The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-01-29
BENNETT ON PAVING.
WOULD LAY THE CITY OFF IN DIS
TRICTS.
Says Bonds Could Be Issued and
salt Lake Paved Easily and Cheap
Iy-His System of Advancing VAL
ues in Salt Lake.

ern is an enthusiastic believer in the
future greatness of this city, If proper
steps are taken. Just now, in his judg-
ment, Salt Lake is attracting the at
tention of the entire United States. He
favors action on the part of the people
here and declares with the expenditure
of little money, outside capital will
be attracted and in a short time we
will be booming; not in the sense the
term is generally applied, but in a
sensible way.
Mr.. Bennett gave a reporter some ex-
pressions yesterday anent the situation
here his statements being after the
following manner:
MIR. Bennett, do you feel that there
is good ground for the impression
which appears to prevail that the gem
eral interests of Salt Lake city will be
materially advanced during the cur
rent year?"
THAT there is every reason for ex-
pecting a general advancement and
development Of Utah's resources no
one can deny; but as to which par
ticular locality this anticipated irrl-
provement shall accrue remains to be
seen. On the doctrine of the survival
of the f1ttest' it certainly behooves the
various cities or localities to demon
strate their ftness-and the question
arises, how shall this be done. Wen
let US see. From mining point of
view ought not Park City, Bingham,
Tintic and the Mercur districts to see
to it that their particular advantages
should be made known, and placed in
a favorable light before the people over
the entire United States?"
RJt what ahO1It Salt Lake city ~
asked the reporter.
THAT seems to me very plain sail
ing" was the reply.
After our unusual season Of sleigh
ing Utah's proverbial weather is be-
ginning to assert itself-and what is
the result? A valuable object lesson.
Look on this picture, a we'll paved
district in the business portion of the
city over which to drive is a pleasure
a much more extensive district of well
lard sideWalks-addi materially to
the comfort and convenience of Pc
destrians in general and the abutting
residents in particular. And now on
this By far the major portion of the
entire city devoid of paved streets or
paved foot walks-almost impossible
for either veichels or pedestrians. lis
true we have done ourselves proud in
the matter Of modern. and commodi-
Gus school buildings-postofice city
and county building as well as in
business blocks, but what inducements
have We to offer to new home seekers?
Plenty of residence lots for sale tbs
true, and at moderate prices, but these
can be found in every city"
'Correct-but what can be done to
attract home seekers %
THAT is easy-make the city attrac-
tive to them"
How would you do it?"
Easy enough. Lay the entire city
off into paving districts"
But who would pay for it,"
The property owners-the taxpay-
ers."
But they would object"
'Oh, no. Show them it is to- their pc
cuniary interests, and they will be anx-
tous enough for the paving-they will
actually vie with each other to get the
first paved districts
How would such work benefit the
city in general?"
That is simple It would benefit
everybody. Furnish labor and wages
for large number of laborers-but of
course, you say, they would
go to Denver, San Francisco,
ETC., to spend their wages. Then
the material used as our asphalt
tum and paving rock - equal to any
on earth, and comes much cheaper,
and such Improvements once inaugu-
rated would doubtless result in the es-
Enlistment of factories to turn our
excellent clays into vitrified brick.
There is no doubt but that every dol
lar expended both in labor and ma
terial would be spent right hereto the
benefit of our merchants and dealers
and their increased trade would neces-
state an increase also in the number
of their employees"
But how could the payments for the
paving be metz
THAT, too, is simple, If you will only
stop to figure 1T out. For example, say
we describe ten paving districts, where
each is properly and intelligently de-
cided on and defined; then put it to a
vote of the AUDITING property owners,
pavement or no pavement with the
understanding that if tWo-thirds of the
property owners vote in favor of it, the
city council will order the work done
according to specifications previously
adopted, the cost thereof to be paid
by the property owners, payment to be
made by the issue of paving bonds
running ten years. and guaranteed by
the city, one-tenth the amount and ac-
crued interest to be paid yearly by
special tax against the property. The
city would have ample indemnifica-
ton for its guarantee of the bonds by
making legal the tax on the property.
1t seems to me that the directors of
our chamber of commerce might we'll
employ their time in preparing a map
of Salt Lake City, showing the var
ious paving districts proposed and sub
hitting the same to the mayor and
city council, with a petition covering
the case"