| Show From Golf Course To Cemetery Editor Davis County Clipper Bountiful Utah Dear Editor I 1 submit a short possible scene from Crom the future A visitor to Bountiful area is bein being shown around by bv a guide The visitor says This Is is a peaceful looking place Isit Is Isit Isit it a big cemetery Yes replies the guide ina in m ma a low voice voice Thousands of Bountiful residents were buried burled bur bur- led Id here after alter it happened I I must say says the visitor admiringly that was foresighted of the people of Bountiful to lo build this ample cemetery before the tragedy Well they didn't exactly expect it to be a cemetery says the guide hesitantly They built it as a golf course Oh really Yes In those days there was a group of people in Bountiful who sincerely felt that a fine community should take care of its recreational needs first So the families got together and paid larger taxes so they could have a golf course couise pool and play atas There were some who felt the town needed other things even more than facilities for the youth but enough of oC them did not make their voices heard at the election that year When the attack came no one was wasi i ready cady You mean m. m moan an asks the visitor that all along people knew that 75 5 cents of oC each dollar was vas going toward war war preparedness and kneW know their enemies were working unceasingly preparing for forwar forwar forwar war and yet they failed to tomake tomake tomake make any community defense plans plans' The guide explains Most lost people seemed to feel Ceel that tint America had been safe for Cor so long long nothing happen here Our county country had never been directly attacked and besides they fell felt safe in this Intermountain a area r l' e ca a. a 0 Of l f course there were vere a few who were keenly aware of oC the possibility of an unspeakable tragedy who urged that cu civil il defense measures be betaken taken But Dut they lIy were thought by the majority to be unduly concerned That day when the officials got word of the approaching approaching ap- ap attack attick they the tried to let Jet the people know But since there was no warning siren for the town much precious time vas wasted Informing informing in informing In- In forming the citizens Some Som never did round up all their children in time It was de de- decided the people should evacuate evacuate eva eva- cuate the city Since there were no evacuation streets marked and no one had thought ahead there was a alot alot alot lot of oC confusion Hundreds of pars ears raced out of town to seek shelter in small communities pities up north When they shrived tired hungry thirsty and worried it was dark Some ome citizens of the other communities afraid their precious little food might be devoured by all the strangers lod led their doors and waited fearfully in in the darkness Others offered what little they had The refugees from Bountiful could not understand understand under under- stand why no soup kitchen had been set up why no hos hos- hospital hospital pital unit was ready why no temporary shelters had been built for them They were too confused to realize that it was because they had not planned ahead for this and had not voted money for civil defense to lo help them in in this greatest hour of need They were too desperate to realize they had left civil defense work out of their lives because because because be be- cause they were too busy 1 The guide pauses and then sadly resumes slowly Later the wounded were brought in in station wagons j and trucks Only a few people knew any first aid and there ther e wasn't a doctor around to J help One injured man cried My l elderly mother is is back c in our house lying Jing under a abeam beam I thought at the time how comforting it would have been for that thai old lady Jady lying along in pain if shed she'd had the assurance that her blocks block's rescue warden would eventually come and get her This way perhaps no one would find her her ln in time Later when we returned to Bountiful we found it in ruins Though smoke still rose lose here and there it was generally quiet The sight of oC our neighbors neighbors neighbors neigh neigh- bors suffering is one I cannot cannot cannot can can- not forget There was one man I remember who had always said When the bomb comes let et it come Im I'm not going to worry worry He Ito didn't didn t worry but now he lie was dazed lazed with grief He Ife had provided no shelter for Cor his family and his two daughters had been crushed in the basement His baby was dying a slow death of of starvation But th the e worst part of all was seeing the change in those wonder wonder- wonderful ful lul Bountiful people The rise They had been good kind friendly folk lolk in peace time but now now now- they were cie like wild animals If they had only organized organize d ahead of time If they ha had d just spent that money o on n shelters or extra fit lighting fire g equipment or first aid supplies supplies sup sup- plies Shrugging his shoulders his voice trails off s The visitor seeing a worn worn- looking wooden sign lying in h p nearby brush picks it up an and d reads the once handsomely f carved words This golf course erected with pride b bj by bythe the citizens of Bountiful Utah Dropping it back t to o the ground he shakes his s head bead pensively as he walks s away A CITIZEN not riot play but It Is not because I 1 would not like to but it is I 1 do riot not have the money moncy or the time to play Im I'm sure that well weB over 70 per cent of those living In Bountiful are in the same position Can Canve vc we to pay additional taxes to furnish furnish furnish fur fur- nish g golfing facilities that these taxes would for lor those who can afford to golf Will this proposal solve the recreational problems of Bountiful Do the adults need the recreation facilities or dothe do dothe dothe the children Will a golf course solve the recreational needs neds of our children Obviously Ob Oh- this will not solve the needs of our children However proponents of the issue say without basis or facts to lo support them that the golf course will be Income in income In In- come producing and pay for forthe forthe forthe the other facilities AccordIng Accord Accord- According in Ing to the Salt Lake Lane City auditors auditor's report for lor the year 57 1953 the city's most recently recently recently re re- completed golf course was operated at a loss Joss of over 36 and the loss does docs not include the cost of water an item which would be substantial in this area Can parents who are arc raising a family and attempting to lo buy a home afford to incur additional taxes for golfing facilities which will be of no benefit to them or their chil- chil ren No one will deny the city needs neds practical and reasonable reasonable reasonable reason reason- able recreational fa facilities for its youth But this proposal certainly does docs not fit these requirements Certainly we weare weare weare are not going to vote on a program which fills a few basic requirements but contains contains contains con con- some very expensive trimmings a golf course This program becomes increasingly increasingly in increasingly in- in foolish when we consider that the thc county is going forward on a recreation recreation recreation tion program of its own which includes a golf gole course The proponents of this plan have compared the city's recreational rec- rec nal facilities with those of other towns Brigham City for one Having lived in fn in Brigham Brigham Brigham Brig- Brig ham City for over 20 years I have some knowledge o of f their heir recreational facilities They read a letter st suiting stating ting I the city has three swimming g pools in the vicinity One i is s at the Intermountain Indian School and Was built by th the e federal government Another er is the pool at the high n i school and was built over 2 20 0 I years ears ago with federal aid The third one is an outdoor r pool built last summer when i the city voted a bond of o f for its construction This bond includes a proposal propos propos- al 1 ing an indoor poo pool 1 of Olympic size at the same e cost as as' as' as n a a small outdoor pool Obviously it will be tapes sible Bible This is a good example of how the proponents of ol this plan have presented their r supposed factual arguments We have been made to t o think ve t we will be doing doing an nn Injustice injustice in- in Injustice In In- justice to our children If II we dont don't pass the bond that thal we will be unable to face lace them when they have grown up Contrary to that idea 1 I would certainly dislike tellIng telling telling tell tell- ing my children that they have hae a wonderful golf course available of course the essential essential es es- needs of or the city cil still exist now try and find a away away away way if Ie you ou can to lo carry the tax lax burden we rive nave passed on to lo you ou If we wee are arc really opposed to this bond the only way to defeat it is to get gel registered and vote against It it Just feelIng feeling feel feel- Ing that it is wrong will not do any good for those in favor are arc well organized and will vole vote it in m unless we voice our opposition by voting noon no noon noon on the proposal An Aroused Taxpayer er |
