The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-02-16

reserves dis most important eommuni-
cation until later period. but there IS
much Of interest on the subject of
water in the message read 80 the eeun-
eli lest night. For example he tells
Us that the water meter system as at
present In vogue in salt Lake IS really
an encouragement TO waste. He points
cut that the heavy consumers are al
ways supplied regardless Of whether
the rest Of the people have any water
or not.
The further statement IL made that
the heaviest water consumer in salt
Lake has a meter that has not been
read Tor months. This consumer pays
a fixed amount into the treasury
monthly. and the mayor would Ike TO
know why this has been permitted TO
go on. So would great many other
people. We would like to know who
this favored consumer is, and the
mayor, who is doubtless informed,
should furnish the Information.
The mayor IS unable to account for
ing the health department during the
last eight months OF 1903. He finds
that the cost Of caring for smallpox
patients has Increased from 1851 per
capita to $1131s per capita, and that
other expenses have increased proper
tionately. We venture the suggestion
that If there had been more attention
ff- ~f,r,
health officer the cost figures would
have been different
%zz
In his comment on the light and
.sreet-car service which The city is SUI
fering, the mayor viii have every c,ti-
zen with him, except the few who are
responsible for the so-called service.
Il is doubtful whether any city of it's
size in the country has been so liberal
with a corporation as Salt Lake has
been with this power and lighting cor
poration; there is no question but that
the service rendered in return for liber-
ality is the worst possible and that
the only remedy the people have is in
municipal action.
IF a private concern were to do bust
ness in the same fashion, it would not
have business enough to pay for the
oil on its dynamos; being corporate
monopoly, the lighting company seems
TO have gone on the theory that con
sumers have no right which anybody
is bound TO respect. that the company's
only duty is 10 see that the bills are as
high as possible and collected immedi-
atelv they become due. whether any
adequate service has been rendered o.
not
In common with the public. The
Herald has hoped that the promises Of
the company would be fulfilled; that
the plant would be brought up to some
thing like a decent efficiency: that
lights would be furnished up to the
standard on which the charge is based,
and satisfaction be given where just
complaints were made. None of these
hopes has been met. and The Herald
hopes the council viii cooperate with
the mayor in his effort TO see if a legal
remedy cannot be had.
Altogether. IL the mayors suggestions
are followed out, an Improvement in
the management Of the city's business
affairs ought TO result. The water
problem is a matter apart and ought
TO have the most serious consideration
before any final plan is adopted. No
piece-meaf scheme VIII meet the needs
Of the city and a comprehensive plan
as for immediate wants should be a
matter for expert advice, based on
complete data and approved by the
people at large as well as by the mayor
and council.