Evening star., 1902-05-09
A MODEL TOWN.
It Collects No City Tax and Officers
Serve Free.

Correspondence st. Louis Globe Democrat.
Who would ever think of coming to Utah
to find model of city government? Yet 1t
can be said without fear of contradiction
that the city exists under the shadow of the
Wasatch range. Down in Uintah county,
near the Uintah Indian reservation. is the
little city of Vernal, containing between
5000 and 1000 persons. This little burg is
governed in such a manner as to make it
the envy of all the other cities in the state.
There are no boodlers in Vernal and there
never has been suspicion of scandal since
it became a city It's public buildings are
finer, its streets are better kept and neater,
cleaner and, in fact, in almost every par
ticular, is head and shoulders in advance
of any other city of it's size in the country.
All this speaks of the public spirit of its
citizens. but it is far from all. The one
thing which makes Vernal unique among
the cities of the United States, if not of the
whole world. Is that there has never been
dollar Of money raised by city tax since
it was incorporated. The taxgatherer may
make his visits for county and state pur-
poses, but the item in the bill, which in all
other places swells the total to the squirm-
ing point, is always absent in Vernal.
This year there has been over a mile of
asphalt paving put down, and the mayor
gave as his opinion that in three years
there would not be an unpaved street in the
city. They have just completed one of the
finest school buildings in the west which
makes every public edifice in the town
right up to date and adequate for the wants
of a city three times it's present size
How have they attained to this Utopian
degree of perfection?" is a question which
will be largely asked. In the first place,
the city has provided for a perfect system
of licenses having in view the placing Of
the burdens of the city on the shoulders of
those who receive the most benefit. Saloons
are considered a luxury pure and simple
and as such have to pay a heavy price for
each concession. Crimes and msdemean-
ors get the full extent Of the law In the way
OF fines, which go to swell the city treasury.
Any concession gained from the city is paid
for at the top value, not given awayas they
are In most places. All this taken together
has been sufficient to raise the funds need
ed for city purposes, and, in the opinion of
the leading citizens, will meet all needed
expenses for years to come. Added to this
and full days work is done for a days
pay, so that the money goes further in Yer
nal than in any city in the country
Politics cut no figure in the city elections,
and the best men in the place are chosen to
fill the offices To be a member of the CITY
government is considered a high compli-
ment to the business ability Of the man so
the offices sought by the leading busi-
ness men of the place, and when once elected
they gladly serve out their terms without
pay. 1t has long been the habit for all off,
Gals to turn back their salaries into the
treasury One exception, however is made
TO this rule. the city marshal who devotes
his entire time to the public, taking a GEN
erous salary for his work
1t may not be possible to carry on the
business of larger city along Vernal lines,
yet there is not city, big or small that
could not learn useful lessons by STUDYING
the methods which obtain in the little burg