Show HOLD THE FORT I Dont Give Up the Square the Universal Cry HOW THE SOLID MEN VIEW IT I A Unanimous Dissent to the Baconian Proposition Proposi-tion The Road Wanted but the Block Must Be Retained Dont let the Old Fort oo enjoin Vic city council if necessary but hold the property for the people Uc favor tip Deep Creek road hut it is ridiculous to think that the building of the toad hinges on the obtaining of that bloc blocThe above is the consensus of opinion on this burning topic among the biggest prop ertyowners and taxpayers of the town It has been charged that THE HERALD was only speaking for itself in opposing the selling of the Old Fort square HERALD reporters yesterday interviewed the following fol-lowing leading representative citizens and taxpayers and obtained the expressions given below James Sharp and W W Riter of the Deseret National bank were formerly members of the old city council and their views are entitled to special weight Mr Riter saIdI am unalterably opposed to letting the old fort go It cant be done legally because the place has been set apart as a park In the next place it couldnt be used as a depot It doesnt begin to be large enough If it were used as a depot trains entering it from theVest would have to cross three railroads and there is not enough room in 40 rods to have switches to say nothing of yards and side tracks The Utah Central when it came in had to have three blocks and then had to have a lot of reserve space outside of town Mr Sharp saidI am against the proposition propo-sition to sell the fort most decidedly A good deal has been saia about the action of the former city council in selling the square where the Deseret university now stands and that on which the fair buildings were erected It seems to be overlooked that the university grounds are still under control of the university and the city council and that when the grounds were deeded the University it was with the proviso that they wera to be made into a public park and so used The city council have a right to insist that this be done at any time The Tenth ward square is also used for public purposes there is a vast difference between be-tween that and selling to a private party John Clark of Clark Eldredge Co another old city counill said he would never favor having the Fort sold for 150 000 He spoke of the understanding about the University block and said the building was to have been erected in the center of the block and the grounds surrounding made into a public park The only reason the building was not erected in tho center of the block was that a suitable foundation founda-tion could not be laid there H M Wells cashier of the State bank is one of the decided objectors to letting the block go Dr J S Richards owner of Richards avenueI am opposed to the proposition flatly and decidedly J B Toronto treasurer of Salt Lake countyI am against it It isnt enough room for a depot and if the city really wants to help the Deep Creek road they can buy better and cheaper land west or north M E Cummings cashier of the Utah Commercial and Savings bankI do not believe in the proposition T G Webber superintendent of Z C 1L LI feel very doubtful about the wisdom of letting the block go nor can I see how a scheme that will involve millions is dependent on the obtaining of a block of land landW W H Rowe assistant superintendent of Z C M 11 want the Deep Creak road so do we all But will the selling of the old fort block bring it1 Query Henry DinwoodeyI dont believe the city council could give a perfect title to that block after it has been set apart as a park At least so attorneys used to tell the old council The opening up of the west would be A great thing for Salt Lake but it seems to me it can be done without the Old Fort block Spencer ClawsonI dont take any stock in the argument that it is necessary to sell the Pioneer square to put that road through John Morgan owner of Morgan hotelI am opposed to it first last and all the time Richard W YoungI am glad to see the fight TEE HERALD is making and am with it heart soul and purse if need be W S McCornick has not been customary cus-tomary in the past for men who had an important railway enterprise to go at it with such a loud blowing of horns When the Rio Grande secured their ground it was not known for some time after they had purchased thelr ground that it was intended in-tended for railway purposes Tho deed was made out to a private person who in turn deeded it to another individual before it passed into the hands of the railway company As I have already said do not believe that any person contemplating a road to Deep Creek will make an option on the old fort a sine qua non of its building One of the largest most conservative bankers in this city and one of the greatest financiers in the west a man who does business on strictly business principles when asked for his opinion said that he had a most decided opinion but did care to have his name credited with giving it as there was an irritable irrational hostility displayed towards a man for voicing his honest sentiments on this question I J consider it a fraud the city has no right to give away the peoples property he said with emphasis Councilman PickardI think it would bean be-an outrage to sell the square The committee com-mittee has recommended that the sale be made but as a member of that committee I shall put in a minority report on Tuesday 1 suppose the deal will go through but I will see that it goes into the courts Councilman Hall1 I stand just where I did last Tuesday night and believe I am right I think the city council will betray its trust if it sells the square It belongs to the people and I dont think it can betaken 11 be-taken Iroin them Henry HeathThe square has never been of much benefit in the past All Ive got to say about this deal is that if the railway rail-way comes there I go JIAdamsI think its a scheme bolster up business If this kind of a deal is necessary neces-sary to effect that then business had better faJL I CONCLUSION Several other prominent citizens were seen mostlY nonMormon business men with heavy local interests They were as outspoken against the disposing of the property pro-perty as any other whose views are quoted but requested that their names be withheld with-held the reasons some gave were that they did not care to be jumped by the Liberal organs others were friendly to Mr Bacon personally and did not want to t prejudice his plan though they had no i sympathy with it and still others were In i the same line business as Mr Bacon and said if they critised him their objects would be liable to be misconstrued hence they preferred to say nothing for publication One gentleman a two or three times millionaire mil-lionaire laid it down tersely thus What a tempest all you fellows are raising about nothing Now mark this There will be no Deep Dreek road at least not for many moons to come Cant you see that its a scheme that means mUlions and do you suppose that if those millions were available avail-able and ready they would halt over the obtaining of a paltry ten acres of ground Bah Dont worry yourselves Mr Bacons object Well Mr Bacon is a very estimable little man but he likes to see his name in print and the amount of free advertising ad-vertising he and his bank will get over this thing will knock into smithereens the advertising ad-vertising the other Bacon got over the Shakespeare controversy See I |