The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-12-21
THE TAX FOR MATER MAINS

The city corporation does not own the
water that flows into the city in pipes or
otherwise, with the exception of the canal
water.
The waters OF City creek and Emigra-
ton canon were appropriated and used by
the people who settled here, the city finally
taking charge of the water as it rms
through the streets, aud levying general
tax Tor the construction of waterworks
and the laying of pipes
After about 100000 Of the general tax
had been expended in laying the mains
through all the central parts of the city.
an ordinance was passed by the city coun-
Gil requiring that thereafter the land past
which the mains were extended should paw
three fourths of the cost of the extension.
but be relieved from the paw
ment of water rent until the amount of
the tax should have been covered in this
manner
The outlying portions of this city, which
have been taxed right along for years to
help lay the mains in the center of the city.
are now compelled to lay their own mains.
The amount of tax exacted from the owner
of each city lot for this purpose is about
s2l1, an amount that is greater. we are
told, than the actual extension of the
mains costs the city. This alleged "three
fourths Of the cost" then, not Only paws
the entire cost of laying the mains, but
actually leaves a margin of profit to the
city upon each extension of water-pipes
This may serve to explain the readiness
tr-les ph Ill
mains in every direction as well as the
reason that the city viii not let out the
work by contract.
The pretense that the tax is returned to
the taxpayer in water rates is somewhat
ridiculous. 1t will require on an average
from ten to twenty years for the OUTLYING
property to use the water long enough to
hquidate the tax, during which time the
money at interest will double and treble
itself. Besides, perhaps one half of the
owners of the outlying property do not
need the water and will not use it for wears
yet their tax of mills per square foot of
ground is supposed to return to them in
water rates.
1t has been urged that the policy of gen
eral taxation for the laying of mains, was
a mistake in the first place; if so, it was
mistake made at the expense of the same
taxpayers at whose expense it is now cor
rected.
There is another evil connected with the
extension of the water mains. Property
in certain additions on the east bench
which is covered with sagebrush. with no
houses upon it, because there was no water
right, is now having the water mains laid
past This property, almost worthless
hitherto, will now become very valuable az
residence property, for it will have the
city water. If this could be done without
endangering the water supply of the
rest of the city, there would lie no particu-
lar objection to it. But as matters now
stand, some OF this outside property, or else
some OF the inside properly, will be with
out the city water next summer. No par
ticular additions to the water supply have
been made, yet there has been an enormous
amount of water main extensions this
season.
1t looks ridiculous to begin with that the
water OF City creek should be taken to the
benches east and northeast of this CITY.
and 1t looks just as ridiculous for the wa ter
Of Parley's and Emigration canon to be