Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-02-03
Municipal Report That is Large
" a Personal Basic at
Mr.. Ritter.
THE PAVING S0UABBLE AGAIN.
Cost Of Other Public improvements
Actually Made and PIaDncd--All
Departments Covered.

public works for the year 1905 has been
tiled by former Chairman l.. A. Wall
With Mayor Thompson. The report
contains some important figures In re-
gard to the public improvements made
during the past year and those contem-
plated for this year. The greatest poi.
ton OF the report however. contains n
review OF the troubles oyer the east
south Temple street paving. IN when
Col Wall aud former city Engineer
q. w. Ritter were the central Agures,
and the latter is severely criticized for
his action IN that matter. Following
II the report In fuli
REPORT IN Full.
Hon. Ezra Thompson. Mayor Dear
Sir: The following Is Il summary Of
the work Of this department for the
year 1905: In presenting the same,
we desire TO say that we are advised
by Mr., Kelsey. the present city engi-
neer that on assuming charge OF TINT
department. IN January of the present
year, he found the records OF the same
30 confused and imperfect that he IL
unable to furnish us with the cost OF
engineering of the various improve
ments. This being the case, II IL to be
understood that wherever In this re-
port the total cost OF any Improvement
is mentioned the ccst OF engineering
should be added TO such amounts Us
specified, IN order to reach an accurate
total, and when these items OF expendi.
ture are arrived al by the engineering
department, this omission can be COW
cred by supplemental report The prln-
cipal work OF this department, sum
married. is as follows.
STREET PAVING
There has been constructed during
the year 1906, 10 blocks OF asphalt paw
ing, being $3.50 linear feet or Isl miles
This work was done as follows;
Market street from Main
street to West Temple
street, at an expense OFFS g,S60.09
East South Temple street from
the east side Of State street
to the west side OF Tenth
East street .,..,,.,,,..,".,. la0,Ols.W
-----~-------------
Total ......... ............si 49, $3.50. 50
SOUTH TEMPLE PAVING.
The paving Of South Temple street,
as you are aware. presented great
many difficulties not the least Of which
were those brought about by reason OF
the attitude OF the city engineers OF
fee. In regard to this work. the board
of public works conferred upon It's
chairman full power to direct the same,
and carry out the will OF the council.
in respect to the establishment OF the
form and manner OF grade specified In
the ordinance OF September 81, 1904.
which was adopted In response to petit
lions In writing. and signed by the
owners Of about % per cent OF all abut-
ting property, situated between State
and Fifth East streets.
MUCH UNNECESSARY COST
In pursuance Of this work much USE
less and unnecessary cost was incurred,
owing TO the conflict OF purpose which
existed In the mind OF the city engineer
by reason whereof that office urged
the substitution of a plan (supporte
only by himself involving cuts several
feet deeper on the north side OF tho
street and a closing up OF the north In
tersecting streets a. y. G and d., AMI
the constr uction OF narrow. heightened
approaches from the respective sides
OF these streets, which were 20 be sup
ported by expensive and unslghtly re-
tanning walls, to all OF which ths prop
erty owners had fled with the council
an emphatic protest,
SUBSTITUTES REJECTED.
Tn ordinance provided for continu-
Gus transverse slope from north To
south. a space OF several feet between
the railroad tracks being upon an In
creased degree Of inclination The I'LL
on the south side OF the street was not
TO exceed three and one-haf feet at
any point. After Il prolonged struggle
before the council the substitute plan
OF the city engineer was rejected. Sub
sequently yielding to the urgent desire
of the city engineer. that the incllna-