Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-06-12
WHAT SHALL BE DoNEq

WHAT SHALL BE DONE?
salt Lake city Is confronted with
serious situation. It's population is
rapidly Increasing. but It's water sup
ply remains inadequate even for pres
ont actual necessities Every succeed
ing year this lack becomes more forcl-
bly, emphasized. Every new house that
Is built requires a new water counec'
ton. Every new lawn that Is made
cries out for additional sprlnkllng AS
the residence districts extend and push
out TO municipal limits there IS a fur
Their demand for the essential liquid.
In some parts OF the city the supply
is comparatively plentiful except IN
late summer when economy has TO be
enforced everywhere, but In others
there IS a great scarcity and even now
the pressure there IS so light. that IN
case Of fire there would be great danger
even II the full strength Of a stream
could be utilized The extension Of
street s9rlnkllng. too. creates a larger
requirement and more water is an ahso-
Lutte need. What Is to be done to meet
the imperative demand?
improvements are needed In our pres
ent waterworks; a reservoir has been
commenced near the east bench; plans
have been entered into for better SER
vice in parts that are suffering; the
increase Of facilities IN City Creek and
Parleys canyon have been arranged
for: but these are only means FOR pres
ent relief, the needs Of the future re
also staring US In the face.
Money must be raised by some means
TO pay for the work already laid out
How Is Il to be obtained? There are
only two methods suggested one Is to
issue bonds Tor the purpose, the other
is to impose a heavy special tax Which
VIII the people Of Salt Lake city
choose? Il is proposed 70 submit the
bonding question to the citizens. That
VIII probably be the next thing the tax
payers will have 20 decide. The ma
jority Of the city authorities are. no
doubt, in favor OF the proposition and
the people will be asked TO pass upon
Il.
There is a well grounded prejudice
against further bonding The interest
goes on a. certainly as time flies The
debt once contracted remains a weight
upon the body polite which nothing but
payment can remove. We are already
in debt almost up to the chin, il VIII
not take very much more 10 oyerwhelm
us. New bonds cannot legally be is
sued except for water purposes. and
they only by popular consent II the
vote Is In their favor present actual
necessities may be relieved, and with
the increase Of population may come
the Increase Of public revenue sufficient
for future responsibilities,
Suppose the taxpayers vote against
the issue OF bonds What VIII come
next2 II viii be a special water tax
OF perhaps five mills, 60 be added TO the
regular Dad and cause a general nut.
burst Of indignation, with the probable
forfeiture Of many small homes for
failure TO pay the enlarged sum re-
qulred. This would certainly wor,
very great hardship on many poor peo-
pie and occasion widespread dissatis-
faction.
The people Of salt LAKE. however,
will have 10 face the situation and De-
EIDE whether they will have inc bonus
or the tax. We see no way Of getting
around the difficulty. Much Of the work
10 be done Is contracted for. II IS an
urgent necessity. IL is no fancy scheme.
We may as Wen look at the matter from
a common sense standpoint, and out OF
two evlls-if It be conceded that ihe
bonding and heavy taxes are both evils
come TO a wise conclusion and choose
the least one Of them appears 10 be IN.
eyitable.
In our opinion, the urgency Of the
conditions and the necessity Of action
in relation 10 them viii force them.
selves upon the attention OF the tax
payers. and the result VIII be the ac-
oeptance Of the bonding proposition. I,
is the easier of the two methods OF
raising the money required and 90
leaves the coming generation and H.
people who win IN future share tu
benefits that win arise 20 help pay iar
the improvements that must bc mad.
Let every citizen OF salt Lake think Doc
matter over carefully and then act 9s
wisdom shall direct.