The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-01-16
MAYOR SPENCER'S REPORT.
REVIEWS THE WORK OF THE
DEPARTMENTS.
Financial Status of the City-City Is
Enjoying Substantial Prosperity
and Old Strifes Are Dead.

/
for the past two years was filed yes
terday with the city recorder. The re-
/ port is concise. but covers every de-
partment of the city's business and
comments somewhat on the more i'm
portant matters of public concern.
The document. first, deals with the
financial status of the city, and ex-
plains why the Indebtedness was Great
ed. Concerning the public indebted
ness, the mayor says:
"Our public debt during the past
two years has been decreased $50, GOO.
which has been accomplished without
Gripping the efficiency of our various
public departments All of our public
departments have been economically
administered and, for efficiency, are
equal to any of our sister cities. While
our financial system has been very per-
picking at times, 1 consider that the
city council has met that, proposition
bravely and mastered the situation,
and has done its work well; and, if the
past two years shall be any criterion
Indebtedness, it will not be long be-
fore we will be absolutely free from
debt"
The police department is reviewed
and commended for efficient and econ
omical work, and likewise the fire de-
partment. The legal department is re-
ferred to as follows:
During the last wear, from the re-
port of the city attorney, five cases
have been tried and disposed of in the
district court of this county, also one
case disposed of in the supreme court
of the United States, and one in the
supreme court OF the state of Utah. At
present there are eight cases pending
in the district court in which Ogden
city is interested. During the last year
the city has not lost a damage case,
and there is only one pending against
Ogden city which was filed during last
month. The most important cases
commenced by the city during the last
year is the one that involves the right
of Ogden city to recover damages
against the present waterworks COM
pany. and to annul the contract now
held by that company. This case has
not been finally heard and we all hope
that Ogden city will be successful
From the report of the street super
visor, S14.S64S4 has been expended up
on the streets by ogden city. This
amount includes the salary of the
street supervisor and of all the men
employed by him, and when we take
into consideration that we have more
than 81 miles of improved streets in
this citv. besides many miles of side
walks in good condition. the amount of
money expended is very small indeed:
that this department has been very
economically administered there can
be no doubt. 1t is also true that about
one-half of the money expended upon
our streets has been done for the pur-
pose of giving employment to our
working people. We have % miles of
streets, of which 81 miles are graded
and graveled, and many miles of as
phalt and stone sidewalks, and about
three-sevenths OF a mile of paved
streets"
a review of the sewer construction
work is also given under this head.
The work of the sanitary department
is especially commended for its work
in banishing contagious diseases.
There were 2O6 deaths during the past
year and 3S7 births.
During the last year the public Ii
brary has increased very rapidly and
today is in a very healthy and thirty
ing condition. The present administra-
ton has fostered and encouraged this
worthy enterprise and the ladies who
have had the management of this pub
lie concern deserve great credit, and
under their very efficient management
the prospects of this library are very
encouraging.
The engineering department has been
well and economically handled and dur
ing the past two years has made many
hydraulic tests and measurements rela-
tive to the construction of a new and
complete system of waterwOrks to be
owned by the city. The grades and
streets are permanent and well planned
being very wide and beautiful.
DECnpnET,,c nI7ETCI-