The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-01-01
Public improvements !.

u
history of Ogden City for the year 1887
will be called upon to devote no inc0n-
siderably space to the agitation Tor
public improvement which has so con-
spicuously characterized that period.
The past year will ever besreme inferred
commercially as the year In Which the
Chamber OF Commerce was organized,
an event which will do much towards
eradicatipg the social distinctions which
nave hitherto materially lmpeded the
progress and growth of our city, an oc-
currence which marked the commence
meuu or an era of final cial prosperity
ana social happlnsss
The destiny unSpbtediy before the
Junction City on &C, ounL OF It's natural
geographical position, guaranteeing
| com merclal importance, its close prox1
unity to wat, in fact, lnexha'subIe
mineral wealth, demands that puollc
improvements be inaugurated by lie
gentlemen who are the guardians Oh
orr clty's welfare. The public are
alive TO the urgency OF measures sucn
as the construction of an efficient sys-
TEN of sewerage, the erection of a new
civ hall, and the building OF CHI
boulevard; and il is d question In the
minds of many as TO which OF THESE
improvements is The most urgent. 10
our mind there can be no doubt buI
that u thorough system. of sewerage
might be placed in the front rank OF
matters pressing themselves upon
the attention of p the people o.
this civ. The protection OF the lives Of
it's cluzensi is certainly the first duty o.
munici pal body, having the PUBLIC
trust il it's charge. However, there |:
familiar dage, none the less valuable
on that account, which says tnat th'
coat mu stS be cut according to tb'
cloth " an admIrabIe truasm which mus
realization III matters pertaIfAng TO tn
pubic as WELT az lrtSate veal - 10
bodycorporaLe having Extensive sources
OF ~ealtn ther-, could be u ade ne oD
jecuox. whichever to the 1expendltur'
which the laying, OF d eomplete ant
necessa. lfsexpe nsiye 50 stetn OF se"er
age involves but stn inysstigation 9
the clrcum .tsnc OF Ogden Guy vii
amply snow that at tn- -nresent time
this question is ole whicn cannot b
ACCORDED Z place IN tDe category Q
practical politics.. In connection vi
la Consideration Of this subject
4fit~-is It.c duty of all to in
4 ori5e into TN. tnant''' condition 0
cspacDsy IT oar, nlun Clip ali 7, before
/; Eyenturing to sxpi ess al opinion as
the prae lea billy OR practlGablllty g
n any scneine which may Ue laid befor
4 them, or agtated Iorlvate circles or /
4 the uublic press. We would rejoice t
Sc Ogden possess al efficient system
sewerage; We would like to be able t
psze. in common with cur fellow clti
Zens. moon a maeuiticent munlclps
mar Il we would enjoy, as much q
anvoAe i've along ne contemplate
beautiful If boulevard, where W
could the tier behold the majesti
grandeur whlca nature has thrust upo
THIS favored region; and We believe W
shall have the pleasure OF seeing a
: these projects verified. But do no
IanUiclpate q realization of them TIL
year or next. II may De asked, Why
We a. swer. because Ogden IS no
in a position to put into etteo
the modest, yet, for its resources, ex
travagant schemes which have been &C
vocated in some quarters. She should
however, make such public improve
!. ments at once as she is financially caps
l. BILE Of. Tho vitaLand burning question
therefore, is which OF the suggested i'm
= provements is the most needed an
practicable. We have briefly pointe
/, out that it is altogether impracticabl
= at present, on account of the great e.
pense, to lay system of sewerage, bu
/ we believe-Rnd our view is shared b
the representative men OF this cou
munity-that the city should waste n
time in building news city halAs or
which would be credit to the city no
and for. many prospective years. "
advocates the erection of this bulldln
n not so much because we think II
urgency of the public business demand
t,as for the purpose OF showlng lntendlr
investors in real estate and other prop
erty in this city that we are governe
by a progressive class of men; and, 8
7 We have before limited. were the city i
g proper financial position to make a
the, improvements indicated, cur pc
would not be found, for a single me
, ment, in opposition 20 any one OF then
But we think the conservative bushes
men of the city. aud all thinking pee
pie, will agree that the financial capat
ity of our municipality should be
consideration not to be overlooked IN
discussion of this subject We Lay
q. made some Investigations, which "
think it would be wise and. interestir
to our readers to produce for the
perusal. The city charter. section 2
provides that 1.-The council shall hay
power to borrow money for city pu'
poses, the interest of which shall not e.
,g coed one-fourth of the city reyenr
arising from taxes of the previol
" year.n In1SS6 the city taxes amounts
to $10.32O one-fourth of which is 81 SO
Money cannot be obtained for less thu
8 per cent. per annum, which won
= have enabled the city in 1887 to ha'
borrowed $50, COO, supposing no other j
, debtedness had existed, but as the eli
:, already owed sum of $4,000, the n
total borrowing capacity of the city
1887 was reduced to 1900. II
taxes for 1887 will. probably, amou
to about $13. 1000, one-fourth of which
y sufficient to pay intSest on borrowt
sum of SAC. 600. The City then is on