The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-02-18
To DIVIDE CITY HALL BLOCK.
The Petition Of the Chamber of
Commerce to the City Council.

COl1lnorC6 10 Tue ClCy CUunc1I.
To the Moyor and City Council of Ogden
Utah:
Your petitioners. the Ogden Chamber
of Commerce, composed of representa-
tive business men of this city, beg to
respectfully present their views in re-
gard to certain public Improvements,
and impress upon your honorable body
the importance of the same.
The recent and highly commemorate
action of the City Council, in deciding
to erect a City Hall suitable for the
transaction of the public business and
creditable to our beautiful city, is a
matter OF congratulation, and the loca-
ton OF the structure at once becomes of
general interest.
The land owned by the city III block
IS, plat A, Ogden City survey, is more
than necessary for the requirements of
the building proposed, and the sub
division of the entire block is of such
importance as to justify the most care
full consideration. The purchase of the
land owned by others than the city in
this block Is recommended, provided it
can be done at reasonable figures, and
should be deemed advisable efter a
thorough investigation. Should this
be found inexped1ent, the value of the
land, and its most economical division
consistent with the best interests of the
city, and with the consent and co-opera
ton of the property owners referred to,
should receive attention, and in this
connection the accompanying plat is
submitted, believing it to be calculated
to harmonic tn different questions in
volved, whether the purchase alluded
to be cOnsummated or not.
The adoption of this plan will divide
the block into four blocks, each of
which will be 2S0k feet square,
bounded on either size by a street of
the usual width and lntersected by a
l6K foot alley. 1t will increase the
street frontage of the block from
264O feet, as it now stands, to Ass
feet, giving 81 lots. suitable for
business houses, and enhance the value
OF the entire block in the ratio which
the increased facilities for the transac.
ton of business imply.
The question of the division of this
block has become one of public interest
for various reasons. The location of
the pI oSerty is such as to render it very
valuable, and while the amount of land
set aside for City Hall purposes should
be suthclenG for ample grounds, etc.,
the former consideration should not be
dlsregarded, nor the further fact, that
this matter will, at some future time.
become one OF absolute necessity, and
that II can never be more cheaply and
satisfactorily settled than now.
The revenue derived from the sale of
lots not required by the corporation
would be large, and aid materially in
the prosecution of o'her and much
Deeaed public improvements.
A'practlcal demonstration of the ad-
vantages resulting from the division of
the block in the manner suggested,
would be an incentive to property own
ers in the two principal blocks of the
city lying Immediately north of this one,
to make a similar division and thus
concentrate business.
Ii is earnestly recommended that the
plat herewith presented, or a similar
one, be adopted, and that block be
selected for the City Hall, which, in the
wisdom OF the Council, is considered
most suitable, the preference of the
Chamber OF Commerce being the block
on the corner of Fifth and Young. or
Sixth and Main Streets, IN the order
me ntioned
A committee from the Chamber OF
Commerce would be pleased to confer
with committee from the Council upon
this subject.
The attention of the Council
is also called to the condition
Of Fifth Street This street the
main artery of travel along
which every stranger coming to our CITY
must of necessity pass, just opposite |
the principal hotel, seems to abruptly |
or at least narrows down |
into almost an alley. For some lime |
past this street, between Main and |
Spring Streets, has been almost impas-
sable. The impression one receives of !
the bench, looking towards il from the |
Broom Hotel corner, cannot bat be
most unfavorable, and what in reality |
IS one of the loyeliest spots for resi-
iences in the world, is but seldom Wis
ted by strangers, because of this unin- |
7lting approach.
1t is understood that the intention of |
,he city is to perform the necessary
abor on Fifth Street hill, when the |
rork of improving the streets reaches |
his locality. Certainly this important
matter need not be delayed on this ac-l
count, and should there be any addi-
'ional expense incidental to vigorous |
of the work at once, it |
would be more than neutralized by the |
benefits derived from having 1t com
oleted early in the spring.