The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-11-03
QUESTIONS FOR Mr.. CRAIG
Several Reasons Why Voters Decline
to Support Republican
Nominee for Mayor.

Among the many other things which the
Democrats of Ogden have called upon
William Craig, the Republican candidate
for mayor, to explain in examining into
his record, is his action regarding the re-
building of a bridge at the mouth of
Ogden canyon to replace the one washed
out by the spring floods.
In support of their argument that Craig
is not safe man to elect to he position
Of mayor the Democrats set forth the
following facts:
On Jan. of this year a flood occurred
The heavy rush of water coming down
the Ogden river did much damage to pri-
vate property as we'll as t. the streets
and bridges of the city Among the bridges
damaged was the one across the Ogden
liver at the mouth of Ogden canyon. At
this point also the river broke through a
Dam and changed its course, washing out
large stretch Of the road to The west
OF the Sanitarium.
1t is commonly known that the duty Of
the officers of the city is TO repair and
keep in repair roads and bridges belong
ing to the municipality. 1t is set forth,
however, that instead of keeping this
trust Mr.. Craig as president of the city
council worked against the proposition II
is a matter of record that he opposed
most strenuously anY and all plans pre-
scented for the immediate repairing # the
bridge at a minimum expense 20 the tax
payers. HIT at all times advocated a plan
which destroyed for one year at least, the
only drive the citizens of Ogden had. AMI
thereby cut off from the usiness people a
revenue aggregating many thousand dol
lars That this injury has been great
cannot be gainsaid and is proven by the
fact that the travel of tourists to the
canyon during the past season was great
" decreased, owing TO the roundabout
way in which people were forced 70 travel
in reaching this, Ogden's greatest ottrac-
ton.
On the other hand Mr.. Craig has alvo-
Gated plans, which are now being carried
cut. which will mean the useless exrendi-
ture of many more thousands of the peo-
pies money. Local engineers hold that the
bridge that was partially destroyed by
the flood could have been repaired at
cost not exceeding $1.O0 in such a way
that it would have been SAFE To travel
over for many years TO ccTne. 1T is also
held that the road could have been filled
In at a nominal expenditure and If neces-
sary the dam could have been recon-
sztructed and that the total expense I'M
der this plan would have been one third
less than the cost under Mr. Craig's ideas
that are being now worked cut Also that
the road and bridge could have been put
IL passable condition by the first of
May last.
In furtherlng his plans Mr. Craig to-
tally ignored the petitions of heavy tax
payers. fruit growers and gardeners II
IS claimed that this ignoring of petitions
was simply for the purpose of gratifying
some petty and whimsical actions of his
associates and himself. without regard for
the wishes of the citizens or the money
OF the taxpayers. In this connection the
question is asked: Can the people Of
Ogden afford to trust for the next two
years their public business in the hands
Of one who has shown such indifference
and contempt for their wishes?''
Among the other things which the peO-
pie of Ogden would be glad to have Mr.
Craig explain is why he advocated the
letting of contracts for sidewalks at II
cents per foot, when the same work has
been done by contractors for individual
property owners for IL cents a foot.
Again it is asked why Mr.. Craig advo-
Gated the purchase by the city of a So
called water power site for $ 600 at Will
lard when a real power site could have
been secured near the CITY for a mere
bagatelle2
These are a few of the things that the
people of Ogden are asking of MI. Craig,
who is nov seeking their support for his
election to the mayOralty. There are still
others