The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-08-17
THE BOND ELECTION.

been overwhelmingly defeated. That is to
say, OF the votes cast the majority was
largely against the bonds. We interpret
this to mean that the taxpayers are against
the proposition. Some charge the defeat
to indifference. but that is not correct, for
II the full vote had been cast we believe
the ratio would have been practically as
il is.
We might as well be frank and plain in
this matter The people were astounded
when they learned the true condition of
the county finances. The popular belief
was that the county was rich. Everybody
thought this was the case. For year past
it has been talked that when the city
reached the end of its bonding power, as it
was doing just as fast it could, the county
would have to carry the corporation for
portion OF the latter's share of the cost Of
the. joint public building We say
this has been talked quite freely,
and people were glad that the county had
been so thrifty; that it would have money
with which TO temporarily assist the more
reckless and extravagans municipality was
q matter of congratulation. To have it
announced, under the circumstances, that
the county also had an empty treasury was
somewhat paralyzing in its nature, and the
taxpayers did not feel like voting the bonds
asked. They felt that there must have
been extravaganza and they did not want
II continued at their expense. This is the
exact truth, and it accounts for the very
decided vote against the bonding scheme.
The ballots were an expression Of the
popular will There was no politics in the
election. NO party opposed the bonds nor
did any newspaper autagonize them. The
financial statement prepared by the county
court was laid before all the tax
payers. and the latter were left free
to exercise their individual Judgment
Some viii interpret Mondays vote as
meaning that the property of
the county are opposed to progress and in
different to the county's needs and financial
standing. This will he wrong and unjust.
Having recovered from their astonishmant
occasioned by the knowledge that the
great we believe that the tax payers will.
go to the relief of the county and grant
what is required. Too much was asked
for before. The amount was suggestive of
continuance of the extravaganza which ii
is now plain has been practiced for the
past two years. The people will not be
made TO see that in addition to the extra
ordinary taxes they are required to pay
they should burden themselves with q
debt of $780, 600. They will insist that the
ordinary expenses of the county should be
met by the current revenue ana that no
extraordinary improvements should be
undertaken at this time of industrial de-
preston and scarcity of work and money.
The joint city and county building has been
authorized and is under course Of construc-
ton, and the bills must be paid
The property-owners understand this
and TIE HERALD thinks it knows
the people well enough to say
they will cheerfully vote the cash required
for the purpose named. The county wants
to construct a costly boulevard from the
city to the lake, bnt the people will be will
ing to let that improvement rest for few
years. Another thing which the taxpayers
are willing should be held in allegiance is
the proposed road through City Greek
city. The road would not be worth tenth
of its cost. It's principal value would be to
G few camping and fishing parties who
would find it convenient to reach mountain
retreats and trout streams during the hot
months. AS to the traffic the road would
bring to this city, it is imaginary. We
doubt that 1t would amount to enough to
pay for picking the cobbles out of the road.
Another thing which the county court has
set its heart on, is the removal and en-
largement Of the inirmary and poor
farm. The time will come when a
larger farm will be necessary and some
buildings will be required, but nothing
win be lost by waiting two or three years.
The value Of the present premises is in
creasing more rapidly than any land the
county would be apt to purchase, so it viii
be well enough to delay in this a little
while.
In short, all the money the county will
actually require during the next two years,
in addition to Its ordinary revenue, will be
the amount necessary TO pay its proportion
of the joint building, say $4,000. If the
court will ask for that sum, stating spe-
officially for what the money is to be used.
we believe the people will cheerfully vote
the bonds, there being practically no oppo-
sition. While the taxpayers are opposed
TO extravaganza and TO improvements sug-
gestive of blooming they are unwilling
that the county credit shall suffer through
the failure to pay legitimate bills as they
fall due. The court should at once call an
election asking for authority to issue bonds
to the amount of $780, and we are of
the opinion that it would be better if The
limit Of redemption of these bonds were
made ten years instead of twenty, as was
proposed in the case Of the issue which was
voted down on Monday.
The BUSINESS Mems Democratic organi-