| Show OLD FORT BLOCK yb the editor fagot will you permit a citizen of salt lake city who has not been interviewed on the subject of the proposal to sell a block in this city for the alleged purpose of aiding in the bons construe trao tion of a railroad to express briefly tn an opinion thereon certainly we all want or believe that we want more railroads there are various other things we need deed as well but how we are to obtain them to is a question artemus ward 1 believe was the unselfish patriot who wanted the rebellion put down and to accomplish that object was quite willing that his cifes relations should volunteer or be drafted into the service and shed the 1 last ant drop of their blood not himself if bow ever many gentlemen who have been autt interviewed reviewed seem anxious to have a built to deep creek who are illing ill inu that thai this city shall dispose of a i uhlie square i ta to aid the enterprise instead possibly Sibly of lending leading personal pernon aid men who usually build railroads do so 80 for profit and not to as assist in build ing aug up cities hence I 1 presume that if mr bacon does not see profit in it he be will not put money in this scheme if there is profit in it let that suffice why should we be so eager to afford him the opportunity to make a speculation by selling him a block of land at a price far below its value the wise founders of salt bait lake city set apart certain blocks blacks within the limits of the city so a public squares for the benefit and use of the public bublic which were so designated f I 1 presume on the original map of the city and the public being the constructive tive occupants thereof when the city land were purchased from the government ern ment the title to these blocks went to the put public lie and not tc the corporation of salt bait lake city if I 1 am correct in taking this view of the ques tion then it is not in the power of the city council to sell or give away these public squares it will doubtless be said that already the city has bag disposed of two public squares in the city it is true that two attempts in that dire direction have been made and it may be that no effort will be made to set aside those attempts to dispose of the peoples property and while this is true the fact still remains that two wrongs do not create one right it is not safe to assume as has been done that because of a clamor from certain quarters for the he sale of the block in question the citizens generally of this city desire it on the contrary it is the opinion of this writer that if a vote could be taken a majority would oppose any of the block in question before making any attempt to sell or give away the old fort block it occurs to me that the city council would do well to thoroughly inform itself as to its power to do so it has an attorney who is no doubt well posted in regard to all local and general laws governing such questions and will doubtless give such advice as seems to him just and proper H D J |
