The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-03-25

more imam lhS city could af1Ord IN or
der to make a record, should be COM
PEELED to get us out of it,
Councilmen Reedan and Ferry re-
piled to Mr.. Murdoch. stating that the
bonded Indebtedness of the city is only
50, 900, which is very small for city
the size of Salt Lake. Los Angeles, it
was pointed out. was not as large as
Salt Lake in 1890, but now it is three
times its size, and recently the people
voted a bond issue of $4,000, 001 to
complete the water supply, and expect
to vote as much more within a few
years.
Ferry FaVors Bonds.
1--WE cannot make improvements out
of the current revenues" said Ferry.
1--WE have done this right along, and 1t
is something no other city has ever
done for any considerable period. #
Salt Lake wants to go ahead, we must
continue our improvements. In order
to do this it will be necessary to raise
the tax rate. as suggested by the audi
| tors, to IA 2-3 mills, or issue bonds l
favor issuing bonds. But in case that
we do not succeed all the improvement
work of the city must be stopped, and
even under the contracts now Les the
work which is under way must he
stopped"
Mr.. Ferry then detailed the need of
! a bond issue, saying that on the north
| bench 100000 should be expended in
| charging water pipes. that City creek
should be improved by building n con-
duit in the city limits at a cost of s25,-
! 600, and that numerous reservoirs and
other changes in the water system
| should be made, net TO ment;oh the
! needed extensions of the sewer system.
/
| complete statement of the condition of
the city than the auditors have given
u.s. declared Fernstrom, in reply.
| This statement is not worth the paper
| it is written on, and il shows that the
| money we have expended TO pay these
| auditors has been wasted. They tell us
nothing by their report. l, for one
know that IA % mills levy VIII not
! be enough to carry us through the
year. and I am in favor of bond is
sue, all other things being equal /
| know that some of the improvements,
such as the intercepting sewer. must be
! completed, and the only way To do it
/ is to issue bonds. Whether this shall
be done or not is up to the American
| party, of course, and it is Cor thei7 20
say whether they desire to take lie
| odium of another bond issue. Ii we
don't do something we will not have a
| dollar Tor streets, water or sewer ca
| tensions or sidewalks"
! Mr.. FernstTOm asked that the con-
sideratiOn of the question be postpon'
| until Thursday afternoon, when all the
councilmen will be furnished with
| copies of the auditors report.
Matter of Rebates.
In commenting on the work of tile
auditors, Mr.. Fernstrom referred 10
the rebates which the city engineer has
| reported are due TO property owners on
various sidewalk and paving extension.
| because the work which has been done
| is that amount less than the levy based
| on the engineers estimates. As the
various funds have been dissipated,
! this amount must be paid from the
! general revenue of the city, or the
debts repudiated.
The following table, which was not
was only forthcoming after repeated
| inquiries by those interested shows
! that the city must pay back s70.6S9 &c
! from its special funds collected from
! the taxpayers as assessments, au1 also
! pay $12.275.51 more due to the fact that
on several extensions the estimated
cost of the abutteTs' portion was eX-
! ceeded by that aggregate amount. Tpe
table follows, and will be of interest ITO
! taxpayers residing on any of the e.
| siOns mentioned, although the aUditC.s
have never figured it as a part Of tie
| city debt
| E.xcess over