The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-11-13

Sentidl Vil Vic CallIOrnla state line.
Other very Important roads in and
through Utah have been determined
upon by powerful corporations.
When they are completed. every
part of Utah will be easily Access
sible, and we shall have choice of
competing lines East and West.
TRADE AND COMMERCE.
%. Business Statistics.-Before
the completion of the overland rail-
road, the imports and exports of
Utah did not exceed twelve thou
sand tons per annum. Since that,
they have averaged nearly twelve
times that; two-thirds imports, one
half incidental to mining. The
value of the yearly imports and ex-
ports is not far from sixteen million
dollars. JobberS and retailers do a
yearly business of ten million dol
lars. Perhaps three and one-half
millions are engaged IN trade; most
of 1t is done by a few houses. The
heaviest is lions Cooperative Mer-
camille Institution, Of Salt Lake
City, which, with its branches at
Ogden and Logan, imports one.third
Of all the merchandise used in the
. Territory. 1t has eight hundred
stockholders, and a cash capital of
seven hundred and fifty thousand
dollars. There is a cooperative in
stitution in nearly every settlement,
buying of the big institution at Salt
Lake City, and selling to it the
country produce they take in for
goods, but they are not branches.
They have thousands of stock
holders, and most Of the people
patrOnize them. Fifty Insurance
companies carry four hundred thou
sand dollars insurance on buildings,
and perhaps fifteen hundred thou
sand on merchandise in stock, re-
presenting, it is estimated three
fourths of its average value. There
are one national and ten private
banks, with an aggregate capital of
eight hundred thousand dollars;
average deposits, two millions;
average loans, fifteen hundred thou
sand, drawing twenty-five millions
exchange yearly.
20. ReCe11lGe, TGTeS.-There are
no debts on account Of railroad con-
structiOn. The revenue law is lib
eral. Rates of taxation are three
mills for territorial, and three for
school purposes; counties may levy
IN their discretion not more than
six; towns are restricted to five for
ordinary expenses, five for opening,
improving, and keeping in repair
the streets; while they are all en-
powered to tax in their discretion 10
provide water and water works.
Real estate is directly taxed upon
assessment of value. Mines are
exempt, but improvements on mines
are not. Personal property, although
owned by nOn-residents, is taxed if
within the Territory. From tax
able credits, debts are allowed to be
deducted. Stocks of interpretations
whose property is taxable, are
exempt. Taxable property, twenty
five millions. In no other state or
territory are the taxes so mod
crate.
80. Ad0GntageS.-The location of
Utah must always give it important
In the heart Of the
Rocky Mountains, moderate in altI-
tude, with fine climate, rich val
leys we'll watered, mineral ranges
wooded and affOrding limitless pas
turage and water power, giving rise
to a mixed industry, tTaversed by
the natural routes Of trade and
travel, rapidly filing with people.
As the channels Of intercourse be-
tween the surrounding young com
mOnWealthS necessarily stretch
across Utah, the tide Of population
and business prosperity, rising in |
these, must correSpOndingly rise in |
our Territory like water seeking its |
level. Yearly our people more and |
more engage in mining, smelling,
stock raising. specuIat-
ing, whatnOt. beyond the territorial |
limits. Yearly our trade, drawn by |!
overwhelming railroads, finds new
broadening and expanding
On every hand the theater of its
operations and influence. CONNER
,ial pre-eminence among the future
great mountain states is easily
within the grasp Of Utah's business
Nen.
EDUCATIONAL.
al Sc60OI SlIStejn-AD annual