The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-09-22
SEWERAGE.

the past year the cry mas grown very
loud. The newspapers had much to say
on the subject, individuals have done a
great deal of public and private talk
lag, and two City Coancils have strug-
gled with the question. As result OF
the agitation the Council has recently
adopted an ordinance providing in
what manner sewerage system shall
be constructed and how the expense
shall be borne. 1t has, by recent &C
ton, also defined the FIRST sewerage dis
trict, and announced an intention to
proceed with the work when the prop
erty owners in that district shall have
decided that they want the improve
ment. The assessment will be on the
real property in the district, the tax
being per cent. of the assessed value
for this year. The real estate owners
will have until October 18th to say if
they object to the improvement. On
the dSy mentioned the Council will
meet to hear and consider the protests
and objections; if these, in the aggre-
gate, do not cover more than half, in
value of the zeal property in the dis
trict, then the assessment will be made
and the severe ordered.
twill thus be seen that the matter IS
left entirely TO the decision of those
directly terested, not only in the
expendi. are Of the money but in the
benefits to be derived from the improve
ment. irresponsible and non-property-
owning persens>ca commit others
TO the undertaking, and an Individual
can favor or oppose the scheme only to
the extent of his holding, be it little or
much. The rule seems fair and equit-
able.
There cannot be two opinions as to
the necessity for sewerage in the
thickly settled and closely built dis
trict of the city. It is demanded first
on sanitary grounds, and second, as
a matter of convenience. We do not
know how much Of the sickness and
death in thisecity is due to the absence
of sewerage; there is probably less than
most people charge, but that there is
some due to That absence no one will
deny. All summer long foul odors
arising from Stops and filth which would
be carried off through the sewers, are
encountered. We all know that wells
have been rendered useless, and the
bitches are reeking with filth. In
other places fevers and similar diseases
are attributed largely to uncleanliness,
cesspools such as are common in this
city coming in for large share of
responsibility for the filth-fever con-
tagions. WHAT'S true elsewhere must
be true here, the same conditions pre-
vailing.
In this connection it should also be
borne in mind that the lack of sewer
age is a very serious detriment to the
city's growth and development
People are 10th to live and invest
money in city which is without sew
ers. 1t is also fact that the laying of
savers has almost invariably been fol-
lowed by rapid growth in population
and wealth. Especially is this true of
the western cities. Property has in
creased in selling value much more
than the cost of the sewers. We believe
this may safely be said of Denver,
Omaha, Kansas City. Wichita, Los An
geles, San Diego, and in fact of every
western .own which has put in sewer
age. We also believe the result would
be the same in this city, the increase in
the value of real property in the sewer
district being at once increased much
more than the aggregate cost of the
improvements. Parties who have
thought of investing capital here have
changed their minds upon hearing that
there wss no sewerage system.
But the matter is now fairly before
tie people. Each property owner in
the district can readily ascertain what
the cost to him will be, and he can
therefore act intelligently. There is
plenty OF time in which to consider
We hope ell will proceed with deIibera.
ton, and as they deem best for them
selves individually and for Salt Lake
City. -'