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Show DISCUSS CONDITIONS " IN BIG COTTONWOOD i Mining Companies Write to City Commission Regard-ing Regard-ing Traffic Problem. i PRESENT THEIR SIDE Again Offer to Assist in Making Road That Will Accommodate Tractors. j The following self-explanatory letter : was yesteniay sent to the ctty commission commis-sion by the Cardiff Mining & Milling; company and the Boston Development company: Salt Lake City, Utah. September J4. 1916. To the Honorable Mayor and the Hoard of City Commissioners of Salt Lake City, I "tab, and to the Hoard of County Commissioners of Salt Lake county, Utah. Gentlemen: We have been advised in the public press of this ctty of the intention of the honorable city commissioners com-missioners of Salt Lake City to attempt at-tempt to close the public highway through Big Cottonwood canyon in Salt Lake county to teams hauling ore from and supplies to the mines situated in the canyon and territory immediately adjacent thereto. In view of the importance of the situation sit-uation that will arise by reason of such proposed action the Cardiff Mining Min-ing Milling company and the Boston Bos-ton Development company, operating v. hat are commonly known as the Cardiff mine and the Maxlield mine, desire to present to you certain of t lie views that we hold relative to the transportation of ores from those mines and of freight to them, in connection con-nection with 1 lie tender which we make in this letter. Complaint Referred To. It will be remembered that in the .spring of this year complaint was made of the condition of the roads in Big Cottonwood canyon during tho summer and fall of 1015, both because it was certain that It was difficult for automobiles to make the trip to Brigii ton with ease, and because, it wps asserted. the use of teams upon the road in some manner polluted pol-luted the stream which formed a part of the city water supply. You will also remember that our companies compa-nies were more than willing to join in any movement that promised to improve the condition of the road for automobiles, and, assuming the public pub-lic health was in any way affected by the. use of teams on the highway, we particularly desired to obviate that danger. With this end in view our companies compa-nies joined with you in subscribing to a fund amounting to $30,000 to be expended so as to make possible for us to transport our ores to market and our. freight to the mines without using teams. You will also remember remem-ber that It was contemplated at that time that the use of track-layer engines en-gines of ninety horsepower, capable of drawing twelve six-ton trailers each, would make it possible for our companies to completely abandon the use of teams and that the road should be placed in such condition that this equipment might be used. Contributions Made. I'"ach of our mining companies subscribed sub-scribed and paid the sum of $5'Wi toward the fund and tne balance was contributed by Salt Lake City and by Salt lake county, and the county undertook the improvement of the road and the disbursement of the fund in accordance with the terms of our agreement. You will also remember re-member that it was contemplated, both by the mining companies and by the city and the county, that a greater sum than ?o0,0u0 might be necessary in order that we might use the track -layer engines and trailers. . With tills in view a contract, signed by the city, the county, the Cardiff Mining & Milling company and the Boston Development company, was so drawn as to include the clause which we quote: "Now, therefore, in consideration of t he payment of said sums of money by said parties of the first (city), second (Cardiff) and third (Boston Development company) parts, the party of the fourth part (county) hereby agrees, on or before June 15, ISIS, to widen, straighten, grade and improve said road between said points, and, if deemed necessary by the partv nf the fourth part, to tunnel Jones's Hump and to repair and construct bridges, so that said road may be used by motor tractors in the hauling of ore from the mines of the parties of the second and third parts, such work to he done so that on its completion said road will accommodate a tracklayer track-layer engine of ninety horsepower, with a train of at least twelve six-ton six-ton trailers; it being understood and agreed that if $30,000 is Insufficient for the doing of said work and Its completion for use by motor tractors, that any additional sum which In the judgment of the parties hereto Is necessary nec-essary for such completion will be paid in the same proportions In which eaid $30,000 is contributed. And said party of the fourth part hereby agrees to maintain said road after the improvements im-provements above mentioned have heen made in proper condition for the use thereof by such vehicles, and to keep said road properly and adequately adequate-ly sprinkled." Not in Condition. There is no question but that the county has expended practically all of the $30,000 on the road. There is equally no question but that the road has not been put Jn condition such that tjaek-Iayer engines, with the trailers, might he used. In these statements we do not fn-lend fn-lend to criticise or review the manner man-ner In which the money was spent hut merely to call attention to the fact that its expenditure did not accomplish ac-complish the contemplated .result The mining companies, believing that the road would be so improved aH to accommodate this equipment, obligated obli-gated themselves to spend large sums of monoy in order that the necessary equipment be placed upon the road This equipment Attempted to Wo over the roar that the countv had made with the fund subscribed. Without going into the disastrous details of -the experiment, we say, without fear nf contradiction, that, although the moijfy had ben spent, the result which, was contemplated was not aliased. al-iased. In brief, tlx road was riot pitted in such condition as would accommodate ac-commodate the contemplated euuiu-ment. euuiu-ment. Xeces.Harlly, (he mining companies and t he city and t he county must proceed to spend more money to put th road In the condition 'contemplated. 'contem-plated. It is provided In the contract "thftt any additional sum which in the judgment of the parties hereto In Ttr-rHfiry for such completion wlli be paid in the same proportion in which the iuid $:;o,noo i contributed." New Offer Is Made. Th mining companies are will ing and hereby offer to ;i- to Salt lik" ooiintv their proportionate j,;iri of ny mim of money ti.at. in your Judgment,' Judg-ment,' may be nec.ePHU.ry for the coin- pie t Ion of the road so as to permit the use of the track-layer engines of nineLy-horsepower with a train of at least twelve six-ton trailers. The min.ing companies further offer to you, if you deem it advisable for the purpose pur-pose of making- up your own Judgment, Judg-ment, or the judgment of all of the parties to the contract, to meet with you and with their engineering service, ser-vice, or in any other way that you may suggest, to estimate what the cost of fulfilling the said contract will he. In fact, the mining companies hereby offer to perform the contract, permitting the city and county to determine de-termine themselves, with or without the assistance of the ruining companies, compa-nies, the amount that will be necessary neces-sary to prepare the road for the use of the track-layer engines of ninety-horsepower ninety-horsepower with a train of not less than twelve six-ton trailers, ani stand ready to assist In determining the amount. Unfairness Charged. Under the circumstances we submit that it is unfair, so long as the road Is not in condition to permit the use of the equipment mentioned In the contract, for you to attempt to deprive de-prive us of Its use in marketing our ores by forbidding traffic on the road by teams. Particularly do we submit that this Is unfair. In view of the fact that it has not yet been determined that the water of Big Cottonwood canyon is now or has been more conducive con-ducive to illness or disease than other waters used by the city. Furthermore, we submit that so long as we are willing to do whatever what-ever we may in improving the condition condi-tion of the road, whether It be with a view of protecting the health of the public or contributing to the comfort of automobile users, that payrolls ag- I gregating $196,000 per annum, and other moneys expended within the county of Salt Lake, aggregating more than $20ti,000 per annum, should be taken from the use of the inhabitants inhabi-tants of Salt Lake county. These figures are based upon the expenditures expendi-tures only of these two companies during the last twelve months. We make no mention of expenditures made by other companies, because it appears that your attack Is aimed only at us. In addition to these figures, fig-ures, and not included In them, is the Hem of $T,fi00 expended by ea'h of these companies in the improvement of the road. The mining companies have heretofore, hereto-fore, and by this letter offer to expend, ex-pend, In the improvement of the road, so that It will accommodate the equipment contemplated, such additional addi-tional sums of money as may be nec- " essary for that purpose. In the proportion pro-portion fixed in the contract made between our companies and the city and county. Gist of the Matter. It whs never contemplated by any nf us that so long as the road was not in a condition to accommodate track-layer engines of ninety-horsepower, pulling a t gUn of at leant twelve six-ton trailers, the mining : companies should be restricted in their use of horseg. This Is not a matter for argument. because the contract provides that the mining companies will not use horses so long as the county main (a I ns the road "in a condition practicable for the use of the above-mentioned equipment." If the undersigned mining companies compa-nies are compelled to completely abandon the use of the public highway high-way by tf'ams in the transportation of their ores and freight, within a verv short' ti me bol h will be compelled com-pelled to c-nse operations. None of I he rceitalu of Una if-tter is to be taken ns a qualification of the 1 lender which w; have made and now mukc to comply fully upon our part with tho enntrrict eni'Tcd Info on I he loth day ot' April. JfilH. The under- j signed, the ml i tint; companir, mean this tender of performance on their part to be absolute, and so that tiler may be no mlsirnderfdanditig we aaln offer to contribute, each our proportionate share under t)(. contract, con-tract, of nnv nionevs that, mnv bp found necesnarv to fully curnpl'-le the road ho that II will ft; Ml! the pur-pofif pur-pofif h com empla trd In the tout ract . Yours verv rr-spoc t f nil v. f', Ff T n lT M INI M ; & M r Id T ri IMP ANY. bv f',ra Thompson, lYetdiPMit. f'.i i -'! V liKVKI.di'MKNT l'(M-I'A-NY. by l-Tcd It. Valircnkurnp. I'reaidcnt. |