The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-03-02
THE OGDEN PROPOSITION.

The proposition recently made to the
Committee on Reform School and Deaf
Mutes, a report of which has appear
ed in The Herald, look fair and reason
able and are entirely practicable. They
are, in brief, as follows:
Ogden City proposes: First, to lease
to the Territory the ogden Military
Academy at an annual rental of not
to exceed 81. 600, at the same time Civ
ing the Territory the option to buy the
Military Academy property valued at
S5o,0Oo) at the agreed price of $4,000.
the actual debt on building. at any
time within two years from this date
This building and grounds to be used
for the Reform School. An appropria-
ton of $Sl,5OO to support the institu-
ton for the next two years is asked if
this offer is accepted.
Second, to convey to the Territory, in
fee simple, the buildings and grounds
now occupied by the Reform School, to
be used as an asylum for the deaf mutes
and the blind. It is estimated that the ap-
preparation necessary for this institu-
ton for the two years, if established
there, would be about $4,000.
OF course in considering the matter
the question of finances will come in.
How much the territory can afford to
pay for these purposes must be deter
mined. But apart from the money con-
sideration there is much to commend
these proposals.
In the first place the idea Of abandon
ing the Reform School ought not to be
seriously entertained The same reas-
ons that were offered for its establish
ment hold good today, with the addi-
tional reason that we have the build
Iings at ogden which must not be va
Gated, or they will revert to Ogden City.
Young lads who have been found in
Icorrigible and criminally inclined,
ought not to be placed in the peniten-
tiary in company with or close prox-
Unity to old crooks. professional thieves
and felons. Nor should the still more
juvenile Grants be turned loose upon
society again. The purpose of the Re
form School is a good one and the sue
cess attending it forhids it's abandon
,ment
In the second place, the buildings now
occupied by the Reform School would
form an admirable asylum for the deaf
mutes and the blind, and they ought
not to be placed in company with the
class now occupying that establish
ment.
In the next place the arrangement
will be profitable to the territory in the
acquisition of valuable grounds There
is 81 acres of land as site for the
Deaf Mute Asylum, much of which
could in years to come be parceued out
and sold at good figures. as The pres
ence rear by of so harmless an insti-
tuition would be no obstacle in the way;
the Reform School is of very different
character.
The building and appurtenances Of
fered for the Reform School, compris-
ing the present military academy and
grounds are valued at $4,000. though
offered for $4,000 in fee simple or to
he leased for $1,000 a year. There is
ten acres of land The main building
is IS feet long by 6S feet wide-four
stories including MISUNDERSTANDING
ing So roonns-SS of which are dormitor-
les Gin upper two stories)-four school
rooms on first floor, together with Of
flee, etc. The basement contains kit
chen, heating and steam apparatus
and other rooms. The entire building
is heated by steam The main build
ing is fitted with modern appliances
plunsing, electric light, gasy and all
the buildings are furnished complete
It has its own reservoir and water
with pipes all through the building. |