The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-08-24
AS TO SEWERAGE.


deny. But that the city should be
plunged wildly into heavy expenditures
therefor, simply because some persons
wa 1t il, is rubbish.
The position of one councillor, that
the citizens should not be consulted on
SO important matter, is in keeping with
the prolonged policy of one class here
which never had a conception that
the bulk of the people have any rights.
If the sewerage is to be paid for by the
citizens, they should have something to
say about it. This is worthy OF con-
sideration from the fact that the people
elected the members of the Council to
perform certain iabors for them, not
.thatit should be their task masters.
1t does not follow that the people of
outlying wards should be compelled to
pay for Sewerage because the congested
district within the fire limits is
in desperate need of it, no matter
how much papers and individuals may
clamor for it. We have some reccllec-
lion of the manner in which all classes
of citizens once paid for water mains
for a particular section, when they now
have to pay for their own. It would
not be well to repeat this performance.
It is evident that consideration OF
the subject of sewerage by the
committee of the Council has not
enabled them to reach definite
conclusion. Whatever may have been
the cause, whether lack OF time to
attend to this special duty or soma other
cause, it has not bsen considered as
thoroughly as Its importan &c demands
The questions to be conside red relate to
several important branches of the
subject. If it is absolutely necessary
for the health of the people and the
prosperity of the city. we do not think
the question of money should dster
sction tWenty-four hours. When 1t is
learned absolutely what can BE- done,
and that it is absolutely necessary that
it shouId be done, thea let it be done.
It has not yet bean demonstrated
what should be done with the sewage.
It is not certain that the Jordan
water will carry the sewage into the
lake, when once it is taken to the Jor-
dan River, as the water theirs is slug
gish and is very low at times.
Nor is it at all certain that it will not
do more harm than good if it gets into
the lake. Water does not purify. 1t
carries. That is all. We cannot afford
to take the chances of injury to the
lake, which promises to become one o
the greatest of our wealth producers, t.
crafty any whims from whatever
source, SO long as there still remain
other means for the disposal of the sew
age.
There are those who contend that i
woold be infinitely better to drain it t.
some tract and there utilize it, and thi;
is not without q wise foresight, astha
which is taken from the land could b
returned two fold and the land mad
richer.
We do not like the idea of turning
the whole matter over to the Council a
a body. This may lessen the weight o
individual responsibility, but We doub
if any member, unless it is Mr.. Ritter
presumes to be familiar enougl
with this subject to pass decisiy
Judgment on it. The gentlemal
in excess OF other members, perhaps
but he seems to be too busy to give hi
attention to it, and is hardly prepared
to say what he thinks should be done
Something ha got to be done, that
clear. But not one dollar should b
spent until the most perfect light posi-
BILE has been had on the subject, and
definite plan can be worked, and wit
the assurance of reasonably definite re
suits, Time is precious, but not 8
precious that we can afford mistakes
If the members of the Council have nc
the time TO devote to thi, ques .ior
then competent persons should be en-
pIoyed. This is economy. This tn
HERALD has urged from the beginning
It's in the best interest of the city. l
the main, we view it as waste of tin
for the Council to get together nigt
after night and discuss this matte
until data, or that which is cIearl
definite, can be had to work upon.
Whatever may be done, we trust thu
no member will vote for or against til
measure because of button-holing ehal
or the Iashing or eajoling of newsp
pers. So far as there is wisdom in viii
the papers urge so far let it weigh.
But let US have g beginning of de6ni
investigations, that clear understand
ing of what is wanted to be done ms
be had, ard then let US do it and gu
Touring -,Jout the cost. 1t will
cheap at any honest price if we need
We want no experiments or que
work, however.