The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-02-19
THE DEEP CREEK ROAD.

MIR. j. H. BACON, who has figured prom
inently during the past few months in
the talk about a railway from this city
to Deep Creek, comes up again with prop
osition regarding the Old Fort square A
few months ago he asked for the donation
OF the square outright, and his request
might have been complied with had 1t not
been for the earnest and almost unanimous
protest OF the taxpayers, who couldn't see
the point of giving away land worth half
million dollars. Now the gentleman proposes
TO obtain title to the block by purchase,
he fixing the price at $3.50, 900, or about 80
per cent of the real value of the land, the
money to be paid when 200 miles of the road
shall have been built and those 200 miles to
be completed within eighteen months. The
land is to be used for depot purposes.
We are sorry that Mr.. BACON has made
this proposition. The people and the coun-
Gil have already poken on the subject, and
now the matter should be dropped. The
city, that is to say, the property owners, do
not want to sell that block, and they have
said so; they do not want it
occupied as railway depot, and have said
as much. We are sorry that Mr.. BACON
persists in this thing, for he is doing him
self an injustice and is likely, if he keeps
on, to convey the impression that he is, to
use the expressive slang of the street,
''mcnkeying" with this Deep Creek rail
way project. The city has been very gen
erous with him. 1t has granted him val
liable right of way into the very heart of
the city, and has not charged him cent for
- al, II
be grateful for what has been given. Salt
Lake city is not in a financial condition to
be more generous. 1t cannot afford to give
anything away.
Now as to this Deep Creek railway pro
1ect. The road will be of great benefit to
this city, but do Mr. BACON and his associ-
ates propose to build the line for the good
that it will do to Salt Lake? Not much
Nor will anybody ask them to construct it
on that account. When Mr. BACON and
associates put their money into the road it
is with the view to help themselves, the
benefit which will come to Salt Lake being
only incidental, and of small concern to
them. The patriotism and benevolence of
the bankers and capitalists who will invest
in the road do not extend so far as to include
this city. 1t is interest on their invest
ment which they want, and they don't care
about Salt Lake except in a general sort of
way. If more were to be made by building
a road from Squaw Greek to Squedunk, the
Deep Greek line would be abandoned, and
Squaw Creek and Squedunk would get the
road.
If Mr.. BACON and those with him do not
believe that railway to Deep Greek will
prove profitable investment, the thing for
them to do is to drop the scheme and en-
ploy their money elsewhere. If they dc
think it will prove profitable, they should
not come, like paupers. begging charity
from this city. Salt Lake will APP
preciate the road and the men who
build it; but at the same time the city ex-
poets to and will pay, in cash, for every.
thing the road does for it.
The project is business one or it is not
regarding it as business the corporation
has been both just and generous, has done
its full share, and should not be further
raided for help. If Mr.. BACON cannot build
the road unless this city does more for him
than it has already done, he is at liberty tc
stop the undertaking, and we will wait un-
til capitalists come along who can see thai
there is good opportunity for profitable
investment in railway to Deep creek.