The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-06-17
THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING
BILL.

The hill for the erection of pubic
building in this city as it passed ihs
Senate will not cause much rejoicing
hereabouis. The original bill PROVIDED
for an appropriation of Oo.OoO' aho
that sum could be profitably expended
for the purpose. Less than half mil
lion dollars will not provide building
creditahle to the government ana 10
the city, nor will it prOvide one at a
convenient point that will answer the
requirements in the matter of room
The committee on public buildings ano
grounds, however, seem to think Inat
Salt Lake is a"country village ana Is
likely to continue a rursltoWn. Inc
committee amended the bill by reducing
the proposed appropriation to Sl2o 'OOo
With this sum the Secretary OF the
Treasury must purchase "a site ano
. cause to be erected thereon suostan-
tiaI and commodious building, Win nFe'
proof vaults, for the use and aecommo-
dation of the Legislature, the Governor
and Secretary, United States courts
land offices, internal revenue ofhces.
postefice. United States Marshal's OF
fee. Saryeyor-General's Office, and for
other government uses" The site
and the building shall not
exceed in cost the sum named; NOR
shall any site be purchased until estl-
mates for the erection Of a building
which will furnish sufficient accommo-
dations for the transaction of the pub
lie business, and which shall not exceed
in cost the balance of the sum- appro-
priated after the site has been paid for
shall have been approved by the Secre-
tary; and the site purchased shall
leave the building unexposed to danger
from FIRE by an open space OF at least
forty feet, including streets and alleys. "
1t would seem from this that
the Senate proposes that the citizens
shall donate the site, and we presume
the reduction of the appropriation was
made with that understanding. An
eligible site, sufficient land in the
central part of the city, will cost fully
500 900, and we doubt if lot large
enough within reasonable distance trem
the business centre can be purchased
for the full amount CT the approprla-
ton. The committee entertains peculiar
ideas OF this city, the velue OF land
here and the government business
transacted in the town, if it thinks
that SIZE, 600 will do all that it says
must be done. It's learned that the e
is likelihood of the House amending the
bill and increasing the appropriation.
The me isure viii be passed as 1t came
from the Senate.
In this connection it is suggested that
the City Corporation purchase and
donate to the government, free OF
charge, an eligible site. The appro-
priation will erect a very creditable
building, but if any of tho money
goes for land the building will
uscessaril suffer. We should understand
that it will be a long time before an
other appropriation for the purpose
viIlb made. We will have to be con-
tent with what is done now, for a gov
eminent building once here, Congress
will insist that it must be made to sat
isfy the public requirements, and Will
not listen to appeals for better accom-
modations. 1t will be so much to the
advantage of The city to have fine and
stately structure, conveniently-situated
that we believe it will be a wise and
profitable investment for the corpora
ton to provide the site. individuals
would willingly give the land, as some
have already offered, but the ground
which they would present is distant
from the business centre. 1t would he
well to take an expression:by the people
on this matter. '-