Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-05-28
AN ARGUMENT
AGAINST PAVING.
To the Editor:

To the Editor:
l, with many others, am opposed to
the paving Of South Temple street at
this time for the following reasons:
First--Because It is a luxury, and
not necessity, and this fact must be
apparent TO every taxpayer in the city,
When we look over the city and see
the lack Of sidewalks everywhere,
scarcely street running north and
south has a sidewalk, we believe the
expenditure of a few thousand dollars
on side walks will benefit most people,
because all the people use these walks,
while but few would receive any BEN
eft from the paving of South Temple
street.
Second-The large majority Of the
people on South Temple street are OPP
posed to this paving, because they can
not afford 1t just now, and to compel
these people TO mortgage their homes,
10 please a few wealthy men and wo-
men would be a most inhuman act of
the city council, There are men and
women on this street old Pioneers, who
have lived here for over 80 years, have
been good citizens and taxpayers all
these years, have labored, struggled
and suffered TO build their present
homes, dug the bitches and planted
trees. made the adobes and bricks
which now shelter them, and made II
possible for these people who now de-
mand this pavement to come here and
erect their mansions.
Then there are other things which
should be taken into consideration our
bonded Indebtedness Is now R,1sS,OOO
upon which we are compelled TO pay
annually In interest alone Sl25,iOO. our
income from all sources is but Ni0,OOO,
leaving but $4,000 to expend for all
purposes, by the city council Our con-
tngent expenses last year were $685.
1880, leaving us SS3,175 behind our In
come. Now let us go further. our
school debt is $685. 00O upon WNlch we
pay In interest over SSS25O Then there
is our proportion Of the county debt "
$4,000. This would be S3S00O0 Then
comes our proportion Of the state debt
of s90O, 900, which would be over 100000
or total Of over N.li3,OOO debt which
hangs like the sword OF Democles OYER
the heads of the people OF Salt Lake
and which, like death, they must pay
This would be over 81 per capita OF
debt for every man, woman and child
IN our city, and notwithstanding this
awful debt a few men and women,
whom fortune has favored in the last
few years, demand that the city con-
tinue TO further plunge into debt, and
increase the burdens on the backs Of
the common people, without any use
less expenditure,
Thereafter our taxes, which are now
enormous, 2-le per cent on a 10 per
cent yaluatlon--are going TO increase
for We have In the last two years sold
$4,000 worth OF city property, which
has been expended, not TO curtail our
enormous debt. but to pay necessary
expenses Of the city
We are told that II South Temple
street is paved, tourists passing through
our city will be delighted, We gods
must we mortgage our homes, that a
few people, who largely look on us with
contempt, may see something pleasing
20 the eye. This city OF ours, by right
OF discovery, and our labor our, toll,
our suffering and SORROWS have made II
what is is today. President Smith lat
the last conference) never gave the peo-
pie more wholesome advice, than when
he advised them to get out OF debt. ana
the same will apply TO our city ahalrs.
Every man knows a great financial
crash Is coming--it cannot be much
longer delayed-and when II does come
our people will b. PROSTATE and help
less. al the feet Of those who now de-
sire TO place a greater burden upon our
backs.
Then, there are other reasons why. II
left TO the people Of salt Lake TINS
useless expenditure would not be made
Every taxpayer no matter where ne
lives must contribute 10 pay TINS eN-
pense. .,,
The city engineer estimates Il would
cost the city $4,000 that Is the cl'y s
norton OF the expense. The people on
Eighth South aud Fifth North must
bear their proportion Of this EXPENSE,
and lei me ask what benefit VIII they
receiver
There are many other reasons !
might OFFER, but l would suggest that
an honest board of equalization an hon
est assessment an income tax. prose.
cutlon and forfeiture Of the property OF
tax dodgers land they are very nu-
merpus In salt Lake, an honest expen-
dlture Of our taxes. which represents
the blood and toll OF our honest ciu-
gems, would. In time, relieve our pso-
pie and help US out Of the tolls OF the