The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-01

harvesting of ice, be amended and
made more stringent, so that a better
| quality of ice can be. secured and the
consumers made reasonably sure that
no impure ice is offered for sale. In my
opinion, this Is a most important mat
! ter, and the recommendation of the
! commissioner should receive prompt
attention l recommend that the ordi-
nance named be amended as he sug-
gests. Other important suggestions are
submitted by the commissioner, which
l commend to your favorable consider
alton
Cost of Department.-The cost of OPP
Grating the health department during
the year 1898 was So, 10000, being $52S.72
less than the amount allowed by the
council.
Sanitary-The report of the sanitary
inspector shows that the nuisance COM
plants for the past year were $40, a
decrease of 205 from the previous year,
which goes to show that the sanitary
condition of the city has greatly i'm
proved. The cost of maintaining the
sanitary branch of the health depart
ment was s4,41S,n.
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
In my first message to the council I
expressed the opinion that there was
very little need in our city of board !
of public works, and l have seen no !
Slice 10 ClldloS lily OPAlAtOI.
Whatever necessity may have existed |
for such a board at the time of its !
creation, that necessity has, IN my !
opinion, ceased TO exist. The heads OF /
the several departments, by authority |
of the city council, and, when neces- |
sary, under the supervision of the |
mayor or council committees, can at |
tend TO all the business of the CITY as
We'll as it can be done under the direc-
ton of a board. In order, therefore, |
that all city work, of whatever nature.
may hereafter be directly supervised
by the heads of the several depart
ments, l recommend that the council
memorialize the present state legisla-
ture to abolish the boards of public
works in all cities of the first class
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS
Cost of Maintenance-The cost of
maintaining this department during the
year 1898 was s4.S95.23, a reduction in
expenditure of $2,244S4 under that of
1897. The receipts for the year were
$319.79, as against $1,000 for the year
previous, an increase of $225.79.
Pioneer Park.-In my former message
I recommended that Pioneer square be
permanently dedicated TO the public
use as a park. On July "A, 1898, this
suggestion was carried into effect, the
square was dedicated with appropriate
and named Pioneer park.
Thus will be preserved for all time for
the use and benefit of all the people
that spot of ground where, over fifty
years ago, the hardy pioneers COM
menced TO build Salt Lake City
CITY CEMETERY.
Maintenance and Receipts.-The re-
port of the city sexton shows the cost
Of maintaining the cemetery for the ]
year 10 have been S6,S4S.25, a reduction {
Of $1,506.40 from that of the previous !
year. The receipts during the same pc ]
Rod We're 81, 1858, showing a net gain
to the city of S257.SS, while for the year !
1897 the cost TO the city for maintair.-
ing the cemetery was l,273.25 over and '
above the receipts.
OIL INSPECTOR.
Report of Inspector.-The oil in '
5pector reports that 323S64 gallons of oil I
IN bulk. q. 500 gallons in cases and I
1883 gallons in iron barrels were in I
spected and tested. Twenty-Five thous- 5
md two hundred and fifty gallons Of j
oil were rejected and con- &
iemned. I
The amount of fees collected and COW q
.red into the city treasury from April
to Dec. 81, 1898, was s9S5.66. e
BUILDING INSPECTOR. ;
Inspectors Report-The report of the {
Inspector of buildings shows that $40 Il
permits were issued during the year. L
The estimated cost of the new build
ngs erected and Improvements made C
vas $665,625. Twenty-Five buildings a
we're condemned and ordered to be a
and repaired. T
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Opening, Books, Etc-The public Ii i.
,rary of Salt Lake City, as establish n
d by law, was opened to the public Ii
n one of the large rooms on the main il
oor of the city hail, on Jan. l, 1898, t
With appropriate ceremonies, which 4
we're participated in by many promi- d
tent citizens. At the opening the Ii c
rary contained 1881 volumes. Since t
hen there has been added by purchase "
nd donation about 1000 volumes p
Cost Of Maintenance.-The expense of o
he library for the year for purchase Of n
ooks. maps, papers, binding, salaries, II
tc, has been about $4,000. The large a
lumber of citizens who patronize the
brary and use the reading room daily e.
Indicate how highly these privileges are a
ppreciated. Il
ILLEGAL COLLECTION OF FEES. = =
In my annual message last year 1
allied attention to the article Of the s.
tate constitution which prohibits the S
objection of fees as compensation for CT
fficial services. While the city cOun-
il has partially remedied this illegal z
ractice, there are still some officers -
Or whose compensation no salaries
ave been fixed. notably the building c.
lspector. the sealer of weights and
leasures and the dog tax collector.
outside of the constitutional prohibit
on l am of the opinion that if any Il
Ulcers were paid fixed salaries and Il
andered independent of fees, the city c
ould secure more effective service and u
ne public welfare be better subserved. Il
ne injustice. not to say absurdity, of -
he fee system can be Illustrated by
equiring the building inspector to b,
1ndemn a building and then demand N
lat the owner shall pay his fee for r
he proceeding. 1 again recommend L
lat salaries be fixed for all officers .
nd all fees collected be covered into Ii
lie city treasury. 81
STREET SPRINKLING. II
I had contemplated making some ex- ~ ",
.nded suggestions upon the import d
Mt subject of street sprinkling, but k
aving learned that your committee D
/ street sprinkling has the matter pa
lder consideration, l only refer to it q
reilly ca
The contract system under which we 81
ave operated for a number of years, 81
is proved not only very expensive, to
It very far from satisfactory. That m
.ere is room for great Improvement in III
le work and greater economy in the
,penditure admits of no argument
We have expended for street sprink-
-