The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-07-14
BONDING THE COUNTY.
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The taxpayers were somewhat startled
on Tuesday morning when they read that
the county court had ordered a special
election TO decide the question: "ShaIl
negotiable coupon bonds of Salt Lake
county to the amount of $300, 900 in the de-
nomination Of 81, 600 each payable twenty
years after date, redeenable ten years
after date and bearing interest at the rate
of 5 per cent. per annum be issued for the
purpose of constructing the new county
courthouse and new poorhouse, inhrm-
airy ana poorhouse farm for Salt Lake
county and for making other permanent
county improvements
The taxpayers had understood that the
county was IN splendid financial condition
They knew that couple of years ago there
was large surplus in the treasury. In
deed the county was so s.1ush'' that it
was the common talk that it would prob
ably loan the city money to pay some Of
the lattsr's proportion of the cost OF the
joint public building. We say the tax
payers knew these things, and they didn't
know and don't know Of any extraordinary
expenditures which have consumed the
enormous current revenue and ex-
haasted the big surplus. If the county
has been making costly improvements
it has kept the public In total ignorance OF
the fact. The taxpayers do not now know
what it is that has brought the county in
so short period from wealth to poverty,
from the status Of a creditor to the condi-
ton OF poverty and borrower. 1t may be
all right. We are charging nothing wrong
We are simply saying the public doesn't
understand the % after. We viii say further
that unless better explanation shall be
given than was conveyed in the
resolution ordering the election, we
believe the bonding proposition will
be overwhelmingly voted down. The
preamble declares that it is necessary to
construct the joint city and county build
ing, which is plain and easily under
stood proposition, although every body
thought the money which had been aceum-
ulated and laid aside for the purpose wns
still hold. But when the court goes on !:
ITO construct q new county poorhouse and
intirmary. and establish q new poor house
farn for said county, and purchase
other county improvements the mat
ter is not so easily understood.
The taxpayers want to know, you
known" What is the matter of she pres
ent poor honso and farms The latter is
large enough, il seems TO us, in view OF the
fact that few if any OF the patients are
able TO work. it being necessary TO hire
labor to till the soil. 1t is possible some
extension Of the buildings may be neces-
sary, but the poor have not become SO
numerous al OF sudden as to require an
extraordinary expenditure to provide for
their accommodation. For months past
rumors have been In circulation to the
effect that parties not remotely related
&c the county court have tracts OF land for
sale which they think would be suitable
Tor poor farms. We know nothing of the
matter. but we suggest there are people
who might insinuate that II was not
exactly the proper csper to bond the
county FOR money TO buy land from a
county Official for q poor farm, when the
county ia the owner Of farm which serves
the purposes Of the county very we'll
Then what are thsse "other permanent i'm
provemsnts" that it is necessary for the
county to makes
The HERALD does not propose 10 antag-
onize this bonding proposition II it can be
shown that the immense sum OF money
which has gone in and out of the county
treasury during the past two years has
been wisely expended. and $500, 600 is now
needed in addition to the ordinary revenue
But on the showing 80 Tar made this paper
and the majority OF the taxpayers, will op-
the bonding proposition. It ought not to
be necessary for Salt Lake county to boy-
row cent for any purpose. It may be
that it is necessary, but the fact must be