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Show Forum ... TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: In a recent edition of the SpringviUe Herald one or more of our worthy citizens saw fit to criticize the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce for not encouraging the building of homes in SpringviUe in the lower-priced brackets. This body of men were chosen to act in the capacity of a board of directors because of their record rec-ord as civic-minded citizens, men who had held positions of responsibility respon-sibility in the community, who were versed in the needs of our city and who had the interest of every citizen at heart. Men who had worked for the improvement and betterment of the city from its very birth; who had been mainly main-ly responsible for the construction of the postoffice building that is such a credit and convenience to us. For the Art building, paved streets and sidewalks, the sewer system, making us a city of beauty beau-ty and sanitation. It seems that criticism against such a body of men by those who have directly benefitted through these improvements is poorly and inadvisably directed. Especially is this true when these same people withheld their support from civic organizations working for the improvement im-provement and betterment of their city. The question of encouraging the building of homes under $5,000.00, which of necessity means cheap construction and materials and poor workmanship, was seriously considered and discussed at two meetings of this body. At each meeting it was the opinion of the majority that it was best to take a long-range view of the matter, to look beyond the present crisis or emergency. SpringviUe has always been known as a city of culture. The men and women sent here to settle set-tle this particular community in Utah were of high ideals with a deep appreciation of the finer, worthwhile things in life, of the arts, of a high standard of living. They engendered in the minds and hearts of its people a love for the beautiful. It is a common thing to hear such expressions as: "I would like to return and make my home in SpringviUe," from tourists and casual visitors who come here. This is because of its many physical physi-cal beauties and attractions; its location lying at the foot of majestic ma-jestic mountains with placid Utah Lake in the distance. Its source of water supply offering water of such quality that all who come comment on its purity; its fine schools, churches, amusement and recreational facilities. Its fine homes with their landscaped gardens gar-dens and inviting surroundings. One needs only to drive through the streets of SpringviUe and view the delightful homes to get a concept con-cept of the desirable type of citizens citi-zens comprising our commonwealth. common-wealth. As an established community, these are the things we wish to preserve. It is gratifying to note that to our small city came, to a great extent, the officials, engineers engi-neers and key men of the major contractors on the war-time projects pro-jects in our county. We welcome and appreciate such type of citizen. citi-zen. Although we would not discredit dis-credit any type of work nor feel to dishonor any honest toil, we feel that as these projects progress pro-gress and become organized, there will be a great demand for the common laborer, men of colored races, that there are localities throughout the county where such a class of citizen can locate and establish a society of their own. Should we have encouraged the building of cheap, unattractive houses, this class would have been attracted to our town. Because of the haste in which these houses are built, they cannot be expected to withstand the elements and in years to come they will deteriorate deterior-ate and will attract an even lower low-er class of society. It is common knowledge that in surrounding towns where such building has been encouraged, the old residents who have in the past enjoyed their homes, good neighbors, neigh-bors, pleasant surroundings, are selling their property and moving away, because of the change that has been created in their immediate immedi-ate neighborhoods. Do we want such a thing to happen here; Do we want to "sell our birthright for a mess of pottage" and in the end sacrifice the finer things of life that our forefathers, the pioneers who came before us, suffered to maintain and establish? It is not only my hope, but my conviction that in years to come, in place of censure being directed at this body of men, they will be thanked and praised for their farsightedness and their sincere Interest in and service to their community. As ex-mayor and past president of the Chamber of Commerce, I feci to stand back of what has been done. (Signed) Dr. Geo. A. Anderson. Recent developments indlcnte that our City Administration views this situation in the same light. |