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About The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 25, 1919)
L'E,?yr'gg!B&awB'tp'ut!!i THE ONTARIO ARGUS. ONTARIO, OREGON, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1919 5 QDtttaiifl Argttg GEO. K AIKEN, Editor and Publisher Published Thursdays at Ontario, Oregon, and entered at the Ontario post office for distribution as 2nd class matter. SUBSCRIPTIONS One Year $1.50 IMPROVED ROADS COST MONEY. Seven thousand dollars per mile for the graveling of a road that has already been graded, is perfectly straight and has no hills to increase haulage cost, seems a mighty high figure. Yet that is the price, the low est price, offered the State Highway com mission for the gravelling of the Coiro-Nys-sa section of tho John Hay Highway. At first glance that seems a steep price to pay, most pcoplo hereabout think it is. Jj'or tho ordinary gravel road such as we havo around this section it is entirely out of reason, .ferhaps, tno, the kind ol road that tho state and federal government havo built is so much better that it is worth that price. If it is, there will bo no kick coming, for tho best road possible is none too good for the Boulevard with its heavy gravel. According to the newspaper accounts of tho proceedings of tho Commission, tho contract for this work was not let on Satur day when the bids were opened, but the pro posal was turned over to tho commission's engineering department. Just what that means is not apparent at this distance. It is possiblo that the engineering de partment may deem tho bid too high and seek to do tho work under a force account; or that it will endeavor to have the county take the contract. BUILDING GOOD ROADS. At tho meeting of tho State Highway Commission at Portland last Saturday that body presented a definite program of co operation between it and the neople of Kla math county and tho federal government for the construction of tho good roads pro posed for that section. Under tho terms of this agreement the pcoplo of Klamath county know exactly what is to bo done, and what their share of tho burden is to be, and they havo it all be foro them. For overy dollar of Klamath county money that is to be snout the High way commission is to spend one, and the federal government another. As vet no such proposition lias been made to Malheur, Baker, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa or any of tho other counties in this section of the state. No doubt there is a good and sufficient reason for this. So far the commission has agreed to 81)eii(l several thousand dollars, more than $100,000 in Malheur county and as yet has not required a definite statement of co-op-oration with the county. The only work nndortaken as yet in tho county the Nysso Cairo road was graded by tho county. Since tho state engineers have estimated mat tno cost of graveling this road would amount to $!l jior yard and tho plans call for 2,000 yards per mile, the county's proportion of the co-operativo expense is far less than the ratio given in Klaniah county. If tho county can secure co-operation on this baisis on all tho program contem plated for Malheur county, including tho Old Oregon Trail, tho John Hay Highway and tho Conoral Oregon Highway a far greater benefit will aceruo to the pcoplo of this county than that being given Klamath. However a dofinito statemont on the part of tho Commission would bo appreciated, so that tho County Court would know how it con proceed. MORE PROPAGANDA. Attornev Genral Palmer would calm the oggitoted minds of th. pcoplo with the report that the cost of living has fallen in miuiv states 10 or 15 por cont. Tho trouble is h6 did not specify which states. Tf he did there would bo such an exodus to thoso favored commonwealths that tho cost thoro would probablv rise again. That is tho troublo with niost of tho government pro pagandait deals with generalities and does not give specific facts. What we want to know is: "When will tho prico of shoes como down, and how does tho bacon price stay up, and likewise mutton chops, while hogs and sheep take such awful slumps'!" WHOSE BUSINESS IS IT? On the front page of the Argus appears the statement of "An Old Soldier," who de clares that Ontario has lost a large family because they could not find a house in which to live. The mere statement of that fact should cause some irood. hard thinkimr on tho part of thoso who have vacant lots about the city, and likewise it should give the merchants of the city reason for using their business judgment. Now it is not necessarily the business of a city to provide homes ior even'onc who wants to come to live within its confines but a good live city will attempt to do that very thing it it can. There is no lack of space in Ontario fot homes and there is no desire on the part of owners of vacant property to keep their pro perty in that condition. Also there is a de mand for homes what more need a man ask who has property who has with it too, money to put both to use and ultimately pro fit there!)'. The merchant who is anxious to in crease his business knows that the surest way to do that is to have the city in which he lives grow and thus provide him with a growing clientiel. Good business would dictate that the merchants of Ontario would assist in any movement that would in crease the number of homes here. And we believe that they will do this if the matter is properly presented. An effort has be n made to improve the situation here. The subscription list for a home building company has been signed by a comparative few why others have not signed is hard to understand. The "Old Soldier" is not the only per son forced to leave Ontario in recent weeks becauso of no place in which to live. There have been others and there will be more. Next week a man leaves Ontario who has been employed hero for months, because the house in which he lives has been sold and he could not find another. Unless Ontario is to stand still while its neighbors profit at its expense something must bo done. Tho owners of vacant lots aro losing tneir golden opportunity tno condition they wanted to see exist when they gambled on those lots is here now. Ap parently they do not realize it or have not sufficient faith in their original investment to add to it the price of construction to convert the whole investment into cash. MILLIONS IN FRUIT. It has been estimated that fruit ranch ers of the Payette Valley, just across from Ontario will receive approximately thvee million dollars for their crop. fti s to be hoped that these estimates are low in reality and that the sum will lie even creator. But even if it does not reach that creat ficuro it is certain to be sufficient to place that wonderful section on the list of wealthy communities. While considerinc tho ranchers of the bench as wealthy, for many will be that, it is well to remember that they havo had many lean vears, and they are entitled to this fat cue. We hope that they will repeat the performance as often as possible. It takes a rich farmer to make good business for all of us. HOW ABOUT IT? If the Keudrick bill will prohibit the Big Five packers from engaging in tho fruit and grocery business, will it likewise prohibit tho corner grocery .Jfrom selling hams and bacon? And to go a step further will the drug store have to stop selling news papers, and soda water, jewclery and sta tionery? Tho abovo are saniplo questions that Tho Crane American propounds to its read ers, but does not attempt to answer. What would become of department stores, under the operation of such a law ? nd say, what a wallop that would tauo to Reors-Sobuek and their businesses? tribe of moil order Tho State Iliirhwoy Commission will nnvo tho countv rood from tho East cityl limits to tho Bridge. This is the finest thing that has happened for Ontario in a long time but to finish the job tho road thru the cut on the other side should be paved, also. Now is the time to get busy. When in need of Goo.d Printing Give Your Order to THE ARGUS Our Printers Know How EXTRA-5ATURDAY OH! BOY! 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