The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-01-23
SAVE s1,OO0,0

lt IL reGroLCaDie tuht eit0A Gal
efforts made by Commercial clubs and
citizens Of Salt Lake county to secure
system of permanent highways, the
county commissioners should have seen
fit to rescind their action calling
special election TO vote on the question
of issuing S1,0OO,00o in bonds. The
date was set for February 20 and the
advocates of good roads had already be"
Gun a campaign of education, Then
the city commissioners called special
election for February is on $4,000
bond proposition to extend the sewer
and water systems,
Fearing that two elections so near to-
getber would defeat the proposition sub
mitted at the later date, the county
commissioning indefinitely postponed
the good roads election. AT the same
time thoy volunteered the opinion
that the city and county residents had
been unable to agree on programme
Of construction aud that sufficient time
had not been given to investigate ma
tcrials for good roads.
A committee OF taxpayers asked the
city commissioners to defer the special
municipal election and arrange with the
county commissioners for joint elec-
tion. 1t is said that the city commits
sioucrs regarded this proposal with ia
vor, but before it could be presented to
The county commissioners they post
poned the good roads election
Eoth propositions should be submitted
10 the people. 1t is generally recog-
nized tSat the city Improvements are
badly needed. The sewerage system
Is inadequate and the water supply,
although sufficient for present pur-
poses, will fall below requirements at
no distant date if the rapid growth of
the city continues and no provisions are
made for an increased supply.
Much enthusiasm for good roads was
revealed as soon as the 81 200, 900 bond
proposition took definite form 1t
gained new adhercnts in great NUM-
bers, and the county commissioners, de.
spite the fact that they had been apa
thetic themselves, became convinced
hat special election should he called
The special election for good roads
differs from tho city election in that
il will not, if the bond issue carries
increase taxes In 1913 about $16l ,00(
was expended 10 maintain the present
system of temporary roads and only ter
miles of new roads were added. Thi.
year the road supervisor has asked fol
100000 70 be spent in the same wav
ii is difficult TO imagine how this sun
can be used economically merely TO
repairs and slight extensions Of tenn
porary roads, but granting that it ca,
the county will expend $4,000, 900 il
twenty years and have no better road
than at present.
Under the bonding plan 81 900 90,
would be expended for hard surfaced
roads. Interest Oh the bonds woul,
amount to $4,000 a year. A sinkin,
fund would require $4,000. Anotbe
$4,000 would be employed to m8intai
the new system OF roads. As compare
with the 1913 expenditure this woul
be saving TO the taxpayers OF $4,000
and as compared with the 1914 apprc
priatiou it would save $4,000. L
twenty years saving of more tha
$l,000,000 would be effected.
The proper course to pursue seem
clear. First, the county commissioner
should agree TO call bond election 10
good roads. Then the city commi.
sioners and the county commissioner
should agree upon date for ioin
election and set it far enough ahca
SO that committees from the count
and city can meet with the county con
missioners aud engineers TO adopt
programme of road construction and
appoint an advisory board OF citizen
to supervise the expenditure of th
money
AS soon as these arrangements bav
been made the supporters Of the bon
issues should combine their efforts
win victory for both propositions.