The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-11-24
{ AGDEN BUREAU.
business and Editorial ONCE S19
Utah Loan &C Trust Building.
Telephone 29S.
ogden. November "a.
A HOT SESSION.
County Commissioners Grant Con

cessions to the Power Company
The session of the board of county
commissioners yesterday was one
fraught with unusual interest The
tax list matter and the matter of build
ing a new road up Ogden canyon from
Winslow's to Eden and Huntsville
were both expected to come up. This
latter master caused much discussion,
and called forth many protests. The
petition which brought it before the
board was as folows':
Whereas The Pioneer Electric Power
company is about TO build a dam IN Cs-
den canyon, which dam IS Tor the purpose
of storing water both for lrrlgatlon ana
power purposes; and, whereas, the Dam
and reservoir will cost about S52o,OO0; ana,
whereas, SAID company has already eX-
pended over S500,Oo0 in constructing canals
and pipe lines in Weber county during
the last u months; and, whereas, II Is
necessary 10 change the roadway IN Cg-
den canyon in order that SAID dam can
be built and whereas, most all OF said
1925, eco will be expended among the WORK
ing men ard business men of weber
county. Now, therefore, the undersigned
residents and taxpayers OF w eDer county
respectfully petition the county court OF
Weber county to change the roadway IN
Ogden canyon so as not TO hlnder or ue-
lay said company in the construction OF
its said DAM
This petition was signed by many OF
the heaviest taxpayers of Ogden CITY,
it being asserted that II names thereon
represented one-fourth of the entire
taxes of Weber county. The residents
from county precincts had not been
asked to sign the document, which had
been circulated hastily, and was noted
in The Herald OF Sunday after MAX
ing its appearance on Saturday.
Hon. George Q. Cannon, president OF
the Pioneer Electric Power company
and Senator Cannon, its manager, were
present.
When the matter came up the COM
missioners invited general expression
of views. President Cannon made a
statement reciting what the company
had done and hoped to do for the PEG
pie of Weber county. The construction
of the dam must begin at once and
its construction would interfere with
the old roadway. Considerable cpposi-
ton to granting the petition developed
Objection after objection was ad-
vanced and answered by George Q.
Cannon.
w. G. Cragun, Willard Cragun and
Mr.. Baily were among those who OPP
posed it. They asked only for time TO
let the people consider the matter and
protest if they saw fit. 1t developed
that the road had already been sur
estimated TO cost ST. 600.
The discussion raised all sorts Of
questions. Why had not the county
surveyor surveyed it, and estimated it?
The expenditure having been made
necessary by the operation of a wealthy
corporation, why should not the cor
poration pay it? Where could the
county get such a sum of money from,
heavily in debt as it is?
air10f ant that rhQ
wealth of the county was represented
in the names of the signerS of the petit
ton, Mr.. Cragun raised the points that
the real payers of taxes were the
producers, the farmers, and not the
middle-men; that ii was as hard for a
man who has only S. taxes to pay as
it is for a man who has $500 and his
opinion should be just as weiGhty-
President Cannon expressed his sur
prise and chagrin at the opposition,
saying that he had not expected it
after what the company had done and
would do for Weber county. He init
mated that if such a spirit were con-
tinued the advantages of the great
plant might be taken to Salt Lake.
Mr. Cragun and his few supporters
were determined, asking only for time,
but were answered that their evident
intent was to defeat the plan and that
time was pressing. Every day added
TO the expenses of the company. But
all this while typewriter in an adj
joining room was ticking off resolu-
ton granting the petition. When it
was finished it was passed in and
scrutinized by the commissioners and
the power plant officials.
Mr.. Wilson then made a motion that
the petition be granted, and that the
attorney be instructed to draw UP q
contract binding the company to fur
nish the right of way, build the culverts
and bridges and the county to do the
rest. This passed by unanimous vote
and the thing was done.
President Cannon thanked the board
of commissioners and Mr.. Cragun and
others retired to draw up protest. 1t
was forthcoming in a few minutes as
follows:
To the Honorable County Commission
erz of Weber County, Utah
Gentlemen-We, the undersigned, resi-
dent taxpayers of Weber county do
hereby protest against and object TO the
county court of Weber county paying
any of the county money to build the
roads to Huntsville and Eden that will
have to be built when the Pioneer Elec-
tric Power company build their dam in
w. G. CRAGUN.
JOHN WOODFIELD
DANIEL HAMEiR.
WILLARD CRAGUN.
H. BARKER.
JOHN Z. MAYCOCK,
f. T. SANFORD.
Then came the tax list matter At
torney Weber gave as his opinion that
the collector should advertise for bids;
that after so doing, the board might
let the contract TO whomsoever it
pleased. but that the price should not
be in excess of the lowest bid. The
board adjourned until today at 2
o'clock, and meanwhile the attorney
is to prepare written opinion on the
subject.
Assessor Brown was granted leave
of absence till Dec. 81.