The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1880-02-27

1870 Z,OOO.lG
1879, 1,96O.95 1856
Making the aggregate
spent OF the territorial and
county taxes in two years
the sum of SO, 1S6 81
Stated in round numbers, equal tc
S38, 900 per annum. When we con-
slider that we have thirty-seven
cities, having charters authorizing an
expenditure OF money, for roads,
canals and bridges within their
limits, who are not required by Law
to report to the Legislature either
their income or expenditures and
when it is known to Us that many of
these cities have wide streets. miles
in length, which have had and must
have annually money expended upon
them arising from the city revenue.
it is only reasonable to conclude
that the annual expenditure on these
branches OF public improvements
can not be less than $4,000. In
these items you will perceive the
item for repairs on roads by the poll
tax Is omitted it not appearing in any
OF the reports.
In our city, Salt Lake, we have
near, perhaps quite, thirty miles OF
streets which it needs no prophet to
tell UP, will with the exception OF the
central business portions soon be
avenues shaded with trees on each
margin. In Salt Lake County south
of the city and east of the River
Jordan-Utah outlet-for a distance
from six to ten miles the land origi-
nalIy was laid out into and now is in
blocks some of 100, others of $50
acres each with streets running At
right angles east and west and north
and south and the blocks laid of
some into five and others into ten
acre lots in such manner as to give
each owner of lot street or road
in front of his lot. The number OF
miles of these roads I 60 not know.
But / am safe in saying in Salt Lake
County alone excluding streets in the
city, there must be not less than 200
miles OF roads to be provided by the
county courts. Add to this the fact
that ali the lani requires irrigation;
to accomplish this, the water must be
taken from the natural channels and
brought over the roads as we'll as over
the Land. II all these be taken into
account the expenditure for Toads,
bridges and canals will at once
appear reasonable. My surprise is
tba! it has not cost g much greater
sum.
After writing the above estimate
OF roads in Sat Lake County, |
paused lest my estimate was too high.
find on reflection a road west tC
Tooele County about twenty miles,
another west of Jordan soath about
twenty-five miles with branches wesi
to Bingham Canon and BulterGelC
Canon each of some miles in length
The State road from the city south t,
the Point Of the Mountain, abou
twenty five miles, with branches ives
to the Jordan and east to the two
Cottonwood, that up in the canon
say from fifteen to twenty miles each
also east to the Summit, by way o
Mil Creek, a distance of twenty
miles more. These, without est.
mating the roads in the big field, s.
called, make about $50 or 40 miles
II it be good often to recur to frs
principles IN matters of government
it may also be good 10 recur to fact
within our remembrance. Abou
ten years ago, before the railroad
we're built, we who then resided il
this city were glad to see good read
when we went out. Now the rail
roads furnish US q cheaper, sale
and more expeditions mode Of travel
ing, We forget the inhabitants Of thu
country need roads and bridge
about as much SIS we did tina
have yet to learn that crossing a linz
from city to country, or from countr
to city purlfes a man or renders hi
rights and duties less, or that q Cit
can flourish without a toluiry. Ihel
interests are mutual.
Other parts Of the report next time
Little things staudin{ round otel
tattle. Yours truly,
u. SNOW.
P. ST. have selected Salt Lax
County to comment upon the lepgt
of road and of the bridge and cana
expense, for the reaeon tla' l at
better acquainted with the roads
bridges and canals in that count
than n any other. so long as | b,
iIieve q re are fountains OF wealth i
the waters 0t these valleys, l can i'll
afford to epesk against canale. "
may dread tie expense, but water u
must have. II. :.