Show OUR DEGRADED CITY J JANUARY 22 wo we received a call from an intelligent looking soldier of the fort douglas garrison the object or of his visit was to request us to publish ft a I 1 fact which might be of use to people suffering buffering from a malady of which he I 1 had recently been cured he had J been terribly afflicted with rheama hism from which he had endured the most excruciating agony in the hope J of obtaining relief he paid frequent visits to the warm springs in which a he not only bathed but also drank freely of the water the reside jesuu was that in two weeks the rheu 1 had disappeared not only had he be been benefited in that regard but dyspepsia and nervousness with which he had also been to some extent affected vanished as well and his hie health was as sound as at any time in his life in addition to his bis desire to induce people afflicted as an he had been to try a remedy so simple and effies efficacious olous be desired the NEWS and other journals to urge the retention by the city of the warm springs property that it might be operated as a public benefit bonef lt to be used by the people free or for a nominal price we needed no convincing upon the point made by the visitor we have always alfaye been opposed to the sale of the warm springs property or even to leasing it for more than a brief period the intimation of mayor scott that the city finances were at such low ebb that it might be necessary to sell that valuable property to replenish the treasury to is absolutely appalling the present administration went into power a year ago with a round around sum on hand left by their predecessors in office the taxation has beep been higher by from two to five times what it ever was before and the ex cures have been so lavish largely through the increase of officials until they have become a multitude and yet more money is called for the liberal administration has been a veritable quicksand into which the roods of the people have been sucked sud and swallowed the visit of the soldier brought up another phase of the municipal government of salt lake he said he was in this city thirteen years ago it wa baj at that time the most respectable orderly and moral city he had bad ever benin been in since si oce then a revolting change had bad occurred he had only been here a short abort time but it had been sufficient to prove to him that the place had been completely transformed because now dens of vice of the mst most debasing character exist everywhere said he be since ince my arrival here I 1 have written to my relatives that when I 1 first visited salt lake it seemed really like a city of saints but now it is more like a city where devils have been getting in their work I 1 lam am not an angel myself tut I 1 hive have been struck and disgusted with this change for the worse in this recognition of the fearful transition from comparative order and morality to the present abominable aspect of affairs and the regret the situation tion Ini inspires pires this humble and thoughtful soldier has lots of company the better element of society here is in sympathy with his views and feelings he e expressed a hope that the NEWS would continue to battle against the evils that are rapidly corrupting ng society in this ance most moral and orderly city in the united states thiele this Is one of the functions of this journal and should we cease to expose wickedness exalt virtue and contend for truth we would not be in accord with the highest and noblest duty of man |