Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-05-04
NO BONDS.

clave Of the rulers Of the city author.
tiles. Mayor Bransford last Friday cv
ening favored "a number OF invite,
guests with a financial statement, ano
an argument in favor of bond H.
sue. The meeting was not exactly a
success, from any point of view. There
Is, as far as We have been able "a
learn, no enthusiasm among tax-puy-
ers for u bond issue, and It viii te
difficult 10 influence public sentim snt
In favor of Increasing the debt
The Mayor stated that the city
foup1 itself at the beginning of the
year without any funds available for
current expenses or improvements,
ana with debt that would swallow
up not only cash balances but also
unccIlected taxes and water rates. lie
submitted a list of necessary improve
ments,' as prepared by the CITY En-
glneer, showing that the sum Of $500
600 to the cent was needed Just now;
and there you are. The logic Is very
simple: The City is broke; but IL
must have money to spend ergo, let
)us borrow some; never mind whether
we can pay it. back or not! Is that
Reasoning considered sound by honest.
capable business mon?
But, let us look a little closer at the
NECESSARY improvements as propos-
ed( by the Engineer and endorsed by
thd Mayor. We have made Inquiries
among men whose business 1t is to
know the affairs of the CITY, and we
find{ that. ACCORDING to their views
the list is not what it purports to be
but device to hide tho mistakes and
mlsdeeds of the past. That is the
trouble with all the schemes that come
from the present self cons tltuted party
managers. They are crooked.
One of the necessary improve
ments" is the completion OF the inter-
cepting sewer pumping station and
outlet pipe. The gum of $4,000 is
asked for that item alone. But we
are told that that Improvement has
already been contracted for, and that
II will be done whether n bond issue
is voted or not
The second item on the list is still
more peculiar 1t asks for $4,000 for
the construction of main sewer on
North Bench" But this work. 1t
seems. has already been finished at a
contract price OF $4,000 And now it is
classed as a necessary future improve
ment, at $4,000.
The fifth item on the list calls for
an aqueduct on North Temple street,
from Fourth West to tho jordan River,
to cost $4,000. But. according to
what we can learn, this would be
money thrown away. Whenever the
City can afford that Improvement the
aqueduct should be built from Main
Street and not only from Fourth West.
Why should the City throw away $62,-
because incomplete?
The sum of $4,000 is asked for 10
improve the Jordan and salt Lake city
canal from Big Cottonwood creek TO
Twelfth South street. But what spe-
eial improvements are needed there
the Engineer does not state. Twenty
thousand dollars is a large sum TO
spend for cleaning a ditch OF weeds.
Would not $4,000 do? or $4,000?
The list includes the acquiring of
water rights to the tune of $4,000.
But this is not an immediate need of
the City. The City has all the water
1t can use for many years. Further
more. there is not the slightest pro-
liability that the present gang can
acquire any water rights for the City,
no matter how much money there is
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