Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-13
CHANGE OF GRADE
DECIDED ON.
City Council Adopts Report Regard
ing North Main Street,
HEAR PROTESTING CITIZENS
Vote 10 Change Established Grade
Was ~ 10 sicily Auditor Of
fers Suggestions.

voted the greater portion OF their time
at last nights meeting to a consldera-
tlon OF the North Main street grade
question. After a discussion OF the
street committees report. recommend
ing a change OF the sla per cent estab-
llshed grade to a l2h per cent grade.
lasting nearly two hours. 1t was adopt
ed by vote OF 10 to 3.
A number Of citizens were present
and for and against the proposition.
Mr. o. r. Young. civil engineer said
he was opposed to the change contem-
plated In the committees report lie
wanted the best grade and that was not
the one asked for by ]. a. Fritsch and
others. nor recommended by the COM
mittee.
Chairman Morris said his committee
had considered the matter for months
and a majority favored a change, fully
believing It would prove TO the best
interest Of the city. The grade would
be about ~ per cent for 900 feet and
per cent for 300 feet north OF CuTant
street. He read letters from Engineers
Brooks and Hin and gave verbal
statement from Engineer ]. Fewson
Smith, al Of whom gave 1t as their
opinion that II would be unwise for the
city 10 maintain the established grade.
]. a. Frltsch, in behalf OF the petit
TONERS, made quite a talk for change,
and recited the benefits that would
come to the property owners II the
committees report was adopted.
Architect $. G. Dallas, by means OF
piece Of string and a rule, gave a
practical illustration Of what q l2l2 per
cent grade was like.
W. II. Sherman said the established
grade was a "mOnstrosity' and ought
not to be longer tolerated.
Isaac Barton suggested mature delib-
Grafton. The question was an import
ant one. not only to the residents Of
Main street north Of First North, but
TO every person in the city He fav-
ored a postponement OF the matter I'M
Ill further Inquiry had been made.
Buckle introduced anvlher petition
signed ny IS business men and private
citizens. They asked that action be
postponed until other plans, now un-
der consideration. had matured. The
petition was ruled ont OF order.
The motion TO adopt the commit
tees report was put and carried by
vote OF 10 to g. Barnes, Buckle and
Robertson voting In the negative.
A CHANGE PROPOSED.
City Auditor Douglas A. Swan called
the attention Of the Council 10 the un-
satisfactory condition OF the accounts
Of his office due, Mr.. Swan says. 10 the
improper system in which the books
have been opened and kept, and the ac-
counting between the auditors Office
and the departments Of the city.
Mr.. Swan says no records appear 10
show the correct value Of any property
owned by the city. The location Of the
various lands belonging TO the city. the
auditor says. is contained In the records
Of the engineers department; but there
Is nothing either there or In the audi
tors office to show their value. Fur
thermore Mr.. Swan says that amounts
representing operating expenses have
been charged to accounts representing
property, such as the crematory. fire de.
partment, etc, so that the accounts
never show either the current operating
expenses, or the cost Of the patents.
Again. Mr.. Swan says, for some
time prior 70 1891 accounts showing in
come and expenditure have not been
closed al the end OF the fiscal year. Ac.
counts showing the cost Of various i'm
proyements. long since completed, the
auditor says. still remain open. These
accounts IN no sense present the cty's
liabilities and resources, they are made
TO appear as such. II those accounts on
both sides were closed. Mr.. Swan says,
the difference would be q debt balance
Of about 500 OoO
Mr. Swan further states that there Is
no regular system Of reports existing
between his Office and the city depart
ments.
The auditor. Mr.. Swan says, should
be In position at all times 20 furnish
the Mayor Council committees or pub
lie, any information with respect 10 a
general financial condition Of the city
The law, he says, requires his books
10 show. but under the present system
II Is impossible TO do so.
The auditor recommends that the
Council appoint committee 10 ap-
praise the value Of all the citys prop
erty; that the auditor be authorized
10 investigate the accounts listed that
a proper system az accounts be insu-
tuted. under the direction Of the audi
tor, supervised by the finance commit
tee, In all the departments. Mr. Swan
further recommends that whenever any
special work IL done by any Of the de-
partments. an appropriation be made 10
cover the cost. that the auditor be In
structed TO audit no bills IN excess OF
the appropriation for the purpose: and
that he be required 20 make a monthly
report showing the amount Of appro-
prlations remaining unexpended. Re
ferred to finance committee.
"THERELL BE A HOT TIME"
Edward Mccarthy. chairman. and W.
r. Ayland, secretary, Of the Firemens
invitation committee, sent In a COM
munlcation inviting the members Of
the Council 20 attend a banquet and
entertainment 20 be given al the fire
department headquarters, by the men,
| beers Of the fire department, Monday
evening next The banquet Is 10 be
given In honor Of the Mayors, present
and elect, and the Councils. ditto. OF
this city. All the members present
voted 10 attend.
ENGINEERS COTTONWOOD RE-
PORT.
City Engineer Kelsey presented a
preliminary report on the Big Cotton
wood Creek water Investigation. sode
parts OF the report were not fully com.
pleted. as Mr.. Kelsey said he had not
been able to obtain ard compile all the
information necessary TO complete II.
He asked for permission 20 finish the
report before II was considered by the
Council. The report will be ready by
next week. The request was granted
without opposition.
FIREMEN's RELIEF FUND.
Relative 70 the firemen's fund Chief
Devlne, In a communication addressed
to the Council. said II now amounted
10 81 10 The chief suggested tho an