az on a,oyotior
80 ono hundred feet They are con.
no,tad wit, and an e,ybt inch main
~ tha a,str,hut,on svstem nj Main and
Connon stroets The reservoirs are
tant sl,od az all tines for an enargep -.
~. s,nn,Y
rhara ;s o,so an emergencv concrete
,osarvo,r ~ tho mower house contain
ina ~ ooo Gallons Of water with a
Morse dunlex steam numn of
,,roo hurdred gallons ner minute can-
ocit, avai,ab,e for Use at anv TINA