The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-09-19
THE ROCK RAILROAp.

The HERALD learns that a petition is
being circulated and numerously signed
in the southern and southeastern por-
tons of the city against the construction
of the Salt Lake and Fort Douglas Rail
road, the right of way to which was
recently granted by the City Council.
This is in addition to the one
previously mentioned in these columns.
Perhaps those who agitate the question
and sign the petition know better what
they want than we do, and perhaps,
again, they are laboring under a misap-
prehension of the facts involved in and
surrounding the situation.
1t will be remembered that the city
government refused to let the proposed
road pass up Second South street be-
cause of the objections made by pro-
perty owners on that thoroughfare to
the project; and that subsequently,
when another petition, asking a right OF
way along Eighth South, was presented,
it was granted. We may be in error on
this matter, but it seems to us that the
Council acted wisely in the premises,
and will give the reasons for such
opinion.
If it would be public benefit to con-
meet Salt Lake City with Fort Douglas
and the sources of rock supply beyond
by means of railway communication,
no one should or perhaps will say that
the road should not be constructed, and
it is impracticable to construct it by
going outside the city except at the
point where it makes its exit there
from. If, by proceeding through the
city as described, residents will be in
convenienced, injured or annoyed, an
issue at once arises, and that issue-the
one which the Council doubtless con-
sidered thoroughly and well before act
ing-is, which is the greater interest,
that of the people Immediately affected
by the passage OF trains to and fro, or
that of the company and the public at
large? 1t must be conceded that where
interests conflict, the lesser must give
way to the greater, and the point to be
ascertained is only which of the two
preponderates.
In the case in question, THE HERALD
holds from the showing so far made
that the city would lose nothing and
gain great deal by the completion of
the railway under discussion. All such
routes are beneficial to thepublic, what
ever may be the detriment in individual
cases; they shorten the time and
cheaper the rate of transportation
from point to point, and this
is gain for everybody, since it makes a
dollar go further and count for more
than formerly. Fort Douglas is per-
manent institution of the Territory; but
Il it were not, the resources beyond it
are of sufficient consequence to be en-
titled to consideration; as the city
grows, the demand for rock increases in
corresponding ratio; and while it vii
doubtless be contended that the rail-
road would seriously affect the owners
of wagons and teams who wholly
or partially make their living by haul
ing, we respectfully suggest, with all due
Difference to the opinions of the persons
entertaining them, that their views are
short-sighted and their opposition any
thing but well grounded. The poor as
well as the rich build houses, and If they
can obtain rock for one-IaIf or one
fourth the price per cord it costs
them to have it hauled by wagons,
they are gamers to that ex-
tent; the gain, while comparatively
inconsequential to the more wealthy,
would be a matter of no little import
ance to those in humber circumstances
and the fOotingS at the end of decade
would show that the small builders and
spectators, whose numbers constantly
increase, had gained more by the in
creased facilities for transportation than
the teamsters-whose number under the
improved condition of things would also
increase, and who would find better en-
ployment at more remunerative rates
had lost. This being the case, one OBJ
lection is disposed of.
Another objection raised is the Earring
and continual tumult created by the
passage of trains drawn by locomotives
along the line of dwellings, on either
side. This is absurd. AS well might
the people of Third and Fourth West
streets-where the population is greatly
in excess of what it will be on Eighth
South for some years to come-have
the construction of the
Utah Central through those avenues
for the same reason; yet its trains
run continually, sometimes at night,
and what has been the result? What
owner has been injured, or,
rather, what property owner has not
been benefited by the constant and ma
iestie march of the iron horse alongside
Of his possessions? The noise may have