The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-03-29
ASKS SEWERS
AND SIDEWALKS
Commercial Club Sends CON-
municatiOns to Council.
REPORTS ARE TRANSMITTED
IMPROVEMENT OF THE CITY is
sRoNGLY URGED.
REPORTS ARE TRANSMITTED

improvements in the sewer system
and in sidewalks are recommended by
the Commercial club in two reports
transmitted to the city council last
evening. One is the report of the com
mittee on sanitation and public welfare
and the other that of the sub-commit-
tee on sidewalks and the committee on
public improvements and parks. Both
have the endorsement Of the board of
governors. The first report was pre-
pared by J. Fewson Smith, jr. In this
DE says:
a particular condition. deserving Of in
Nestigation at this time. is the constant
accumulation OF filth from surface clos
cts and cesSpOols in the subsOil. These
sources of pollution and cOntagiOn are
not confined to blocks outside of the
present sewer districts. The greatest
menace TO health is found in the heart
OF the city. in the interior of the blocks
Partially drained by the existing sewers.
The cal for additional districts is urgent,
but the demand for additions within the
present districts. in my judgment, should
be attended TO first
Under the existing custom the expense
OF sewering is borne by a strip of ground
twenty-five feet deep facing on the sew
or. Behind this strip, I'm each full block
there is an area 60 feet deep which is
not assessed for the sewer at all. ana
IN many blocks cesspools and closets
abound.
Should Be Suppressed.
The city engineer in many instances
cannot issue a permit for sewer connec-
ton Tor this unassesSed area because no
sewer tax has been paid and because of
intervening private property. over which
q private sewer connection may not. pass,
aud so we find I'm this area cesspooIs
closets and surface drains. which should
DC suppressed, but which cannot be
ordered to connect with the sewer with
out modifying the existing custom and
ordinances.
The ufroe or, L.
81 giving service at the center of the
blocks around which they are laid and
tnere IS hardly a block within the pres
ent district which does not contain Some
one or more unpaved avenues along which
sewers might be constructed 1t is high
TINE that an earnest effort be put forth
, 20 secure extension Of the sewers. with
IN the present districts. the creation Of
new districts. and the Origination of any
easy and convenient means of paving the
necessary taxes without infringing on the
clty's tax limit
Favors an Ordinance.
Mr. Smith favors the passage of an
ordinance allowing the connections TO
De made from a larger area on each
SIDE the sewer. spreading the taxation
over this area, and especially the in
crease or sewer connections in the heart
OF the downtown blocks He urges the
extension OF the sewer system gener-
ally, and suggests this would be made
easier by having the payments extend
over ten annual installments Could
this arrangement for payment be made
he believes all opposition would vanish.
The report of the committee on side
walks was as already outlined 1t es-
pecialiy urges the construction Of side
walks IN the northeastern part Of the
city. submitting estimates Of cost. The,
district named is from Brigham to
Eourth South, and Second East to
Tenth East streets.