The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-12-22
THE BOND ISSUE.


federal expert who was lent to them by
the government, the county commits
sioners should see the advisability of
the 1000, 900 boJd issue for good roads
When the proposal was first brought
strongly TO public attention by repre-,
sentative citizens who signed a petit
ton, The Tribune declared that it
would cost no more to maintain good
roads than poor roads. The expert s
figures, taken ia connection with esti-
mates Of taxation and revenue, show
that Salt Lake county would really be
saving money each year by issuing the
bonds.
To maintain the present inadequate
system OF roads the county now ex-
pends S16l, 900 annually. Under the
proposition TO issue 81 100000 in bonds,
the expenses would be as follows:
Interest at 10 per cent. .$l5. 900
Retirement fund per annum.. $4,000
Total ......... ... .ss5, 900
Deducting the $4,000 from $1,000,
we find that without increasing the
present taxes there will be $4,000 left
for the maintenance Of an adequate
road system III Salt Lake county. Ac-
cordipg to the experts. only $4,000
VIII be required, and this will give the
commissioners $4,000 to be expended
rs they see fit, whether for repairs Of
the new systcm-although that item
should be small-or for some other pur-
peso.
The assessed valuation of property
IN Salt Lake county is growing con-
stantly. Thc increasing wealth Of this
region makes the issuance of the bonds
not only safe and sane, but d duty. In
crcasing wealth means increasing busi.
ness, and Salt Lake county should not
be required any longer to transact its
II,
system Of good roads will add to the
prosperity OF the county For this rea-
son bond issue TO build the roads
viii not be TAX. Inasmuch as it will
add 10 the material benefits OF every
one in the county, il VIII bc bonus
rather than tax in the long run. tt
viii be merely taking money out OF one
pocket lo put in another, and the pcc-
pie OF Salt Lake county viii be sur
prisod and delighted TO find that In
passing from one pocket TO the other
their wealth has been increased.
The county's bonded Indebtedness is
remarkably small. aud those who plead
for economy cannot argue that Salt
Lake county has been a careless Dor.
rowey. The figures show that the
county has issued for the construction
of the city and county building 1885,
900, The limit of indebtedness pro.
vided by the state constitution is per
cent of the assessed valuation. This
would be $l,Sl3,S6s. Subtracting the
only debt ut the present time, the
couDty still has margin OF sl.463. SOS
All Of this indicates "a satisfactory
financial condition. With Sl.OOo.Ooo
added 10 the Indebtedness the people
of the county would not feel the bur
den because it would not be necessary
to increase taxation.
\ system Of permanent roads rcanir-
ing little for repairs aud only small
part OF the present expenditure for
maintenance would be economy. What
arguments therefore, have those who
oppose the bond issuc TO back their OBJ
lectiops' JUDGED, We may ask whether
thoso who oppose the bond issue form
any considerable portion of the county 3
population. IL they do they have been
most considcratc of the feelings Of
those who favor the issue They have
scarcely made themselves heard above
whisper. This would lead us to be-
bcve that practically there is no oppo-
sition to the bond issue, and we hope
thst this is so.
On the other hand, the cars Of the
county commissioners have been az
sailed by great cry for good roads
Every day the sentiment is gaining
ground. Not only have representative
citizens signei a petition on behalf Of