The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-03-14
In the same report Mrs. Ferry saws:

| slStlOnS OF polygamy ana unlaW-
full Capitalization under the pl ose
cution which began in 1884. In the four
years since 1886 the convictions have multi
pl!ed, the penitentiary has been crowded
| With Mormons, and hundreds of polygam-
Gus women have been set free to avail
themselves of the privilege of the home if
they so desired. Yet in these four years,
with ample means at its control Congress
having appropriated $4,000 in August.
1856, $500 in October 1883, for the build
ing, $1,000 for furniture, and other sums
Tor the annual maintenance of the institu-
ZION, the number of inmates in the
nome had risen 10 three women and
SIX children = the sole occupants of
an immence building which cost
the government $4,000 to erect.
In Salt Lake the home is almost thing for
gotten, or if remembered, called to mind
only as the subject OF jest. The humanity
that prompted the establishment of the
home cannot be doubted; but that it has de-
monstrated its impracticability and shown
that it would be folly to longer perpetuace
1t, no falr-minded person can deny The
language OF the commission, and the admis-
sion OF Mrs. Ferry that the number of in
mates seems to be decreasing, corroborate
this view.
THE QUESTION OF ECONOMY
to the government in converting the indus
trial home into public building is a most
important one, and one on which there is
no chance for controversy. The title to
the grouod on which the building
stands rests in the government
by deed dated January s, 1889.
The property has cost the government
about 100000. The ground is ample to
allow the addition of other buildings A
lair estimate of the cost of making such
additions, remodeling the premises already
constructed, including the erection CT large
brick and iron vaults, obtained from com
petent authorities, puts the amount at
SoO,OOO. The proposition now is to appro-
pirate 100000. If the plan to convert the
home is adopted, saving of $3.50, 0G0 re-
suits to the government, and building
that must otherwise soon lapse into oisuse
is wisely and properly utilized.
THE SPEEDY SETTLEMENT OF THE QUESTION
is very desirable both to the government
and the public. The fact of the govern
ment already owning building on an eli
glble site offers the best of reasons WHY it
need not look elsewhere, and decision to
embrace the plan herein proposed, viz, to
convert the home to the uses of the public
service, would obviate the necessity of a
long investigation ana delay, and prevent
unseemingly scramble to enhance the in
terests of one section of the business COM
munity to the disadvantage of the other.
THE ELIGIBILITY OF THE SITE
for the purposes of the government admits
OF no question. The present grounds COM
prise 2l3 square rods, having west
frontage of 165 feet on Fifth East street.
and depth of $50 feet.
Regarding the present building, the
Utah commission in its report heretofore
referred to, says:
=,
with basement and two wings, north and
south, of equal height, which add very
much to the symmetry of the building and
the beauty of the architecture. 1t is con
| venlently accessible from the business por-
ton of the city by street cars which run
within few rods of the grounds.
The wings to the building are not vet
completed, but are well under way, the
walls being completed, the roof on and the
inside work of carpenters, plasterers, and
painters, well on towards completion
The entrance to the building is by a set
of broad steps, made of stone, through
large porch into a spacious hallway In
side there is d staircase leading up a we'll
lighted stairway to the upper floors
The plastering, painting, frescoing,
papering, ETC., have all been done, so far
as completed, in the latest and most APP
proved styles.
The first hoor has II rooms; Q) office;
(2) reception room; (3) sewing room, for
use Of inmates; az bathroom, with two
closets; (5) sitting room, for inmates; (6)
dining room, for matron and other officers
OF the institution, furnished with dumb
waiter connecting with the kitchen in the
basement; ca linen closet for first floor:
Is and % bedrooms; Q0) matrons suite,
consisting of sitting room, bedroom, and
closet; (1l) public wash room or lavatory.
furnished with two wash-basins, each with
hot and cold water attachments In case
OF necessity, this room is large enough to
be used also as sleeping room
The second floor has 10 bedrooms. 1 sew
ing room, linen closets, l public wash
room (of the same size and furnished as on
first t1oor), bathroom and water closets.
| The third floor has 10 bedrooms, 12 linen
closets, public wash-room (of the same
size and furnished as the others). | bath
room aud water closets
When the wings now in course of con-
struction are completed, there will be 40
sleeping room, which may be increased to
% by the use OF those rooms intended for
other purposes and by crowding things.
Immediately in the rear of the main buil
ding is laundry building or wash house.
where all the laundry work of the institu-
ton will be done, it being supplied with all
the necessary fixtures and appurtenances
Tor that purpose. The building is heated
by steam throughout.
The location of the home is on Fifth
East street, between First and Second
South streets; the electric car service runs
on First South street, within block of the
home and will be in operation on Second
South, one-quarter of block
from the home in a few DAYS. The
building can be lighted with either cleo
tricity or gas, as both are adjacent to it.
1t is five blocks from Main street. the
Ofinpinai huSjOaSS theron OH o,.a A.
city, but is only distant two and three
blocks from the large business sections ON
First and Second South streets With 2
free postal delivery, thereis no reason why
the government office should be located on
Main street, and as far as the federal court
rooms, judges chambers, the district at
torney's office, the United States mar
shars office, the grand and petit jury
rooms, the United States land offices. the
surveyor generals office, the governor and
secretary's Office and the headquarters of
the Utah commission are concerned, the
business of the public would be as well
conserved-and the interests of the govern
ment vastly more so if the federal build
ing were located on Fifth East street.
the site of the home than if it were placed
on the main street of the city. 1t NAV be
said in this connection that though Main
street divides the city, as respects area.
into two very nearly equal halves, that
portion on the east side, where the home is
located, receives two-thirds of the mail
matter of the city, two-thirds of the express
matter, has the greatest assessed valuation
of property, and being the higher and
dryer part of the city, is naturally the resi-
dence quarter. and has been improved to a
much greater extent than the western
half.
In commencing the foregoing considera-
| tionS to your honorable committee we fool