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About St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 4, 1910)
Hiaforlcnl Society ST. JOHNS REVIEW J IT'S NOW UP TO YOU GET IN THE HABIT 0J admltilot In THIS Ptptt and you'll nTtrrrTt It. De (In tt oncaand kttp right at II Toiubtcrlb (or THIS Paper. All Ihe newt whlla It If newt It our motto, Call In and enroll Devoted to the loteretti of the PeittHwIa, the Manufacturing Center ot tlie Northwest VOL. 6 ST. JOHNS, OREGON, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4. i9". NO. 52 Pause and Consider Absurd Statements A Rare Treat . Water Famine Parches Against Annexation Issue in Doubt Council Proceedings Voter, before you cast your bal lot upon annexation, consider just what it means to St. Johns. It a question of most vital importance ana deserves the most thotightfu consideration. It incuts whether the city government shall be con turned or destroyed. It means step, if taken, that can never be rc rained, and yet it is a step that can be taken ut any time. Is there nny good reason why it should be taken now? Has Portland proven that it can take care of its suburbs better than we can ourselves? If not, and you know that it has not, why should wc add to Portland's troub les? If one councilman can look after our interests better than seven, -why not reduce our councilmcu to one, by amendment of the charter, and. retain our city government? Isn't it humiliating in the extreme that wc should have to confess to the world at large that wc arc un able and unfitted to govern our selves? Yet this is what a vote for annexation amounts to. That run gtd old pioneer, James John, who left his all to perpetuate the city of St. Johns, believed he was handing down a legacy to strong, sturdy, scif-rcliaut American p?ople, who were capable of self government, and not a weak-kneed, Cringing, .Russian-hearted people. Annexa tion means just this. To which class do you belong? Holding the Key 01 me rortiatui- harbor in our hands, shall wc give it up without even the assurance of anything in return? Shalt we prove true to the trust imposed in tis, or shall we de liver up the key to Portland with the acknowledgment that we are unfitted to longer keep it ? Let us consider what wc should lose by annexing to Portland at this time. Our high school build ing will not be used for high school purposes, because there will be no high school in St. Johns. All high cr grade pupils will be compelled to go nearer the hcrtrt of the city the only places where high schools arc found in any city. Our city dock would undoubtedly be turned over to the O. R. & N, Co,, because Portland would have 110 use for it so far from the big business center with its big ware houses. The city hall would be teuantlcss, unless leased for some business purpose. Our streets would cost more for im provement because we would have to pay more for crushed rock than we arc now doing. Our taxes would lie at least one-third greater, Build iug permits would cost more. Our gas would be cheaper in price and poorer In quality. Water rates and service would remain the same. As to insurance, if the risk would be less, insurance would be lower, but not otherwise. It would cost time and money to present petitions be fore council. We would lose a large city pay roll. We would lose our individuality. We would lose our hope of securing a free ferry. We could not even repair our sidewalks without a permit, costing $5. A building could not be moved with out a permit nor could one be built or an addition made without pre senting plans to the building in spector. These are a few of the things we would run into by an nexation. As to the gain, there would be none, outside of the senti mental fact that we would be resi dents of a larger city. Therefore, Mr. Voter, as you take your ballot in your hand, hesi tate before you vote to kill the city of St. Johns, and consider that if evils exist here whether annexation Is the proper remedy to apply? Why not try to remedy them our selves instead of asking another city to do it for us? Surely the progress made by St. Johns in the past five years has been splendid, and proportionately we have grown more rapidly than Portland. Don't leap from a certainty to an uncer tainty. You have some power in St. Johns, but you would have lit tle in Portland, Let us continue to guide our own destinies, Assert your manhood and independence and you will have done your duty. A prominent contractor .and builder has estimated that it will cost Ifoo more to build an ordinary house-after annexation than is now the case. The Portland building regulations are something fierce. It takes a separate chimney for each stqye on the same floor of any dwelling and all must be built from the ground"1 up, plastered on the in side and outside with cement. Plumbing and electric wiring must also be inspected. These may be good things, but they come high. Building permits are more expen sive in Portland. For Sale One dozen hens, also two fine, full-blooded white Wyan dotte cockerels. 304 North Hart miu Street, St. Johns, Oregon. The aid of Councilman Ellis of the Tenth Ward of Portland was invoked by the annexationists at their meeting in the city hall last Thursday night. It was believed by the dissatisfied ones that Mr. Ellis would show the people where they would be benefited by annexa tion to Portland and also advise them to vote that way. This he failed to do. He stated that he DID NOT KNOW WHETHER AN NEXATION WOULD PROVE BENEFICIAL OR NOT, that it was up to the people to decide for themselves. He said he believed wc would get a paid fire depart incut after consolidation. Judging from Albina and other suburbs, will be many, mnuy years after, He also stated that after annexation we could get nil the rock wc wanted at the Liuntou quarry for pract cully the hauling away, as there was now more rock on hand than could be disposed of. If Mr. Ellis did not know better than this he should. The quarry he mentioned is owned and operated by the county. ST. JOHNS NOW HAS JUST AS MUCH RIGHT TO ROCK FROM THIS QUARRY (5 DOES THIS CITY OK PORT LAND. Annexation docs not give us more right, and Mr. Ellis know t. Hut the county is not in the rock crushing business for the pur pose of furnishing rock free for al who in.iy desire it. To show how foolish and absurd Mr. Ellis' state incut was it is only necessary to cite to the fact that Portland con tractors arc now paying Mr. Ncasc at the Whitwood quarry $1.25 and 1.50 tier yard for crushed rock to be used on Portland streets. they could get it for nothing by go ug a few yards farther up the river on the best road in the state, why do they pay for something that they can get for nothing? isn't t ridiculous, to say the least? Sure ly Mr. Ellis' coming nnd the state ments he made gained no ground whatever for the annexationists. Would Rather Tear Down A man told us last week that the reason he was in favor of annex iug to Portland was because there was too much graft iu St. Johns, and he said the only reason he came to St. Johns was that he could get cheaper rent here. He also said that he never bought any thing iu St. Johns if he could help it, his store bills never running over two or three dollars per mouth. We could name a number of other agitatiouists who prey upon St. Johns and give nothing in return, who seek rather to tear dowit than to build up, who complain about the city not building up more rapid ly and yet they do all their buying in another city, it is not the peo pie who are trying to build up St. Johns that are dissatisfied, but it is those who have done nothing for the city, never speak a good word for it. are always complaining, never see any good in what has been done that are in favor of dis solving the city government. There are exceptions, of course, but if you investigate thoroughly you will find this to be the case in the great majority of instances. The Tax Levy The city recorder and counciltneu are of the opinion that the tax levy in St. Johns will not be as large next year as it was this year. And it should not be. The indebtedness of the rock crusher will be liqui dated this year, the valuation will be about $4,000,000, to say noth ing of the increased amount to be received from various licenses. The expenses of the city government should be no higher next year than this year, with the exception of a few additional arc lights and water hydrants. Therefore, a 4 1-2 mill levy should suffice, which would be 3-jo ot a mill less than this year. According to the Oregontan, Port land's levy will be 7 mills next year, or about forty per cent higher than in St. Johns. "When you hear a man cry graft, graft watch that man for he is the greatest grafter of all when opportu nity arises." Ben jamin Franklin. The exhibition given iu St. Johns rink last Thursday night under the auspices of the St. Johns Athletic association wa3 without doubt the finest and most exciting of any ever field in this city. Jack Duarte San Francisco was pitted against Acc Clement of Portland in a ten round encounter. From the sound of the gotig iu the first round tuc close ot the tenth round it was a battle royal. During the first part of the encounter it was any body's fight, out Duarte then com mcuccd to get his man, Steadily but surely he gamed, and iu th ninth round he had Clement swing ing wildly and ineffectually. Du arte has a mighty handy left which he kept jabbing His opponent fill iu the face time and again until the claret began to flow. Interspersing this repeatedly with vigorous body blows he had Clement badly winded and he only saved himself from knockout by continually clinching with Duarte in the tenth. No de disiou was rendered, but it was clearly Dttartc's fight. Clement was wotidcrfully plucky and never gave up for a minute. He demon strated that he was a fighter of no mean ability and has a terrible punch, but owing to Duarte' s effect ivc defense and agility was unable to land. Duarte showed no sigus of the milling in which he was cu gaged, while Clement s face was more or Isss bruised. Duarte is clever nnd aggressive pugilist nnd was utmost as fresh at the cud as at the beginning. The fight was well worth the admission price and the sports were greatly pleased with the exhibition given. The attend ancc was the largest that has ever assembled iu St. Johns to witness a boxing event. The two prelimina ries were not so interesting from the fact that two men scheduled failed to show up and substitutes were sunnlied. Abcruathv dis posed of his man iu one round, it being so ouc-sldcd that the referee refused to allow it to proceed fur ther. Bud Anderson bested his op XMicnt in two rounds of what was nteuded for a four-round bout. luck Day of Portland refcreed nil three iu fine style. Another excit ing fistic event is being arranged which will be for, particulars of announced later. The Mighty One Returns That it is the unexpected that always happens is again verified by the return of St. Johns' mighty Nimrod. Taschal was up on the Nahalem again last week and re turned Saturday covered with glory, deer, bear uud other stories. It was ike the boy after the woodchuck. Paschal was out of meat, and the song that he continually hummed as he went over the war path was: I've got to git him; we're out of meat," The first victim to Pas- dial's prowess was a four pronged buck. Not a tamed fawn tied to a post, he says. Then it seemed that the lust of blood filled the hunter's eyes so that he could not discern ttie dilferrnce between animals, tor two more deer, two fine pigs weigh- ng about 150 each and a tine, fat, tame goose fell before his unerring rifle in one, two, three order. Now," says Paschal, '"Let that dingbusted Charlie Bailey laugh, dodgast him, I've got the stuff to show for it." .It was the same way with the trout. The big ones that tad been getting away heretofore were victims this time to the lure of the modern Izak Walton. Strange how some people are in sistent for street improvement so ong as they do not have to pay any portion of same. When it is proposed to improve a street in which a proportion of the cost touches their pocketbook it is a boss of another color." They caunot see the need of the improve ment then. As long as the other fellow pays the bill street improve ment should be pushed to the limit. Lots of these kind of fellows in St. ohns. One of the most enjoyable hal- owe'en parties was given by Miss Alice Royer at the home of her parents, 317 Polk street. Those present vcre: Misses Hazel Peters Portland, Edna Smith, Anna. Shields, Mamie Gatton, Gertrude Redding, Christina Rood, Fern Harper, Flossie Hanson and Grace Royer. Messrs. Leslie Mahoney. Chas. Africa, Maurice McKinnon. Arthur Rood, Chas. Purkapile, Clifford Cheney, Ray Smith, Leslie Peterson, Edmond Whelau, Gustaf Carbart and George Royer. o The new Woodhouse block is as- KiHiiog shape. Sellwood is experiencing a water famine. There arc times iu the afternoon, while many people arc sprinkling their lawns and gardens, when water cannot be had even for drink. In more than half the homes iu this suburb and in the second stories, there is little water to be had iu the afternoon, and none at all when lawn sprinkling is being done. D. M. Donaugh said that iu the second story of the bank building at the corner of East Thirteenth street and Umatilla avenue, water cannot be had more than half the time. In his cottage on Umatilla avenue the water supply is meager, although the building is only one story, Mr. Donaugh, who is president Board of Trade, district must be reinforcing water ot the Sellwood declared that the provided with main. He pointed out that the Westmorland addition is drawing from the same ao-iucli main that supplies Sellwood, and that the shortage will increase as that nddi- dition builds up. Until relief can be had through another main, which caunot be laid this year, Mr. Donuugh said that it would be nec essary to limit or prohibit sprint- ling altogether, so that people can have water for domestic uses. The whole of the South East Side, declared Mr. Donaugh, needs more water at once and there should be no further delay. This is a very serious matter for nil our people, and should receive tin: immediate and serious attention of the author ities. E. W. Edward, secretary of the Sellwood Commercial Club said: "Conditions here arc intolerable and an outrage on the people. Hundreds, nay more, ore totally without water a considerable por tion of the time." Plans were drawn by the engin eer of the water plant for another reinforcing water main to supply the South, East Side, connecting with tliemain on- Division street and extending south west to hast Seventeenth street, thence through Midway and Westmorland to bell- wood, there connecting with the ircscut io-iiich main and forming a circuit. , However the matter was Iroppcd over a year ago and noth- ug was ever done, nuiiougii iiuui- erous committees nave oeseecneti the water committee to remedy conditions. That more than io.ooo people In the South East Slde.and particularly u Sellwood are suffering from a water famine was nunouiiced at the meeting last night of the Seventh Ward League ot the hall on Mil wnukie and Powell streets. Rcso- utious were adopted condemning the water committee for its neglect to provide for this water shortage by laying a reinforcing water main. L. E. Rice, Ben Riesland and oth ers spoke, declaring that the water committee had utterly neglected to make any provisions for the water shortage, although it had been urged to make provisions a year ago. The l.eague-s special water committee was instructed to call on the City Water Committee and de mand that relief be afforded ot once. Oregoniau, July 8, 1910, An Awkward Way. Every time we exercise the priv ege of a malv white citizen over 1 years of age and enter a voting booth we register a few words of contempt and derision for the man who got such things up, ami tue nlightened people of Oregon, who will continue to allow themselves to use such inconvenient structures. In the first place, they are always shoved off iu some comer of a dark room, and as soon as we enter the pen we are, of course, standing in our own light, so that generally we have to hold the ballot up over our shoulder, get our thumb on where we want to mate a mar, and then make the cross, repeating the operation for every man and measure we want to vote for. Matters could be remedied by put- tine the shelf on the left baud side of the booth. Ex. With the nearest hydrant several blocks away, the Portsmouth volun teer fire department was helpless yesterday, when fire attacked the residence of Jack Brown, a street railway conductor, at Courtney street and Willis boulevard, their hose being too short. The house and contents were destroyed with a loss of 1 1 000, on which there was insurance of $500. Telegram. If vou want some of our arc ights put out, vote for annexation. We now have .more thau Portland allows. Portland business men arc mak ing strong objection to annexing part of Clackamas county to Mult nomah. Ex-Postmaster John W. Miuto says that "inasmuch as some of tile best informed men iu Port laud ore now looking forward to the time when a uniform boundary line can be established for city and county and the governments of the two consolidated, the plan to in crease rather than diminish the size of the county is bad policy." Har vey Bcckwith, president of the Portland Commercial club, says: "Wc don't want to experiment too much. In a few years we shall be ready to follow the lead of Denver San Francisco, St. Louis and other cities and combine the city and county governments." Judge Mur tin L. Pipes says: "It would be better to have a county co-tcrmiii otis with the city and both under one government, thus saving the expense of a dual government." Judge Lionel R. Webster says "The fact is that the natural evolu tiou of Portland is to combine the city nnd county governments." Why would it not be n good plan for St. Johns to wait until this cvo lutiou takes place before annexing? It would be plenty soon enough. Wants Fire Aid Woodlawn wants fire protection and larger school-grounds, and at the meeting of the Woodlawn I111 proveuicut Association F r i d a y night, Charles II. York, presiding, it was decided to urge the city and school authorities to provide these requests. The committee on fire protection submitted nn extended report show ing that iu the Woodlawn district, witli Ainsworth avenue the south boundary and Union avenue the west boundary, the property is os scsscd ot $1,000,000 and contains 800 houses, ranging iu cost from $iaoo to $5000, nud yet there is no fire protection. The committee was instructed to file this report with the fire committee together with n request for fire protection. Iu the matter of school ground it was voted to ask the Board of Educa tion to secure more room by pur chase of adjoining lots for the school ground. It was reported that the 1 8-room schoolhousc which is now being erected will cover practically all the ground, leaving no playground for the pupils. There was 0 large at tendance of interested citizens. Oregoniau, Oct. 9, 1910, 7-Hill Tax Levy Estimated expenses of the Port land city government tor 191 1, as prepared by the various depart ments and submitted to Mayor Simon and City Auditor Barbtir, show an increase of 50 per cent over the expenditures for this year. Iu actual figures the increase is $1,169,102 01, for the estimates, as totalled yesterday afternoon, amount to $3,348,41 1.03, while the expendi tures for this year, based on care ful estimates made for the expense for the remainder of the year, amounted only to 12,074,309.03. If the City Council accepts the estimates as final, the city will be compelled to raise its tax levy al most to the limit allowed by law, 7 mills, and also tax the general fund, which is not associated iu any way with the tax levy, to its utmost capacity. "The various departments can not be granted all they osk fur the next year," said Mayor Simon yes terday afternoon, "but it is certain the tax levy will have to be in creased materially over what it was a year ago. The city is growing so rapidly that it is not possible to keep down its expenses. Various departments will have to be enlarged and main tained at a cousidarablc increase over last year's expeuse." Ore goniau. John McGregor, a i4-year-old lad, was accidentally shot in the leg near the knee by a companion last Saturday. The two were in a boat and Johnny was rowing. His com panion was fingering a small calibre rifle when it was discharged, the ball lodging in Johuny's leg. The injured lad was taken to St. Vin cent's hospital, Portland, where he is getting along nicely. There is a time and a place for all things. Now is the time aud you will find the place at 111 South Jersey street to have your clothing cleaned aud pressed. R. W. Montague filed a legal opinion with the St. Johns city offi cials, declaring that the steps thus far taken to annex St. Johns to Portland at the coming election were taken under the wrong sec tion of the code, and such annexa tion, if carried at the election, would be absolutely null and void. The action taken by the St. Johns people who ore anxious to be an nexed to Portland is section 2690, relating to the "chancinir of boun daries of incorporation," when as a matter of fact they should have proceeded under section 2601. re lating to the "consolidation of con tigtious corporations." The latter provides that when two municipal! tics desire to consolidate, the Conn cu or other legislative body of each of the cities affected "shall, upon receiving a petition therefor sigued by not less than one-fifth of the qualified electors of each of such corporations, as shown by the votes cast ot the last municipal election held in each of such corpor otions, submit to the electors of each of such corporations the qttes tiou whether such corporations snail be consolidated into one cor poration." The opinion of the attorney is to the effect that these provisions have not been complied with iu any man uer, that not enough of the St. Johns electors nptcarcd on the pc lillon for consolidation, and that such petition was not signed by the electors of Portland, mid he argues that as a result of these laches the election for annexation is illegal, ami 11 carried, without force or effect. The oniuioii oi Mr. Montague further holds that before cousollda tiou of the two municipalities could be had the bt. Johns charter would hove to be amended, as there is no provision iu it regarding cousollda tiou, but other legal opinion is that this would not be needed, ns the general code rules where no specific provision is made in a special law of the state lawmaking power, such as a city charter. Tuesday's Tele gram. Omaha Water Case Omaha Water Company operated under n twenty-year franchise with the following purchasing clause: "The city of Omaha shall have the right ot any time after the ex piration of twenty years to pur chase the said water works at an appraised valuation, which shall be ascertained by the estimate of three engineers, one to be selected by the city council, one by the waterworks company, and these two to select 0 third." Attempts mude to make the com pany sell to city at n price lower than real value. Company refuses to sell. City filially aptoiuts engineer iu effort to comply with franchise pro vision for purchase, Water com pany oppoiuts an engineer. These two engineers choose 0 third and begin work of appraisement. unginecrs make report showing plant to be worth $6,253,295,49, utmost twice as much ns municipal ownership advocates claimed a plant could be built for. City repudiates contract. Kugiu- eer employed by water board de clares system can be built for $3,- 000,000. Ivxamiiiatiou by experts show figures too low. Company tenders plant to city. render refused. Suit begun iu U. S. District court for specific performance. City fights suit. Water contract upheld by court. Case taken to Court of Appeals. Decision of lower court sustained, Case taken to U, S. Supreme Court by city. Supreme Court upholds decisions of lower courts and city is forced to abide by its contract und purchase and accept plant. ustimated money loss to the city during the years of litigation, in cluding lawyers' fees, court costs, interest charges, etc., about 52,- 500,000. Public Service. Mrs. J, B. Campbell left at this office Tuesday two large fine apples of the Spokane Beauty variety which were raised by Allen Tan nock, a neighbor of the Campbell's, near Gleucoe. Mrs. Campbell states that they are getting along nicely with the clearing of their 160 acre ranch and that she is enjoying the 'simple life" very much. If you want St. Johns to become known as the "North End" of Portland, vote for annexation. It tas an odoriferous reputation all over the state and thus this place can gain some free advertising. All members were present at the regular mcctinc of the citv council Tuesday evening with Mayor Hen dricks presiding. After the minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved, a petition for an arc light at the corner of Gilbert and Fcssenden streets was read, and on motion of Councilman Davis, re ferred to the light committee for recommendation. A bid for constructing the cross walks and box cutters on Fcssen den street was offered bv W. E. Hlllicr at a price of 42 cents per lineal foot. On motion of Council man Downey the bid was laid over for one week. The engineer's acceptance of Leonard street from Chicago to New York was also accepted by council. An ordinance presented by the Marine Iron Works by Dan Mayer confirming the vacation of parts of Albany, John and Charleston streets, which ore now occupied by the plant, was passed 011 motion of Councilman Whittle, Councilman Dobie offering the only negative vote. It may be found iu another column. Claims against the city to the amount of $195.13 were allowed on motion of Councilman Johnson. M. O. Ncasc, lessee of the rock crusher nud quarry nt Whitwood Court, applied for n new lease for 0 period of five years with 011 ontiou of five additional years. On motion of Mr. Downey the matter was laid on the table for one week for check ing up purposes. The water and light committee recommended that arc Ileitis be placed ot the following intersections: Allegheny nnd Willis boulevard; East Burlington nud Leonard; Decatur and Charleston: Oswego and Banks; Richmond and Hayes. 1 lie recommendation was confirmed by council on motion of Council man Cook nud the lights will be in stalled forthwith. The remaining six applications will be investigated before next Tuesday night. Coun cilman Davis took occasion to con gratulate the city upon its well lighted condition. An ordinance assessing the cost of the Philadelphia street sewer was passed 011 motion of Mr. Dobie. An ordinance providing the time and manner of sidewalklug Phila delphia street from Jersey to Ivan- Hoc with 18-foot cement sidewalks, and n like ordinance providing for the sldewalkiug of Burlington street from Hayes tolvauhoc with 1 2-foot cement walks were passed unani mously 011 motions of Davis aud Dobie, res)ectively. A Scenic Route The question of the street mil- way scenic route is ogam Doing mooted iu St. John. Evur since the county turned over the .suction of Willamette boulevard lying be tween their boundaries to the city of Portland the question has been simmering as to whether the street car company could not be induced to lay trucks along the boulevard all the way from St. Johns to Port- laud. The county is willing to turn over a section of the boulevard to St. Johns when it is ready to take it over. The construction' of such route would reduce the time em ployed in the journey to Portland considerably aud would give St. Johns at the most a 25-miutite ser vice. Added to this it would pro vide a scenic trip through one of the most beautiful landscapes on the Pacific coast and would be n source of joy to thousands of ex cursionists, A committee is being formed to take up this matter, and it is likely that a public meeting will be called to decide on what course the citizens should take, im mediately after the turmoil of the election is over. Journal The awnings and sidewalks are icing removed along Jersey street to give way to the new 1 2-foot cement walks which will be laid by Kilkenny Bros. Lack of material lias kept this work back about a mouth longer than should have been the case. It will be pushed with vigor from now on. 0 Mrs. J. B. Murphy of 837 North Kellogg, presented this office with several large, juicy strawberries Tuesday which she raised iu her garden. The largest was five inches iu circumference. She states that she has picked a number of boxen from the vines the past few days. 0 For Sale For one week, excel lent home property at 506 Wejgt Charleston street. Good terms to right party. Call at house.