The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-06-12

WAS 1T GRAFT, OF. WAS 1T
INCONVENIENCE
In Either Case II Amounts to the Same
Thfnu to the People.

Last week wo said something about
graft and grafters' in general way
but perhaps that was too far away to
be OF interest to us here In ogden
Wo desire to call your attention 70
some things nearer home. which may
interest YOU more. In the last fe"
years there have been many and var
led improvements OF public nature
completcd In the city Of Ogden; such
as the building of cement sidewalks,
curbs and cutters; macadamizing
and paving OF streets; sewers. parks,
waterworks. etc, etc, all OF whica WAS
intended to be for the benefit OF the
people, and which have been. but
which will not be for a very long time,
at least some OF them will not. or
course we do not know just what con-
dition the waterworks were In wnen
ihey were purchased by the city, we
could only make a reasonable guess at
That: but assuming tney were all right
and that the deal was on the square,
which time will reveal; We did well
10 purchase OF the parks and sew
srs. we have nothing to say at this
lime: as time alone will show any mis-
management or defects in construc-
lion respectively: but what we see
Ne know. II has been q notorious
spectacle for long time that some
If our asphalt paVementS were TOtten.
For instance, the 25th street pave
nent was not what We paid for. by any
means The first time it was laid.
t wore out in an incredibly short
lime; and the last time it was laid, ii
vas worse than before; for there has
peen scarcely any six months in the
three years OF its life. but that it has
needed sepairing, and that badly.
Twenty-fourta street was little bet
nue between 25th and 26th streets was
not wbat u should have been. SO we
NAV say that about all the paving We
have is north cf 25th street on Wash
ington avenue. The macadam is much
better, having been built b. the city.
The condition CT our streets is an open
secret; end a public disgrace much
of the time, and the poor quality of
workmanship and material used is ap-
parent at all times; for some OF them
look as much patched up as crazy
quilt
There arc some of these improve
ments. however that cannot be de-
tected so readily The conduit on
2Sth street is fair eaxmple That
was spoken of as great piece of
work-wnich it is-for some such
hing was greatly needed to care for
ne flood waters, and to eliminate the
iitch which spoiled that street. and
hat part of it is all right But the
present condition OF the conduit is
Ill wrong; for after only two years
# use, it leaks almost like sieve.
t Is not porous, so the water may
seep through, 1t is full of holes from
lAe size OF a knitting needle to the
SIZE OF ones finger; proving, beyond
The question of doubt, that the mater
al used in It's construction was of
Tery poor quality, or was improperly
mixed. which amounts to the same
thing Now IL the sewers prove TO be
as good as the conduit, our drainage
system, will soon be in splendid (?)
sondition.
The taxpayers of Ogden have paid
hundreds of thousands of dollars for
lhese ovements-enough 90 have
Aad the best material and workman
snip, but instead they have gotten
The poorest 1t is said that the
wharves and other waterfront i'm
proVeme1ts in the city of Marseilles.
france, built more than a hundred
years ago, are in better condition, and
much stronger than ever; though built
ot a material supposed to be inferior
10 the PoEtland cement supposed to
nave been used in all of our concrete
work in Ogden. 1t Is a well known
TACT that the Portland cement when
properly mixed into concrete. will he.
come stronger and more durable. when
exposed To dampness. especially Now.
sne question: was 1T graft or incom-
petency that gave us very inferior
Hucie TOT the price Of superior one
mere is-no doubt in our mind as to il
peinS case of graft" pure and sim.
PIE, Oil the part of the contractor: for
lie knew he was not using the proper
uldterlal In tae work; and the inspec-
TOT may have known 1t too, but passed
IL LOT consideration; or he NAV not
nave been wise. and have let it pass
through ignorance; but in either case
The people got soaked"
The great trouble is. that there are
too many political debts to nav. and
many Of them are paid with these
appolntiye Offices. regardless of The
ntneSS or qualifications. or integrity of
the appolnteeS. and the results are.
graft. graft. graft; high taxes. and but
lttle TO show for the money eXpe,d-
ed, There should be no contract made
with any contractor, without n bond
suInclent to guarantee the work To
stand for at least five years without
showing signs of weakness: not as in
tne case OF the 25th street having
that the bond only covered the cost of
spairs TOT threc years, and when that
tiiile hah expired. we had only a patch.
GU up, no-account street Is il nos.
slDle that we cannot find enough hon.
est men 10 run our city government
us IL should be runp Judging from the
tctlohs OF some of our former city
councils and officers, 1t would seem so
NOW, there is quite an amount of i'm.
ptpVements planned for this year. and
tne present city council mas an oppor
tunity TO Show to the people OF Ogden
tnaa tney are of sterling worth and
OIL unimpeachable integrity In handlIne
.hese AFFAIRS: or will they do rs 9th
ers have done-by their carelessness
VI Inanlilty, or pure cuSsedness proyf
themselves traitors to their constIt
uen's. SO We would say to our honor
spie mayor and city council. for th,
oaKe OF the fair city in which YOU gov
erh; Tor the sake Of the homes of In,
people; Tor the sake of the rising gen
eratlon and of those vet unborn fo