The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-05-28

TO distribute its waters by a complete
system of canals and lateral bitches
upon the arid lands north of Ogden.
One branch was to come over near the
Hot Springs and flow into Weber river
near the wooden mills, this to be done
out the failure to comply with this
contract. that the city has given ample
opportunity TO do so and has waited
patiently for years; that there is no
reason to expect that the contract will
be complied with. He then says the
present system is not what il should
be, being defective in many particu-
lars, the failure of Boutwell, and his
assigns TO carry out the contract hav-
ing injured Ogden more than 81, 900, 000
The construction of a large canal
from Bear river TO a point near Farrs
mill would cost about s500,0 00. The
money would have been spent here,
the canal would have developed much
arid land and supplied Plain City and
other settlements and given Ogden the
right to other waters in ogden river
in exchange, such a supply being am
pie for city of 250.000 inhabitants. The
council had asked the company to
name a price for the system in order
that the peoples option might be taken
advantage of, but the company refuses
to name price and always makes an
under the present contract, cost the
city S75 each a year, which is about 60
per cent too much, and there are many
other water rates based upon boom
prices and good times. Reference is
then made to the depreciation Of values
of property during recent years, while
the water rates remain as formerly.
The people cannot and the city will
not pay the contract rate.
The mayor asserts that voting for
bonds Will not necessarily mean that
the council will at once proceed to issue
them to the full amount. but that they
will issue so much as may be required
for the construction OF a complete syS-
tenn, il wise to do so. The council has
been guarded and conservative in the
whole matter. The city engineer has
carefully compiled statistics of the cost
of the system, which when complete
will be more perfect than the present
one and will be owned by the people.
Allusior is made TO the hesitancy
with which bonds are. voted for. but
the necessities of the case are plainly
pointed out Concluding, he refers TO
street runors that this was scheme
for Doodle, which are characterized as
unworthy of consideration. The new
system means a reduction OF % per
cent in water rates, reduced taxes and
an increased revenue.
The mayor also presented another
message. which was unanimously
adopted.
He says that as it has been impossi-
BILE to get any information from the
water company concerning the cost OF
the construction of the Ogden system,
as a basis for the city to figure on TO
purchase the same, and it being i'm
possible to get any satisfactory answer
from the company as to what II would
60 TOW M
the company has moi fulfilled its con-
tract and is still charging exorbitant
rates, he recommends that legal pro-
ceedings be commenced to annul the
contract or lease and also for S5OO,OOJ
damages for -fulfilment of the con-
tract. The message was referred to the
water committee and attorney with in
structions TO act.
The recorder was authorized to pro-
cure carriages for the council on
Decoration day.
Adjourned until Tuesday.