The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-05-24

quickly. 1t is this fact that is precipitat-
ing mad haste that is in danger OF sad
ding on this city building that in a few
years will be undesirable and as much be-
hind the needs of the times as the present
public buildings are now.
Ii the committee accept any plans that
will come within the amount prescribed, it
Will surely perpetuate an edltice that will
IN few years be far behind the demand of
the times. If the committee accept plans
giving the cost at half the amount that
will be required TO construct it, the COM
mittee will be descending with the public
and with the architects who have entered
The competition on the presumption that
the city and county meant what they said.
Should they accept plans for building
that will cost a million dollars, while pro-
vision Will only be made to raise S400, 000
there will necessarily be many years.
delay in its completion, and when COM
pieted it willtbe unsatisfactory, as no mill
ion dollar building on half-million plan
can ever be so perfect as million dollar
building on a million dollar foundation
Most OF the big steals on public buildings
were the direct result of starting out with
plans that exceeded the amount stipulated.
The object of limiting the sum to such
small expenditure was owing to the fact
that the city is not in position to-day to
contract Tor million dollar building, even
should 1t be inclined to do so.
Viewing the condition as it now stands,
what should be done! There is always
best way out of every difficulty The city
and county own a site with the cellar al
ready eXcavated and everything ready for
building. On this site the city and county
could, with $3.50, 900, build as good build
ing as the Commercial block, which would
answer all the demands of the city and
county for at least five years.
BY this course, the city and county could
keep down their Indebtedness, allowing
more money for other needed public i'm
proyements. Any money in excess of this
will be expended in ornamentation.
Is the CITY, which is without sewers, to
speak OF, without pavements, without pub
lie school buildings, ready to bond itself for
the purpose of erecting building which,
when completed, will not be as handsome
as hundred other county buildings in the
United Statesi Mayor Scott has already
uttered his protest against building pubic
schoolS-to the extent of $500, 000-for the
reason that the city will soon have used up
its borrowing credit Mayor Scott has
also cried halt on paving one of the lead
| ing thoroughfares in this city for the same
| reason
Who will deny that fine asphalt pave
ment on the State road is not more ur-
| gent Improvement to the people than the
privilege of going out of their way to Hay
market square to transact their business
| in building, when completed, that will be
no great architectural accomplishment!
In the light of these facts what would be
the sensible thing to do. re
No business man in the conduct of his
own affairs would hesitate to say that the
proper course is to put up business block
not costing more than $3.50, 900 or $500, 900 at
| furthest on the old site. This could be
completed within year and would make
splendid quarters for the city and county
for i've years to come.
1t may be that the city could borrow the
money the building would cost by giving q
mortgage on the property, thus avoiding
using up any of the city'S bonded credit
This mortgage could be paid when the
building would be sold.
Having decided upon this course, let the
city at once invite the architects for plans
of million dollar building on Haymarket
square, offering liberal premiums for the
second and third best plans-the winner
securing the building. 1t may take six
months or year to secure plans that will
be generally recognized by the architects
of the country as decidedly original and {
creation of that which is sublime and beau
tiful in architecture. Great stress should
be held on the Improvement of the GROUND
in harmony with the architectural design
of the building.
The great buildings of the world are not
hastily built. They are the result of year:
of labor. Great thoughts move slowly, anC
Salt Lake can afford to wait rather thar
take such step as to preclude the carrying
out of this idea. 1t is certainly not wisdom
to build 100000 building OF
a million dollar site. The build
ing TO occupy Haymarket square
should be a magnificent monument of arch
| al hIliI6 inf
the city would not be forced to hurry up
the job; and hasty buildings, like ''hasty'
pudding, only gives swelling sensation
This city should erecta building that will
be as great for it's day and generation a.
the temple and tabernacle were for thei
day and generation.
Let the city not go backward. Let there
} be grand magnificent purpose animatins
this glorious people that will result in the
. handing down to posterity temples of ar
that will be the glory and admiration o
mankind.
, Let the city council here and now expan,
themselves to encompass the necessities o
, the future as well as the demands of tn
present. Haymarket square can be con
verted into the finest plaza in the world
1t will take time to do it and this city ha
all the future before it.
, In five years the temporary building tina
cost the city and county only Sl50,000 Ca
be sold for half million. 1t appears t
me to be reckless policy to sell the old site
which is one of the best corners in tn
E city during the present depressed res
estate market as it would not bring NOR
than two-Jhirds its value. 1t is also un
wise to sell any more bonds at the presen
( time than the city is actually compelled t
negotiate to keep the public Improvement
moving apace The bonds, in allprobability
5 can be hypothecated bearing one two,
/ even three per cent. less interest in a shor
S time than they can at present
Persons who may be interested in tn
: course here suggested and are DESTROYS
: having practical outline of the style of
s building which should ornament Hay
t market square may be permitted to view III
plans, partially prepared, by Messrs. Da
1 las & Hedges. | have seen but few publ
t buildings in the United States, Gf any
: that equal this design. This is no refe
S ton against the plans submitted as the
, were made for building to cost $3.50, CT
! while those of these architects, includir
. ground Improvement, would probably reac
Y 81 100000. The building has two wins
s and could be built separately, the exper:
t thus being distributed over long term
years
S If the city would indicate its desire for
e chef d'ouvre OF architecture, other arch
t tects may be able to furnish even bett,
Y plans than those of Messrs Dallas
Hedges.
Architecture marks the rise and progre