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About St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 28, 1910)
Hb'orJcol Sociei, ST. JOHNS REVIEW s GET IN THE HABIT OfadrtrtUtdcin THIS Ptpti IU. ,OVIlDtTf rtfTtllt. Df ttn.lt one and kMprlfhUt II To iubcrlb tor TIIISPpcr. All f h nwt whll It ll new! It dor motto. Call In and enroll Devoted to the Interest of the Penlniuta, the Manufacturing Center of the Northweit VOL. 6 ST. JOHNS, OREGON; FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28. 1910. . NO. 5t Judge ilolcomb's Views Since last week's issue of the Review I have talked to about 100 of our residen's, asking them their wishes aud vi -.vta on auncxatiou, and I have invariably heard the otic query: "What advantages will we receive by auncxatiou?" A few believe that they would receive ad vantages, while the tnauy, like my Self, cannot sec any benefit By auncxatiou Portland could undoubtedly purchase the St. Johns Water Co.'s franchise, provided they would be willing to sell. That, of course, would have to be paid by taxes on our property, which is an item of great importance that should bo cousidcred. , now long would it take the difference in re ductiou, if an given by annexa tion topurchfjc the franchise of the local water company i Stop, think and Jigure. It is true that the consumer in one way pays more ior gas in 01. jouns uiau 111 1'ori laud, but the conditions arc differ cut. But when you take into con sidcration the facts and expense to the consumer, I believe that our gas and water arc furnished as cheaply to the residents of St. Johns as iu Portland The gas fur nished by the company iu St Johns is superior iu quality to that used in Portland, and will go farther and offset the difference in price. Here it is forced by pressure, which strengthens and improves it. The gas company lias not paid one cent of dividends, still it is a vuluuble franchise aud in time when St. Johns grows, as she will, it will pay handsome dividends, aud the company will without being asked, evidently, reduce the rates. Tak ing into consideration the facts as above stated, I believe St. Johns residents are getting gas as cheap as Portland residents. As to the St. Johns Water Co.: They are iu about the same posi tion. They must lay pipes to any one consumer 400 feet away from the nearest main. Portland will not lay any kind of main unless as sessed to adjoining property. Port land is not obliged to extend mains for fire purposes, as is shown in Woodlawn with over 30 miles of mains and no hydrants. Portland has laid two aud one-half million dollars worth of mains the past summer. If this should be paid out of water funds the rates would have to be much higher. Old Bull Run pipe lluerwhich cost 13,000,000, aud is nearly worn out, has not been paid for. The new Bull Run pipe line meters, laud aud right of ways are provided out of bond is sue and tax levied on the city for the same with interest. Portland water rates when Greene operated them were $2.50 Hat rate, reduced to $3.00 afterward to $1.50, which rate prevailed when the St. Johns Water Company began doing busi ness iu St. Johns. The local flat rate is now $1.00 per mouth, toilet 50c, bath 50c. For the past 20 years the Vancouver water rate lias been $2.50 per month. Wood mere, which is part of Portland, does not have Bull Run water, no fire protection, and the Wood mere Water Co is still supplying water at a $1.25 per month. The city of I.Innton is supplied with water at the same rates as St. Johns. The pumping plant at Albiua has beeu running night and day at full force during the past summer, so like wise lias the Wood mere plant. There has been a water shortage all summer in Sellwood, Woodstock, Ml. Tabor, Woodmere, Suuuyside, Mt. Scott, Annuel, Irvington, and a good many other localities, and no water can be had for sprinkling in any of these places, nor can suffi cient be had for house use, while there has been no shortage iu St. Johns water. The city of Portlaud owns their water works aud should furnish water at cost, including taxes, and interest on bonds to the extent of about six and one-half millions of dollars. The St. Johns Water Co. has never declared a dividend to this date and has 110 hope of doing it for some time to come. It has been the direct cause of annexing East St. Johns by ex tending water mains at thefr own expense and at a Joss to the com pany, but it gives the city of St. Johns one-half million dollars ad ditional property to assess, and con sequently lower taxes. It has been one of the biggest factors in build ing up St. Johus. Five-sixths of consumers of St. Johus water pay only $1.00 per month, and less than 200 pay for bath and toilet. A mathematical calculation will prove the fact that the St. Johns Water Co. is furnishing- water as cheap as the city of Portland, taking into consideration the difference as above stated. 7s there any indi vidual reader of this item, who if he was the owner of the water or gas companies could afford at this date to reduce the rates? And the great howl by the annexationists has been water and gas rates. By annexation to Portland St. Johus residents will have practically no voice iu the city affairs until she has a population of 25,000 people, and must grow five times her popu lation to be entitled to a council man. No gas would have been piped to the Peninsula if St. Johns had not the power as a city to grant a fran chise to any one who may apply for it. We are a growing, thriv ing city, new buildings arc sceu on nearly every street and numerous schools and churches adorn the fair city. Sewers arc under construction and miles of street grade and cement sidewalks have been contracted for. I am not the attorney for cither the gas or water companies, and am not interested in their affairs any further than ns a resident of St. Johns (my home), aud wishing justice to all aud special privileges to none. Wc must have a free ferry to meet our growing demands, and by having it place the star of hope over the cradle of the poor man s grave. W. w. Ilolcomb. A Bit of History Cou11cil111.u1 Downey is rather put out becuuac the city dads hesitate to contract for the purchase of n fire engine and also install street lights along the business streets. we believe the fathers did right just at this time before the annexa tion question is settled. Along this line we might recite a little history: Once upon u time u certain city named Albiua, by public subscrip tion raised a fund and purchased u tire engine. This was many years ago. wot long afterward tins same city very foolishly decided to annex with a larger city named Portland. Shortly afterward the fire engine mentioned disappeared, aud to this day there are many citizens iu Al biua town tliat do not know wlierc the engine went to, but they do know t lint even to this day the only fire protection they have is a chem ical engine which was given them about two years ago. They also know that one Mr. Bates wuspuld some two hundred thousand dollars for his water pumping plant, yet this pumping plant is still doing business today, aud if it had not been doing business the past sum mer Albiua would have been with out water. So much for history, which any old Albiua resident will nttcst is true. Therefore, if wc purchase a fire engine, would it not after annexation disappear and like ly be found at University Park, which large suburb of Portland does not even possess a chemical engine? Is there auy guarantee that it would not? We already pos sess a chemical engine and our fire fighting apparatus is iu firstclass condition. An engine would be a fine thing, if we could keep it. As to the street lighting, it cer tainly would be attractive aud a great advertisement for St. Johns, but who would keep it up after an nexation? Even on Washington street the principal thoroughfare of Portlaud, the city has refused to pay for the lights and the property owtiers are dolug so today. Surely a string of uulighted street lamps would not be a happy condition even for the towu of St. Johns, Portlaud. Therefore, who can blame the aldermen for hesitating upon these two propositions at this time? Anderson in Dreamland Oue Charles Anderson, a Socialist by profession, but uot so by prac tice, has such rosy views concern ing St. Johns after annexation that he assuredly is living in dreamland these days. In his "pipe dream" he has visions which are so bright aud glorious that the millenium would fade in comparison. Iu bis dream he sees free water, free gas, free ferry in 30 days, taxes cut in half, property doubled in value, free mail delivery three times a day, free street improvement, lower price for fuel, industries tumbling over themselves to locate here, wages doubled, property turniug over everyday, sunshine theyear around, thousands of street lights, all streets paved, price of living reduced one half, gold growing on every bush, and in fact so many other glorious things that it is impossible to enum erate them all. What will the awakeuing mean? Thos. Glover. On October 20th the W. R. C. met at the cosy home of Mrs. Clay ton on Willamette boulevard, Port land. Mrs. Claytou proved herself an ideal hostess and served delicious refreshments. Although I am com pelled to report that little sewing was done, they all had a fine time. Press Cor. Portland's Indebtedness There has been much contcutiou as to Portland's indebtedness, aud in order to get the facts we applied to the dty treasurer. We append the reply received recently: "Replying to your letter ad dressed to the City Treasurer, I en close you herewith statement show ing total bonded indebtedness of the City of Portlaud up to December thirty-one. iqoq. To the total ns'tabulatcd it will be necessary to add $1,000,000 water bonds which have lately been 'sold and 250,000 Uroadway Bridge Bonds that have been disposed of, also $50,000 Cre matory Bonds, this will give the total amount of bonds disposed of to date. From this total there should be deducted $10,000 bonds of the former city of Albiua which fell due August 1st this year aud paid by the city. This will give the net bonded indebtedness of the city. It will also be necessary to add to this statement of proposed bond issues $1,750,000 Broadway Bridge Bonds and this will then give the entire amount of bonds that have been voted for. Respectfully, A. h, Barbur, Auditor of the City of Portland." The statement which Mr. Barbur cnloscd showed the bonded indebt edness Dec. 31, 1909, to be $6,926, 500 bonds sold. To this should be added $5,225,000 worth of bonds voted June, 1907, of which a por tion have been sold, which makes a total of $12,151,500, without Mr. nubiir s additional figures given iu the above letter. If the secretary of the auncxatiou club is looking for some interesting details he can find it herein, aud can be relied upon us authentic. East Side Still Waits Under this caption in its Monday edition the Oregoniau states: At least three important street improvements on the . East Side firobably will not be completed this all Milwaukle street between Hoi- gate aud Hawthorne avenue; Sandy boulevard, between East Sixteenth and East Twenty-eighth streets; Lombard, betweeti Mckenua and Glenn avenue. All three are im portant highways. Especially bad is the delay on Milwatikie street, which is the only direct avenue to Sellwood. There is little hope that this iiu- firovemcut can be completed this all unless there should be two months of favorable weather, which is improbable. The property own ers and residents are indignant over the delays on this street. It has beeu torn up for eight months and is now practically impassible for teams. It has been the practice of the paving companies to start men on streets with petitions for paving aud get a lew signatures, enotigli to start proceedings, and then it takes 80 per cent to defeat it. The result has beeu that innumerable improvements have been contracted for on which no work has yet beeu started. The fills on East Eighth aud East Division streets, for which the Portlaud Bridge Company secured the contract the first of the year, have uot even been started. Yon'll Get it Proper Ho, ye street corner loafers, store box warmers and peanut politicians, read what the city council of Port land is considering doing unto ys when ye annex to Portland: "At the next meeting of the city council au ordinance is to be con sidered for passage providing that a fine of not exceeding $100 may be imposed upon any persou who loiters iu the streets of Portland so as to obstruct the passage of vehi cles between the curbs, or who shall stand upon the sidewalks, or at street corners and thus interfere with the free use of the walks by pedestrians. It is believed that' the ordinance is aimed at street cor ner loafers and public meetings on the streets, where large crowds sometime congregate. Tuesday's Uregonian. Contractor N. A. Gee had a taste of Portland conditions again last week when he moved a build ing in that city. It cost him $10 for permit and $9 for cutting tele phone wires besides losing a day and a half in unwinding the red tape. In St. Johns it costs him nothing for permission to move buildings or for cutting wires. Therefore, you can count Mr. Gee as beiug strenuously opposed to an nexation and making the same conditions here. The Annex Meeting The Portland and St. Johns An ncxation Club held an open meet ing in the city hall Thursday even ing of last week. Most of the speaking was done by "anncxers." There was no opportunity given to contradict or refute some of the statements made, the chair ruling debates would not be entertained. Secretary Cook read several papers that had been contributed by par ties favoring auncxatiou aud also a statement of the indebtedness of St. Johns and Portland and the present valuation of the utilities in each city. S. II. Greene was then called upon by Chairman Downey. The first proposition he brought out was that Capt. Buchanan had told him that all property iu St. Johus would immediately double ill valuation as soon as this city was annexed to Portland. The reason he gave w.as that all the big vessels would tie up aud discharge their cargoes at St. Johns, making the city dock fairly teem witli activity. That why they did not tic up here now was because they would uot get credit with anchoring in Port land. Quite recently the city pa pers of Portlaud have been con gratulating that city upon the fact that the Portland harbor extends away down to Rtinier. If a boat nuchois pny where- between that point and Portland, it gets credit with anchoring iu the Portlaud hatbor, which is controlled by the Port of Portland aud the master must get his clearance pajwrs at Portland. As tin evidence of his good judgment the Judge told how lie could get a block of ground here for $500 when he first came to St. Johns. He picked out 11 block that is only worth now about one-fifth of what other blocks arc that he could have gotten for the same mice, and then said that iu his judgment it would be better to an nex with Portland at this time. -He also stated that iu spite of the contract or franchise the local water company holds witli this city Port land could compel the company to sell out at what that city would give. Iu other words this menus that uuy contract the city of St. Johns has entered into would be come njill aud void after annexa tion. If this would be the case our bonded indebtedness would not have to be paid. We have con tracted to nay back what wc have borrowed, but if all contracts will become null the bondholders will be holding an empty sack. There can be 110 discrimination between any of the city's contracts. All be come null and void or none do. A. T. Boldeu then followed with some strange statements, oue of which was that all the manufactur ing plants that have located at Kenton would have locuted at St. Johns had this been part of Port land. But he failed to explain why these plants had located OUTSIDE of Portlaud if Portland controlled their location. As n matter of fact they are all outside of the city lim its, and one reason for so locating is to escape city taxation. He also claimed we would get a fire boat. Portland has one now for protec tion of its water front, and of course would build another for St Johns' benefit. He believed his property would increase ten per cent by annexation, but the chances are he would be the first one to kick if the assessor viewed it that way and raised his assessment ten per cent. A. M. Essou showed the unfair ness used by giving the value of our public utilities at cost and com paring them with Portland's esti mated valuation of public utilities. He believed ours had increased iu value just as rapidly as Portland's. C. C. Woodliouse, whom the chairman evidently expected to say something to help their cause, rather dropped a bomb when he stated that he believed we would suffer no calamity if we waited awhile before annexing. An individual named Fletcher wound up the affair in condemning our business men to Hades or some other seaport Jiecause they were not specially desirous of free mail .de livery at this time. Funny thing: The annexers claim that property . value will in crease from 10 per cent up to 50 per cent as soon as annexation takes place. Yet these same fellows have property for sale at the same price they listed it six months ago. Why not take it off the market and get the benefit of that wonderful in crease themselves? The fact of the matter is that they do not believe there will be any appreciable differ ence, and why should there be? It is not recorded that any suburban town that ever annexed to Portland found that property increased to any extent because of annexation. Work for a Qratr St, John. Free Mail Delivery According to W. E. Williamson, Portland's assistant postmaster, the only things necessary for St. Johns to do to get free mail delivery arc to show that it is within five miles of Portland's city limits, that it has more than 1500 inhabitants and that it lias the required amount of improved streets. The first two conditions arc easily shown, but the last will have to be decided by a postodicc inspector. Mr. Williamson says that the question of annexation cuts abso lutely 110 figure in the matter aud would not be taken into considera tion, but that upon the conditions mentioned being complied with St. Johns office would, upon petition of its people, be made a sub-station of the Portlaud office, and the St. Johns postmaster added to the Port land force, given a life position and if found competent would probably be continued in charge of the St. Johns sub-station. He also said that the petition filed two years ago asking that St. Johns be made a sub-station of the Portlaud office was denied solely because of the unimproved condition of the streets, As many streets have been im proved iu the past two years and many more arc being improved at present, Mr. Williamson said that lie believed a petition presented next April or May asking for free delivery would be granted and ser vice installed soon after June t. Tuesday's Oregoniau. Bonds Required A diversity of opinion exists among our citizens as to the amount of bonds the city requires on street improvement from contractors as a guarantee of the faithful perform ance of their work Following arc a few instances obtained from the records: Thompson street --engineer's estimate, $2,134.44; amount of bonds required, $2,000. North Hayes engineer's estimate, $6, 931.41 r bond required, $7,000, Charleston street engineer's esti mate, $2,883.98; loud required, $3.000,, Jersey street engineer's estimate, $1,787.41; bond required, $2,500. Fcsscndeu street engi neer's estimate, $28,082.25; bond required, $10,000. The rule iu Portland is to require bonds to the full amount of the engineer's esti mate, This should settle any dis pute as to council Imposing a bur den on the Fcsscndeu street im provement. How About This A detailed statement issued by A. h. Barbur, auditor of the city of Portlaud, for the year ending December 31, 1909, shows that the first water bonds, amounting to $700,000 were issued in 1887, aud is due iu 7 years; $2,200,000 bonds issued iu 1893, aud $250,000 issued iu 1909. Yet to cover all this a sinking fund of only $228,351.53 has been provided, practically but one-fifteenth of the entire indebted ness. In 23 years less than one third of the amount of the first bonds has been raised and nothing for the following bonds of over two millions of dollars. If Portlaud has provided nothing iu the way of a sinking fund to take care of the $2,200,000 issue of bonds which have now run. 17 years, why should St. Johns be censured for as vet providing no sinking fund for the dock bonds which have been run ning we believe less than three years? Referred to Mr. Hurlbert. B. Iy. Snow, iu order to take time by the forelock, made formal appli cation Monday before the proper authorities in Portland for a long lease on city hall of St. Johns iu the event that annexation took place. The purpose for which he desired the structure was to install a home brewery. He made the plea that after annexation (which lie hoped would not occur) the city of Portland would have no further use for the building and would, therefore, be open to lease or sale. Mr. Snow was assured that if the lease of the building was made pri vately and not by bid, his applica tion would obtain precedence over any other. While It is unlikely that the city hall will ever be used for brewery purposes, annexation makes it a possibility. Close read ers of the Telegram lately can realize this. On October the 27th the W. R. C. met at the home of Mrs. Cheney in St. Johns to celebrate the first anniversary of the Corp's baby, lit tle James Cheney. For a Free Ferry A committee of citizens consist ing of E. F. Day, Dr. McChcsuey and T. II. Cochran, who were selected by Mayor Hendricks, will wait upon the authorities at Iinn ton aud endeavor to get them in terested iu the construction of a free ferry boat jointly with St. Johns, the boat to be equipped with tire lighting apparatus to be used in protecting the water frontage. It is believed that the large manu facturing plants will "chip in" for purchase of the boat, or at least bear the expense of the fire appara tus. When the price of a suitable boat has been ascertained aud the committee discovers just what part of the burden the industrial plants aud Uutitou will bear, a petition will be circulated calllmi for a special election to vote on a bond issue to cover the expense. The county will operate and maintain the boat after it has been secured. The petition will likely also include the purchase of the present ferry, approaches and franchise thrown in at 11 nominal sum. A free ferry can be obtained iu this manner much more quickly than by annexa tion, as auy one will concede who gives the matter any thought. Special Meetings The W. C. T. U. met iu extra session at the Methodist church Monday afternoon. The State W. C. T. U. has set apart Tuesday, Nov. 1st, ns n day of prayer and fasting, and St. Johns Union will meet at 1 no o clock iu the Methodist church, corner Hayes aud I.eavitt streets. Every mem ber iihould attend and all interested in making Oregon dry iu 1910 will be gladly welcomed. Those who find it impossible to attend arc hereby asked to observe the day (that is, engage iu prayer aud fast ing) iu their homes or wherever they may be. That the ureat evil of intemperance be swept from our state is the desire of till christian aud self rcsiwctiug people. Some of our citizens claim that we are paying more for street im provement than is the case iu Port land. If this is true, whv do not more Portlaud contractors come nut and bid upon our street? Surely at. johus money is as good as Port land money. The field is always open here. There was n Portlaud bid tiKu Fcsscndeu street, aud yet it was about $2300 above the low est local bidder. The Portland bid on the sidewalk for Jersey street was nine cents jkt running foot higher than the local contractor took it for. Do n little thinking for yourself when some one tells you about Pottlaud getting street work cheaper than we do iu St. Johus. Iu Portland when one desiros to build a house or make additions to a dwelling he must first submit his plans to the building inspector be fore he can secure a permit. It is necessary to have plans for ull im provements. In St. Johns this is uot necessary and is quite a saving iu time and money to the builder. Permits also cast more iu Portland than Iu St, Johns. Moral: Stay out. The W. R. C. are going to have a Hallowe'en frolic Monday night, Oct. 31st, in G, A. R. hall. A fine program bus been prepared, consisting of songs, declamations and drills. Refreshments of pump kin pie, fried cakes aud coffee will be served, after which they will in struct the youth iu old-time plays. Come out and have the time of your life. A small admittance fee will be charged. A. W. I.afferty, nominated for Congress iu this district, is a com paratively young man, full of brains and energy, and will make a representative that will be heard from iu Washington to the benefit of this district. He has had ex perience in departmental work in Washington and knows the ropes thoroughly, and he is uot the kind of a man who will wait for any body's consent to assert the claims of his constituency. Burns News. The city council performed a good act when the city engineer was directed Tuesday night to se cure the necessary data for the im provement of Dawson street. With Fessenden and Dawson streets im proved the loop of the trolley line will be encircled witli improved streets. o Proacu tho gospel of St. John. Council Proceedings Ail members were present at the regular meeting of the city fathers "Vithy t'ght witli Mayor Hcn hl'Jcs. ceding. Tiic first matter taken up was an application for an arc light at the corner of Burling ton and Leonard streets. On motion of Mr. Doblc petition was accepted and ordered filed. A communication from the St. Johns baud asking that they be al lowed to practice iu the city hall on Monday nights os heretofore was read, and also a remonstrance by the fire department against said band using the hall on Monday tiignts, tuc latter claiming that the baud interfered with holding their idnr titig on that night. The aililrp t d grounds committee, ociicviug that the fire department was of the greater importance, and as they had a prior right to the hall on that night, reported to that effect. After which the baud mem bers asked for Wednesday night, which was agreed upon. Thus a matter that promised to cause ill feelings between the baud boys and fire laddies was amicably adjusted. Bids for the improvement of Mo hawk street, Willamette boulevard to Ivauhoc street, was next iu order aud the bid of Thus. 11. Cochran was found to be the low est. His bid read: Cut 38c, fill 10c, walk and curb $1.02, cross walks and box gutters, 45c, ma cadam $2.75 per yard. This bid being below the engineer's estimate, Mr. Cochran was awarded the con tract. The application of Shurmait Cochran for renewal of liquor li cense was recommended by the license committee. A resolution to improve New York street, Hayes to Willis boule vard, by cement walk mid macadam was adopted on motion of Mr. Davis. Au ordinance establishing the grade of Crawford street, Richmond to Pittsburg, was passed 011 motion of Mr. Dobie. Upon motion of Mr. Davis the engineer was directed to draw plat of Dawson street from' ColiililUlu boulevard to the southern city lim its, and furnish t'c necessary data so that this itnortant street might be taken up ami improved next spring. Mayor Hendricks tiunouiicud that he had selected E. F. Day, Dr. Joseph McChesuey anil T, II. Cochran to gather the necessary data and interview the atithorltitsrt of I.inuton with the object of con structing 11 free ferry jointly. l he light committee was in structed to take up all applications for arc lights now on file, and if it is found after investigation that all are needed, all will be granted. Boys' Meeting The Portland Young Mon's Christian Association is planning to hold a series of Sunday afternoon meetings for boys. It is IioikmI that arrangements can lie made for these meetings iu several suctions of (lie city, aud that later boys from all these sections can be gathered in some large church or theatre on the West Side for a mass meeting, at which a prominent man from out of town will speak. Beginning on next Sunday, October 30, a boys' meeting will b conducted at the St. Johns Metho dist church. It is very desirable that all who are interested iu the boy life of the community give this their hearty sumwt. Only boys fourteen years of uge aud over will be admitted, but all boys of that age iu St. Johns ought to be there. The Y. M. C. A. asks the coopera tion of all churches aud all fathers aud mothers in making the united meeting of the scries a strong oue iu point of numbers. An able man, one greatly interested iu boys, will be secured to address the meeting, and every boy who attends will en joy a treat. Building Permits No, 147 To N. A. Gee to un derpin building on Burlington street between Ivanhoe and Hayes for I.authers Mercantile Co.; cost $50. No. 148 -To T. W. Birch to erect dwelling on Willamette boule vard between Ida aud Alma streets for J, S. McKiuney; cost $1400. As an instance showing that po tatoes thrive on the peninsula, N. A. Gee left with us Monday the result of oue hill of spuds dug from Myer Gatton's farm iu the north end. The weight of the Murphys was 10 pounds, 7 ounces, and they were large and firm.