The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-01-29
DECLARES FOR
RIGID REFROM
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and for oversight of work done by cleo
This city has been among the fore
most in extensively adopting the tele-
phone, electric light, and electric rail-
way, and the present year will witness
the further advent into our midst of one,
probably two, of the largest electrical
enterprises in this country, each operat-
ing under such conditions as demand
the greatest skill and WatchfulneSS to
insure safety to life and property.
We cannot shirk the responsibility
placed upon us and by intelligently deal
Ing with this question, we can be as
sured of the approval and cooperation
of the majority of the companies whose
interests are involved.
The lack of any regulations hitherto
upon electrical construction of all kinds
has resulted in a great amount of weak,
unsafe, and incompetent workmanship
in buildings throughout the city and lack
of uniform, slightly and permanent street
construction.
The risk of fire in the majority of
buildings in this city containing cleo
trio wiring is fundamentally high, as
was fully attested during a recent snow
storm by the starting OF three separate
fires in the business district during a
single evening. because of defective wir-
ing. In each case prompt action of the
occupants and the fire department, alone
prevented serious CONGREGATIONS.
Conflicts and interference are common
between the various electrical interests,
and system of compulsory inspection
and a means of adjusting disputes should
be provided
The future removal of overhead wires
in certain districts of this city should
not be undertaken except under the adj
vice and guidance of an official compe-
tent to judge, both as to the necessity
therefor. and as to the proper means of
securing the best results with justice to
all. without undue eXactionS or expense,
either TO the city or corporations.
Our present system of street light in
Spection is a farce. For years past this
city has paid out annually from SO, 600
to $4,000 on street lighting contracts,
without the slightest check either upon
the quality of the service or the hours
Of lighting.
The destructive effect of street rail-
way currents upon buried metal pipes
and cables of all kinds, has as yet never
been investigated, though in every case
where such investigation has been made
in other cities, examination has revealed
the existence of such effects in serious
form.
Within the past four months, a six
inch water main burst from this cause
only, having been almost completely
eaten through. Simple means exist for
the location and remedy of such faults,
and we should adopt them. There are
one hundred and twenty-three miles of
water mains in this city, which are more
or less subject to electrolytic corroSion
The creation of an electrical depart
ment has already been accomplished in
the prominent cities of this country, not
from choice, but from necessity, and it
is evident that delay in this case entails
increased risk. damage and expense.
Neither corporations nor contractors,
are properly responsible to the public for
safety in the conduct of their work, and
franchises afford very Imperfect means
of securing proper observances of neces-
sary care in the conduct of these lines
OF business. The city engineer cannot,
for obvious reasons, attend to this class
of work. and we cannot consistently or
Justly exercise less care in the general
supervision of these affairs than we do
in other cases of public engineering.
No appreciable expense is necessary
in the proper establishment and conduct
of this department, for it's organization
on a. practical and efficient basis requires
not more than one inspector besides the
head of the department, and it can,
without difficulty or injustice to any one,
be made largely self-supporting.
There is at present work enough to
engage this department for more than
| a year to come, besides current duties.
POLICE AND FIRE.
The city auditors report shows the
cost of the board of police and fire COM
miSsioners for 1894 and 1895 as follows
Members salary, 1894, $500; member
salary, 1895. $780, clerks salary. 1894
S652B clerks salary. 1898, $60666; cash
In addition to the above. claims are
! filed in behalf of four men for salaries
while improperly suspended from the
fire department, amounting to $3,547.52
These men were reinStated by the courts
and are probably entitled to their pay
as claimed. There are also claims
amounting, to about ,$11,6SO against the
city. in which suits have been brought
by eight members of the police depart
ment. who allege that they were i'm
properly suspended from duty.
was made in consequence of the pas
sage of an ordinance reducing the num-
Der of men on the force. The Third dis
trict court decided that the suspension
cases are now pending on appeal and ii
! affirmed. will result in the city having
! to pay 1t will be seen that the police
and fire board for the two years ending
! December 81, IS likely to cost the city
! 1854.
A large amount of this was, in my
opinion, needlessly incurred by mal-ad-
ministration by the board and chiefs
| less to correct this evil. L recommend
| the law creating the board be repeal LED
and that both departments be placed un
! der control of the mayor and city coun-
Gil though. in this connection, 1 can see
/ no valid reason, either political or econ.
omic, why the ire and police depart
ments may not be placed under one su-
! perintendent. and that he be a member
of the board hereinbefore proposed. Thi.
would save the salary of one of the
chiefs. 1t is sufficient in my opinion tina:
| the officers of the police and fire depart
ments, under the superintendent pro
posed. be restricted to one captain anc
one lieutenant each, with such sergeants
as may be necessary.
LIQUOR. PROSTITUTION, GAMBLING
The peace and good order of the city
| largely depends upon the impartial ant
strict enforcement of the laws in rela
ton to the sale of Intoxicating liquors
The same is true in respect to prosti
tuition and gambling. The laws and or
| dinances in relation to these offense.
either ought to be repealed or strict!
enforced. 1 am unqualifiedly in favor O.
| their enforcement. l believe that The
better class of men engaged in the saloon
business in this city would cheerful!
comply with the Sunday laws, wer,
there an impartial effort made to en-
force them But, however this may be-
suggest the propriety of revoking Ii
censes whenever it may be made to ap
We'll Satisfied with
Awow'e aHo;r NginnF