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

irrigation water is now allotted. Thes,
suggestions. the result of the pas
years experience in the department
are entitled to fair consideration
STREETS AND IRRIGATION.
In February, 1896, the council consol
idated the street and irrigation de
partments, and the duties of supervisor
OF streets and watermaster are now
performed by one officer instead of two
While at the time this was an expert
men9, the results have proven so salts
factory and beneficial that the wisdom
Of the movement is apparent to all.
Cost OF Maintenance.-The report Of
the supervisor shows the cost of main
tenance for 1898 to have been S45, 1873. 40
of which amount 81, 100 was represent
ed by poll tax labor. and 81 $50. so BY
poll tax collected in cash. This shows
a saving of 81, S09.04 as compared with
the cost of maintaining the two depart
mentS separately during the year 1897
This saving alone, for one year, seems
to justify the act of consolidation.
Poll Tax Collections.-A large in
crease in the collection of poll tax is
shown. The amount collected in labor
and cash during the year being S13,-
$1,000, an increase of S4,506.20 over the
collections of 1897. One thousand four
hundred and eight suits for the collec-
! ton Of poll tax were instituted and 1888
yet remain to be filed, showing the to-
tai number of poll tax delinquents to
be 1,741.
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.
Cost of Mountaineering report of
| the city engineer shows the cost of
maintaining this department for the
year to have been So, 027.30 deducting
the receipts which amounted TO ST.
| 60S.66 leaves the net cost at $40, 1854
| a decrease of expenditure as compared
with the previous year of S2,052.97.
| Investigations and SurveyS.-Consid-
/ cradle work has been done in this de-
J partment in efforts to solve the water
/ problem for the city. Surveys and in
vestigations have been made with
view to remedying defects in the
/ Waterworks system, also looking to Sc
| curing an additional supply of water
| a necessity which becomes more APP
/ parent as the demand for it increases.
rhe engineers work on these lines is
not yet completed, but l understand he
intends at an early day to make a
special report on the subject to the
city council.
IN this connection it might be well
to consider, if in the future it may not
be necessary, in order to secure an
ample supply of water, for the city to
raise more means than it can do at
present, owing to the constitutional
limitations upon its borrowing power
Would il not be WELL while the state
legislature is in session, to take the
necessary steps to secure an amend
ment to the constitution of the state,
removing the debt mourning prohibit
ton, so far as to give the people of
this city the privilege, should they at
any time SO desire, of voting to incur
an additional Indebtedness OF a limited
amount, the money to be used eXclu-
GiTaiW for. GarTlTsinrr a6pnnEra C11TnIxy
of water? l believe the voters of this
city could be safely trusted with this
power without any apprehensions that
they would abuse it or use IL to their
own detriment.
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
Arrests-The report OF the chief of
police shows that 2,476 arrests were !
made during the year 1888, which were
disposed of as follows One thousand |
four hundred and seventy-three were |
convicted Of various offenses; 156 had /
sentence suspended; 80 were cases pun !
ishable under state laws; 740 were dis |
missed and discharged, and 10 cases are I
still pending. In addition to the ar /
rests, 20 lost children were rescued.
Maintenance.-The cost of maintain |
ing the department for the year !
amounted 10 S34, S3956, being a decrease /
of Sl,145.30 from the year 1891 IN the |
cost of maintenance given above is in /
Guided the payment of u judgment /
against the city, obtained by T J. Ev-
Grill ct al. The amount received from
fines during the year was $14,1OS.25.
Number of F'crce.-The present police T
force consists Of % men, including two
detectives and six desk and duty SER
geantS. The chief calls attention to the
amount Of work performed by this linn
iteQ force. and expresses the belief that !
II has pp7Tg1 pnrrln mi :
been accomplished by hearty co-Opera-
ton and tireless industry, vigilance and I
faithfulness.
City Recommendations for a
new jail have been made from time TO
time for many years past There can
be no doubt as to the necessity Of such
an Improvement. The present jail is
no credit to the city. I would again
recommend q new structure, but for the
TACT that our present financial cOndi-
ton viii not justify the construction of
such a building as we should have.
However. l do recommend the erection
OF a small addition TO the present jail.
10 cost not 20 exceed $500 or 5000 to be
used for combining boys, youths and
others charged with minor Offenses.
who should not be imprisoned with aud
compelled 10 associate with the rough
class. The object for impos-
ing fine and Imprisonment for offenses
should be with a view of reformation,
as well as punishment. This object can
be better attained in the case of young
people and those who are under arrest
for the first time by being confined
where they can be kept separate and
apart from hardened criminals I ask
that this undertaking, which must
commend itself to your humane judg-
nent, receive early consideration.
FIRE DEPARTMENT. {
Losses BY Fire.-The report Of the
chief Of the fire department shows the +
number OF fire alarms during the year ,
20 have been 129, the losses by which ,
amounted to $77,S64.04, being $44,S0494
ess than in 1897. The cost of mainten-
ince for the year was S30,9S9.S0
Communications The following
submitted by the
,hief, are here presented for your con-
5iGeration: .
The erection and equipment of an en-
zine house on street, in the Fourth
municipal ward.
The purchase of 1000 feet of 213-inch +
ire hose.
The construction of three or more els :
erns on Main street, to hold d supply :
II water TO meec emergency which may :
lccur during scarcity OF water in t!-e !
mains.
That no water main pipe less than ;
TX inches be hereafter laid, except in ;
pecial cases.
LAW DEPARTMENT. t
Suits For Dana ges.-The report of |
he city attorney for the year 1898
hows that at the beginning of the year
uits were pending against the city in
which the damages claimed amounted
o S263, 50. During the year new
asses We're filed claiming damages
mounting to $51,25S46. making the to-