The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-05-12
BUILDING MATTERS.

1t is evident that building boom
OF no small proportions has struck
Salt Lake. The sounds OF the saw
and hammer are heard in every d.
rection, end already there is a soar
city OF mechanics. Some elegant
business blocks. equal to anything in
the town, are begun, and others are
in contemplation, while residences
and email stores and shops, are going
up on every hand. We predict that
in 1881 more money will be spent
for buildings in Salt Lake than has
been spent 10 any single year Of its
sxistence. And what makes this re-
mGEksble activity more interesting is
the fact that every store, dwelling or
other house that is going up is needed.
Some Sre rented before the founda-
tions are laid, and the demand 10 20
great IS TO make it certain that none
OF the new buildings will long remain
unocoupied. The men VINO are put
ting their money into stGres and bust
ness blocks are taking slight
risks, in speculative sense.
They have 81 an inducement and
encouragement for their Investment
what may be regarded as almost .
certainty for fair interest on their
money. The city is enjoying . period
of business prosperity and activity
which promises to remain with it for
q long time, the new railroads com
ing, the opening of the mines and the
development of other industries which
have their headquarters here, all
confirming this belief
In connection with this building
boom there are some points which
ought AZ be taken into consideration.
One of these il the TACT that the
blocks or squares IN the business part
of the city are entirely too large. Zoo
much valuable land in the rear is
rendered worthless. Perhaps one-nali
of the ten-Acrs block upon which the
HERALD building stands lie Waste, aud
yet the block is i'll the business centre
OF the town, containing the Theatre,
the immense Cooperative establish
ment, the Deseret National Bank aud
Sharp block Of buildings. with the
Hooper and Eldredge block now
going up, besides mAnJ other lesser
business places and a mum Der OF pri-
Vate residences. The front only on
the west and south sldes-eigh:y rods
gan be improved and utilized, all
the interior being shut out from a
street. What is true of this block is
also true OF pretty nearly every other
square in the business portion OF the
city. One hundred and sixty rods
facing q street Can be built upon and
utilized, whereas there might be
twice Sc much serViceable frontage i!
streets we're opened vt right angles
through the centres of the blocFR.
The increased vAlue of the land
would certainly more than balance |
the cost of the territory covered by |
streets.
Another matter connected with the
subject of building and improving is
not 50 easily arranged. Any one at
al familiar with the city can peint
out scores OF places in the very heart
of the town that remain unimproVed
through the system that prevails here
Of short term ground leaseg There
are many other little sites OF one, two
Or three rods in the hands of those
Who cannot or will not improve their
premises, nor sell TO others more
in their iiess. We
night designate almost whole blocks
If rattle trap shsnties. tumbls-doWn
houses, and miserable wooden shells,
low made to serve as temporary con-
for their renting occupants,
nut which are 8 disgrace to tbe quar- 5
srs OF the city in which they exist.
t would be the occasion. if not for
sioicing, for only slight regret, if 3 !
re we're to sweep them clean, eSpe. I
tally if it would carry of with them
be system OF leasing which prevents !
uildinR and Improvements. The
ian with lease for q few years does I
OF feel like erecting building suoh :
. he would construct we're the land L
is own, or such as the quarter OF the v
ty in which il is located is entitled d
J. Again, a person may be G
rtunate enough to own t
d or tive OF front in some y
sntral position, to which be q
olds fast with q tenacity that may f,
\ credit 10 his Qualities of sticking,