The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-01-31
NO STRING TO CUT.

The movement TO secure the Union
Pacific railroad sections of land in the
mountains, which with the adjoining
government sections form the water
shed which this city ought to own, is
a wise step taken by our municipal
authorities. The Herald called atten-
ton to he necessity of securing these
lands sol ~ time ago. 1t is fully expec-
ted that the government sections will
be obtained, but the railroad sections
are also necessary to the purpose in
view. The preservation Of the purity
Of our sources of water supply is one
Of the essentials TO the comfort, pros
perity and health of the inhabitants Of
this city.
In the contract with the railroad
company there is a reservation TO the
latter Of the right of way. if it should
become necessary to run tracks in that
vicinity, and also to quarry stone if any
should exist on the lands purchased by
the city.
That alarms some people and our even
ing contemporary voices their fears.
making anything but an absolute pur-
chase, such as is allowed to private in
dividuals," and advised to 'Fcut the
string" which, being interpreted,
means some tie of the city to the rail-
way company, and it is limited that
the city authorities may be open to
''the imputation that they were in-
fuenced by having free transportation
over its lines
1t should be understood that the
reservation as to mineral lands, stone
lands, and the right of way is always
made in such cases by the railroad
company whether to companies, public
corporations or private individuals.
The absolute purchase" advised can
not be made. If the railroad people
should sell those lands to sheepherders,
the same reservat ton would be had. If
the city does not buy them the prob
ability is that they will be sold to in
dividuals. The railway company
would prefer of course to sell them to
the city.
The price to the city will be one dol
lar and fifteen cents per acre. There
lare about 5000 acres to be purchased
1t was thought that a portion of the
lands would be all-sufTicient, but we
understand that prudence suggests the
purchase of them al, at long time pay.
lments, It is unreasonable to think thai
jstone lands would be sold for any sucl
lprice If any stone fit for quarrying
lis there it can be bought now, on spe
lcial terms, of the company. The city
will get it at as good a rate as any one
Ecould. If there is none there, no room
is left for fear.
At any rate the railroad people vii
not make the absolute sale" advised
by our contemporary, so it is a question
of purchase with the reservation al
ways made, or no purchase by the cit.
at all.
AS to the 'imputation" mentioned, w,
think that should cut no figure at all
Neither do we believe it will. Git.
councilmen will not be deferred from
doing what they decide to be right, be
cause some suspicious or malevolen
Ipeople may ''impute' proper motives t.
them. The suggestion that free trans
Iportation over the lines" of the railroad
may be "a string on those gentlemen
is so disgraceful that we are SURPRISED
, to see it given voice to from such
source.
We do not know who, if any, among
the city authorities, have passes owe
the railroad but we would be yer,
> sorry to entertain so low an opinion
of their character as to think tina
l would influence them in any such trans
!, action as this purchase. Nor do we be
| lieve there is any kind of a string
holding the council and pulled by tn
railroad. 1t is a suspicion unjust t
the gentlemen referred to and unwo1
thy of the paper that repeats it.
We are of the opinion that thos
! LANDS Should be secured and think Their
: will never be a time when they can %
, lhad on better terms than are offere
= now. We would not advise the city t
' rush into a contract involving any vi
! usual disadvantages. nor would we er
r courage unnecessary fears. The raj
! road wants to sell; the city wants t
buy. Let the best possible terms d
arranged aud then close the bargai
$ and pay no attention to groundless an
insulting '.imputations."