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Show THB NIDKWALK I'ltOHLEM, Although Salt Lake is in great and immediate need of sidewalks, tho city council should be careful not to be too rapid in this matter. , Great caro should bo taken in the letting of contracts. Another thing in litis connection is that tho present methods of awarding contracts, con-tracts, together with the specifications, are not by any means satisfactory to the property holders, who will havo to pay tlte bills. The most objectionable featuro is that property owners are not allowed to choose the. material, ami cannot employ em-ploy their own contractor to, do the work. This is altogether too arbitrary. Perhaps some informal ion concerning tho procedure in other cities will prove timely and useful. In eastern cities U district of two or three streets, or portions of several streets, is first created. Then specifications are prepared showing what constitutes a permanent walk, whether of stone, cement, ce-ment, or slagolithio cement pavements. Property owners are given a reasonable time, say three months, in which to have their walks laid. They have the right to choose any material that comes within the requirement of tho specifications, specifi-cations, ami they employ their own contractors. In Hits way they havo the benolit of competition. At the expira-liou expira-liou of tho designated period, if. tho walks aro not hud by tho property owners, tlio council advertises for bid's for sidewalks for all delinquents, and lho contract is then awarded to the lowest bidder for the material agreed upon by the council. This way of doing business gives everybody a fair show. On the other hand the method adopted by the Salt Lake city council does nothiug noth-iug of the kind. It prevents all properly prop-erly holders Mormons, Gentiles and Jews from having any voice in the matter whatever. The council proposes, it is said, to let contracts for six miles of walks this month. This may be proper enough, and shows a commendable enterprise on the part of tho council, but we repeat, re-peat, that property owners should be permitted to choose their own material and contractor, and the specifications should include a variety of material of a durable character, tho work, of course, to bo done in a limited lime, and if not done within that period, then the city can do it. Let the city council carefully consider this matter' before it is too late. The wishes of the property owners should certainly be respected to a reasonable extent. |