The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-05-29
THE IMPROVEMENT ORDINANCES.

THE IMPROVEMENT ORDINANCES
The series of ordinances passed by
the City Council on Monday night will
no doubt allow Of contracts being en-.
tered into soon, covering the public
Improvements contemplated for the cur
rent season. The delay in getting these
matters and forms into shape must be
charged TO the Smoot legislation of
last winter. which came Just in the nick
Of time to stop the letting Of num-
Der of contracts that were ready for
signature. II has taken a good deal Of
time and thought to get ordinances in
shape so as TO meet that new freak
legislation aimed to suppress the Amer
lean march Of progress in Salt Lake,
But City Attorney Hiles has been equal
to the occasion, and has now with AS
little delay as could reasonably be ex.
pected, evolved a series of ordinances
and plans whereby the work may pro-
ceed
Next, it was found necessary to in
clude in the contractors bid sum
|
! expenses, including the surveys, the
preparation of estimates, the advertis.
ing, and the details generally Of the
plans whereby the improvements are
to proceed. AN Interpolation. by Coun
Gilman Fernstrom sought to segregate
these items and call for separate ad
vertising for bids on certain of this
preparatory work. This was manifest
| ly done for the purpose of delay and
to prevent the progress of improve
ments, The purpose was so evident that
the Fcrnstrom amendment received no
support whatever. Every member of
the Council (iucluding himself) knew
that his proposed amendment was abso-
lutely impracticable, and it would have
prevented any work at all the present
season, as be intended it to do.
Upon the completion of the prelim
mary work the contract is to be let,
and after The work has proceeded so
that n payment on estimate is in or
der, or If the contractor has completed
his work, the Council passes an or
dinance levying special tax sufficient
to cover the cost of the work. This
ordinance divides the payments into
the periods provided by law, and pro-
vides for the meeting of the payments
by the city and by the property own
ers. This is certainly the proper method
Of procedure; it provides that the prop.
erty owners must pay as the work is
done. The old method which has come
down from former times, requiring the
neer's estimates, was manifestly not
only an unfair requirement, but led to
absolute injustice.
Another ordinance provides for the
location Of the lines and grades of all
streets, sidewalks, alleys, etc, embraced
within the division of any contemplated
improvement. This is an absolute ne
Gessity. The want of such systematic
location of lines and grades heretofore
has led TO q great deal Of confusion,
The placing of the general supervision
of all contracts or other work under the
control of the City Engineer is also
manifestly right; because he is the of
fcer who has the necessary knowledge,
data, and records which Will insure the
work being properly done and the Of
fetal grade lines followed.
The further ordinance which was
passed by the Council at the instance
of Councilman Ferry provides for the
taking up of scrip used in the past
against special tax funds, by city war
rants, and for the use of city warrants
hereafter in place OF such scrip on
public work, or special tax levics.
The fourth ordinance provides for the
lawful payments TO be made on special
tax levies, covering the points of de-
linquency, the ten installments pro-
vided by law, and when each shall be
made, and how the account shall be
kept, and the interest fund computed.
l. allows the contractor the choice
whether he viii receive city warrants
or special scrip chargeable against the
property for which the special improve
ment is made.
This series of ordinances Will no
doubt be found to fully meet the law,
and it will permit of public improve
ments going forward in good form, and
will make as short as possible the de-
lay in the progress of the city necessi
tated by the unwholesome, unwise, and
partisan legislation enacted by the
Smoot gang at the recent session OF
the Legislature. The city is now in
good shape TO 20 on with its improve
will ha M
lay and no hitch in the procedure from
henceforth, in getting on with the need
ed public improvements.