The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-01-13
THE PUBLIC BUILDING.
FL. D. j. Discusses the Pro.
posed Consolidation.
HAS THE COUNTY AUTHORITY ?
A elief That mpIe Additions GOULD
Be Made at One Third
the Cost.
TO the Editor of THE HERALD:

To the Editor of The HERALD:
At the risk of being charged with i'm
pertinence in interfering in any way
with local question in which I, as
citizen, have but a slight financial in
terest, desire with your permission TO
be heard on the pending question of the
proposed partnership between the City
of Salt Lake and Salt Lake County in
the erection of city hall and county
court house
It is possible that the time has passed
when objections to the proposition will
avail anything in preventing its con-
summation. but even if such is the case
l, for one. feel disposed to enter pro
test against 1t, and this protest is not
made solely on my own account, but in
the interest of the taxpayers of the
city and county.
l observe that THE HERALD very
properly, as l think, remarked that
I"joint control of public building is
not relished,' TrQe, the people, l take
1t, do not relish" the idea of Joint
ownership and occupancy of public
building, built by the proceeds of their
honest toll. by their agents, without
haYing been
CONSULTED ON THE SUBJECT.
But this is not the only reason for
objection to the proposed plan. There
are several points of objection affording,
in my opinion. good and sufficient rea-
sons why this lately promulgated
scheme for spending the peoples money
should not be carried out. Some OF them
will briefly allude to.
In the first place, it is denied that
the County Court has any legal war
rant for the expenditure of any of the
county funds in the erection of any
+ building, save for county pur-
poses. in the interest of the peo-
Die of the county. It is true
that to the County Court is granted au
thority TO "locate sites for public build
linRs, and to erect the same" but with
due Difference to the County Court and
!, to the City Council, confidently pre-,
mise that such power does net extend
to the location of a site for a.city hall
nor 10 the erection of the same.
IT IS BEYOND QUESTION
that the City Council is clothed witt
authority to locate the site for, and t.
erect suitable buildings for the use o
the CITY, but it is confidently deniet
that it has any authority to expenC
CITY funds in the erection of count,
buildings. Thus much as to the righi
of the respective corporations. l vii
- now refer to the necessity for the cree
ton of a building so expensive as
contemplated, and the policy OF sue
expenditure.
The county had a right to erect
court house in which the business @
the county might be transacted. Thi
right was exercised in the erection @
the present court house on Secon
South Street, which was supposed g
the time to be large enough. goo
enough and elegant enough for tn
purpose. This building is very sui
stantial one and it is supposed
appearance to satisfy the tastes Of thos
who planned and built it.
q 1t may be urged that this building
not suited to the tastes of the preseI
generation which require more gran
and imposing public buildings, but tn
is not considered sufficient reasC
for the proposed innovation, besid
y it raises a question; are the tastes
the present generation more refine
II than of the last? This is question
No do not wish to discuss now:
BUT IT IS URGED
that the present Court House is t.
small for the present business of t
county. To this objection 1 suggest
remedy. Let the County Court expe
che $50 600 which it proposes to pay
tround in the erection OF an addltl
to the old Court House, and tn
might so plan as to add an exhibit
of the tastes of the present to that
the last generation, thus exhibiting
contrast-the solid and substantial, W
the more os SPONTANEOUSLY fine.
1t is also alleged that the City Hall
not large enough nor fine enough
the present uses and tastes. Very W,
if such be the case why not add an
mex of sufficient capacity and beauty
IN crafty the taste of the present gene
~ ton, and to afford ample room for
~ transaction of the business of the CT
It occurs to your correspondent Il
the sum OF $ZU UUO JuulclOusly eXpenl
would be amply sufficient for the p
pose.
-. This plan of enlargement of the two p
~ lie buildings if carried out would res
NJ in teautlyi two sectlc ms d tae
whereas the proposed JOINT build
would benefit one section of the city
the expense of all other sections.
We are all anxious that
SALT LAKE CITY SHALL BECOME CIR
Ilu CITY,
UU. the metropolis of this inter noun
region, and it seems to me that all
we do to further this laudable ambi
sosld be done wisely and well.
The first great thing to be don
ave order to accomplish this object is
us to furnish an adequate suppl
a