The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-04-23
MUNICIPAL LAND DONATIONS


tention to what the last Legislature
inaugurated in Salt Lake in public
works, i. e. the laying out OF Capito
grounds and the erection OF buildings
for Territorial fair purposes. The Legis'
lature appropriated $4,000 for these
two purposes. But consider the gift Of
Salt Lake City to the Territory in re-
turn for which this trifiug sum is ap-
propriated. On Capitol Hill it gave
twenty acres of ground-or two large
city blocks. II this land were owned by
an individual, he would cut it up into
lots and if it lies Alright or If it lies in
the shape of the ten acre squares OF our
city, it could easily be subdiVided so as
to give frontage of 44s rods. Over
two months ago, property on the street
running up to Capitol Hill was valued
and sold at S10O foot. 1t cannot be
bought for that to-day. This makes its
value$1 $50 a rod. Let US put it at 81,
600 rod all through and it would bring
easily, If placed upon the market, $500,
900, allowing for eight rod streets as now
and every rod of frontage would carry
with it depth of ten rods.
The city also gave the Tenth Ward
Square 70 the Territory. This is ten-acre
block. Cut an eight rod street through it,
running north and south, and we have q
frontage of 224 rods, each rod of front
age carrying with it ten rods of ground
running back. Say we value this at $500
a rod and it will bring over 500 COO.
Thus We have, as the market goes, $500,
600 worth of property, given by Salt
Lake City to the Territory for the good
eff the commonwealth, in return for
which an appropriation of $4,000 is
made. The gift is munihcent one,
and half million dollars is BOT trif1-
ing donation for city of 80 900 inhsbit-
ants. OF course, the investment was
wise and Judicious. 1t will bring IN
infinitely more than may yet be est =
mated.
Moreover, the city has a park even
now of ITO acres in the southeastern
part of the city. And there is desire
on the part of some prominent men to
reserve very handsome proportion of
the ci:y's possessions adjoining the
twenty-acre tract given to the Territory
as park for the citizens OF the north
and northwestern parts of the city.
Again, another five acres is to be set
apart for lake or reservoir adjoining
the Capitol grounds, il which the Ter
ritory will have an equal interest with
the city.
At the recent session of the City
Council 1t was proposed to give to the
government of the Unitsd States two
and half acres of ground in the same
vicinity if Congress makes an appro-
priation to have suitable buildings
erected thereon for government use
the postofice, courts, land surveyors,
revenue collectors and other Offices.
These places are now scattered about
the town, here and there, in any place,
insecure and not overly accessible.
There Is also a ten-acre square down
toward the D. IL r. G. depot, known as
the Old Fort, from the fact that the
pioneers threw wall around it when
they first came, and converted it into a
fort for protection from Indian depre-
dations. 1t is believed a better site
could not be selected for Union Depot,
and there is little doubt that the city
will also make gift of this, had it assur-
ances that the roads now in Salt Lake
and coming this way would unite, erect
a handsome Union Depot there and
manifest disposition 10 do something
for the city.
Sill another ten-aore square is re-
serye'. 1t lies on the State road-main
wagon way of the Territory. One half
of H. is used as q camping ground and
bay market, the other half has long
been devoted to outdoor sports, base
ball, bicycling, etc.
The CRY still owns much more ground
on Capitol Hill and in some other quar-
ers, so that There is no lack of ground,
and the recent as we'll as former gifts
of land, show how wisely and yet how
1t is being disposed of.