Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-06-18
City MaIadministration Laying
Plans to Oppose Main
Street People.
KELSEY is KEARNs' TOOL
He Declares the Taxpayer is Without
Power TO Protest---New Petition
Is Being Circulated.

Based on tho opinion Of City Ehgl-
neer l.. c. kelsey that the petition
circulated for the resurfacing of Main
street was irrcgularly signed and piac-
,ucany worthless, a new petition Is be-
ing circulated among the property
owners along that thoroughiare for the
securing of signatures authorizing the
city to proceed with the work of Jay
ing a new pavement. Notwithstandihg
the fact that majority of the property
represented on the street was SHOWN
us being opposed to the movement an
effort is being made to secure sufficient
signatures to the petition to guarantee
the resuifacing of at least the TWO
blocks situated south of Second souu'
street
DENIAL FROM WALKER.
A morning paper stated that Tue
Walkers had changed their SlaIm lh
regard to the matter and had gohe
over to the side of the administration
and were now in favor of the work
of resurfacing being done. Mr. H. NJ
Walker said this morning to a repre-
sentative of the News that this is not
So Il do not think it is the proper
time to resurface the street at present
said Mr.. Walker, and am not IN L.
vor of the movement"
An effort to locate Mr. Samuel New
house who was also reported as heinG
in favor of the movement, disclosed the
fact that Mr. Newhouse is out of town,
as We'll as his business representative,
and his opinion could not be obtained.
KELsEY's OPINION.
L. C. Kelsey. city engineer, gave 1t
as his opinion that the work could be
done, regardless of the petition which
apparently seemed to kill the prolo-
ston. There were many signatures
made by clerks without power of at
torney." said Mr. Kelsey this morn
ing. land many signatures made with
rubber stamps, which are not legal,
and although | have never advised
that the work be proceeded with be-
cause of The faults of the old petit
ton. for the reason that l think the
intent of the signers of the petitio
was to oppose the new paving | am
Of the opinion that the city has the
power TO proceed with the work. This
will not be done, however as | under
stand it, until another petition, which
IS now in circulation, mas been signed
by those wishing to repave the street
in front of their premises.
ESTIMATE OF COST.
Il estimate the work will cost $685.
per front foot and the city's portion
viii he about $4,000, for which it viii
receive, IL the work is done the old
stone blocks with which portions OF
the sides of the street are now paved.
In my opinion, nothing could be done
by Salt Lake City to give 1t prestige
in the minds of tourists as to place
Main street i'm good condition pass
ed through 20 large cities while in the
east, and they We're all provided with
better paved streets than Salt Lake
has. and especially Main street has be-
come discreditable. II all the blocks
along Main street do not care to re-
pave, it Is likely the city win resurface
the portions which the property own
ers ask to have done. In case the
petitioners constitute majority of the
property In each block. The cost given
Is for taking out the stone blocks, re-
placing the same with asphalt. re-
surfacing the entire face Of the street
with asphalt and putting in cement
guttering."