The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-09-02
REMOVE THE DISASTER.

When he presented his protest, the other
day, against the outrageously high yalua-
ton which the city assessor had placed on
his property, gentleman was asked by the
official if the property were for sale. NO.,
replied the owner, 'but part of it will be
for sale very soon if this assessment IS al
lowed to stand''
There is that in the answer which should
set the council TO serious thought. Other
people are Already doing some mighty vigor-
Gus thinking. Ii the assessments shall be
allowed to stand there will be a good many
pieces of land for sale very soon. The
tenders will not be voluntary, nor VIII
there be any suggestion of speculation in
the offers. II will not be the inducement
of a boom price that viii lead holders to
put their property on the market The
land will be sold because the owners can
not afford TO hoid-because they cannot
hold it,
Mr.. CLUTE has seen proper to raise the
assessments on City property all The way
from 80 TO 1000 per cent, the average being
in the peighborhood Of Us per cent. The
property owners in the aggregate will have
to pay into the city treasury in the form of
tax Us per cent, more money than they
were required to pay last yeat. It is stat
ing fact with which everybody at all &C
quainted with the financial circumstances
of his neighbors is familiar, to say that it
will be simply impossible for considerable
percentage of the landowners to pay the
increased taxes and retain their lots. They
will be forced to sell, or the sale will be
a. .bao of
Now, will it be good policy on the part of
the council to sustain Mr.. CLUTE in this
oppressive proceeding. VIII it be beneficial
to the municipality to uphold the assessor,
and compel Old time citizens to. part with
their holdings and take up their resi-
dence in the country or in other towns
where the hogging game is not practiced!
We submit that it will be very bad policy.
1t will cost the city in the aggregate the
first year. two or three times the sum that
the collector will gather. 1t will give Salt
Lake the very worst kind of black eye, and
we fear will nullify and bring to naugLt
much of the intelligent and praiseworthy
effort that has been put forth during the
past two Years tc attract people and capital
to this city. In talking this way we
are not trying to discourage people
or throw cold water upon the progressive
movement which has been fostered with SO
much interest and care. We are stating
facts and using them as a warning against
disaster that is threatening. If it shall
be given out that people are being taxed
out of Salt Lake, that they are forced to
sell portions of their lots to satisfy the
Is +loo h. L.
effect. The most stupid can answer. Men
will not come to take the places of those
driven away and to take uo the burdens
which were found too heavy for their pre-
decessors. The money which we have
all been coaxing hither to develop
the resources, to build up the
town, to establish factories and
to help make this the great population ant
commercial centre of the interior west
will not come, for it can go elsewhere anC
earn something while here it viii run tn,
risk of being gobbled by the collector
If the council is composed of friends o
Salt Lake city, if the councilmen are well
wishers of the town and desire to see
grow in population and wealth, they vii
not join hands with the assessor in this out
rageous business of taxation, but will re
duce the rate in proportion as Mr.. CLUT
has magnified tie valuation. They viii no
strike the serious blow that is contemplated
but will show to the world that money in
vested in Salt Lake will not be made un
profitable by the greed of the collector
1t will be conceded by all who know any
thing of the facts, that THE HERALD ha
done its full share of the work of bringin
the beauties and advantages Of this city be
fore the world and encouraging peorl, an
money to come hither, but we predict tina
if this exorbitant tax shall be allowed t
stand the growth and progress which ar
so marked and so pleasing to all lovers an
friends OF Salt Lake will stop. 1t is becaus
we have heretofore been sincere and earn
est in our efforts and desire the welfare c
the city that we ask the council to procee
with caution and act with forethought an
intelligence. We appeal to the gentleme
composing the municipal government to d
nothing that will destroy the good result
from the good work that has been done. w
do this in the interest of the citizens VIII
must 60 if the tax stays, and in the intere;
of the city's future. We ask that the dis
aster be turned aside, that Salt Lake cit
may retain all she has and gather all thf
she has set out to catch