The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-04-28


The American" party adninistra-
ftiOn is so hOpelessly swallowed in the
lFea of debt that it cannot come within
lSl5O.000 of paying for its share of the
improvements already contracted for.
THE street fund is depleted, and no re-
course can be had to the 81. 000. 900 bond
Issue of several years ago to help pull
she city out of its hole, but notwith-
iEtanding this fact. the board of public
works and the council are going right
lahead and letting contracts for hun
dreds of thousands of dollars without
any thought as to the future.
In fact, an Official of the board of
public works said that he did not know
how much money the city would have
10 pay for its share of the improve
IN ents, and councilmen seem equally in
different. Notwithstanding this, the
Figures are easily Obtainable upon ap-
,plicatiOn to the city treasurer. An APP
1roximate estimate is given above.
Estimates by Kelsey.
According TO an estimate submitted
10 the city council two weeks ago by
J.. C. Kelsey, city engineer, the unpaid
,citys portion of work done prior TO
March 10 amounts to $3.50. There is
lowing to contractors for work yet I'M
March Is the sum of $1S1. 476 Then
lahere is the item OF work contemplated
March is, of which the city's portion
would amount to $347 .217. OF this last
sum the Moran paving contracts for
West Temple and Brigham streets only
have been let and. according to the city
engineer, the city's portion of these will
he something like $4,000 Then there
must be considered the crossWalk and
wing ranair faf. xx-hf
1000 must be appropriated out of the
ifreasury. and an additional S200 900 for
engineering work.
Subtracting S11.00O from the city's
portion of the work under contract
March 10. because of the release of the
Utah Fireproofing company from its
sidewalk contract, and not taking into
consideration any of the work contem-
plated except the Moran paving con-
tract. which has already been let. il ap-
pears that there is a total indebtedness
iof $263.S90 against the city street and
sewer funds which must be paid before
1he end of the year.
Not More Than 100000.
3 To pay this there viii not be more
than 100000 in the street fund. At the
close of business March 81. 1907. there
was in the street fund $50. 604. &c and in
the sewer fund S12,21913, a total of
Sl0S.s2S- Since that time about 5000
has been paid out of these funds to
contractors on city warrants. and there
remains only about $50 500. This, with
the few collections that will come in
from time to time during the year, and
which Will not amount to more than
$4,000 will have TO pay for the citys
portion of the improvements contract
red for or under way.
The question is, how is it going to be
done?
Nobody seems to know. Contractors
have not taken any notice of the de-
lplorable condition of the treasury and
have grabbed UP contracts as fast as
1.-THE board of public works and the
council have been able to let them.
They all feel satisfied that even if the
city has no money now it will have
money some time and viii be able to
pay.
The American party manipulators
probably figure that they can postpone
payments until after election, and If
they are defeated the debt will have to
be assumed by the next administra-
5ion. If they are victorious they will
trust TO luck TO pay the debt
In view of these facts. which have
never before been definitely stated, the /