USA > Utah > Salt Lake County > Salt Lake > History of Salt Lake City > Part 112
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The organization of the club was perfected by the election of the following officers : J. L. Rawlins, president ; Alfales Young, vice-president ; L. S. Hills, treasurer ; Geo. A. Meears, corresponding secretary. At the annual election held in January, the above officers were all re-elected with the exception of George A. Meears, who was succeeded by Professor J. T. Kingsbury.
Several hundred copies of the following circular were mailed to possible friends of the movement. Replies were received in several instances, which in the main gave but faint sign of appreciation. It was headed :
" J. L. Rawlins, president, Alfales Young, vice-president, John H. Burton, secretary, George A. Meears, corresponding secretary, Lewis S. Hills, treasurer, Theodore Burmester, Charles A. Clark, J. G. Sutherland, A. L. Williams, John M. Young, Ben Sheeks, Frank W. Jennings, J. T. Kingsbury, executive commit- tee; A. L. Williams, chairman executive committee ; John M. Young, secretary executive committee.
" HEADQUARTERS DEMOCRATIC CLUB OF UTAH, " Salt Lake City, Utah,-188-
" Dear Sir :- As a representative Democrat of the county in which you re- side, we submit herewith for your consideration the platform of the Democratic party, as adopted by the National Democratic Convention, and also the platform of the Democratic Club of Utah. We desire, for the purpose of the furtherance of Democratic interests, the establishment of kindred organizations in every county of this Territory, and would be pleased to have you procure the organiza-
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HISTORY OF SALT LAKE CITY.
tion of a Democratic Club at your very earliest convenience, so that your club may advise us of the probable strength of the party in your vicinity.
" Immediately after its establishment, we will, upon receipt of the names of the officers and members of your club, enroll them as honorary members of this club, with your president as one of the vice-presidents, so that thereby a commu- nity of interest may be maintained for mutual advantages.
" We respectfully ask that you acknowledge the receipt hereof, by return mail if possible, that we may know of your intentions. If it be impracticable for you to proceed to the creation of such a club as we propose, will you kindly in- form us of your opinions regarding the project, so far as it affects your neighbor- hood ?
" We send you a copy of our by-laws, and will be pleased to assist you in any way towards the organization of your club.
" By order of the executive committee.
66 Corresponding Secretary."
The harmony of the Young Democracy of Utah split upon the same rock as that of the old Democrats, whose inharmony in the recent celebration they had censured. Section 8 of the platform caused much feeling among the members of the organization, and was the precursor of secession, which finally distracted the ranks.
The obnoxious section was finally stricken out and the platform adopted as amended ; but it was plain to see that no unity could be maintained. The revul- sion of feeling engendered by the remarks of some of the representative speakers on the occasion of the ratification meeting of the club led to the result predicted by conservatives. The organization was ignored by all the political fragments in the Territory, and as the old Liberal party especially loved it not, but a meagre showing was made at the election wherein the Democratic Club nominees ran against the People's ticket.
The old Democrats of the city were rather chagrined than pleased with their occupancy of the field in the Democratic name and held a counter meeting before the election day with Major Nounan and Camp Douglas band to expound old Democracy to young Utah. The occasion partook much of the character of a burlesque, which the old Liberal party of Utah helped to display. Thus ended our politics of the year 1885.
The Young Democrat party of Utah, however, continued in their work dur- ing the year 1885, started the Salt Lake Democrat, March 2d, 1885, held political out-door meetings and ran the following ticket in the Territorial election of that year :
" For councilors to the Legislative Assembly, from the council district com- prising Salt Lake, Davis and Tooele Counties-Robert C. Chambers, Joseph L. Rawlins, John A. Marshall, C. E. Mitchener ; for representatives to the Legisla- tive Assembly from the representative district comprising Salt Lake, Davis and Morgan Counties -- William G. Sharp, Joseph M. Benedict, Abram F. Doremus, A. L. Williams, H. D. Rippeto, Stephen Hales ; for the county superintendent of schools for Salt Lake County-Joseph T. Kingsbury ; for selectman for Salt Lake county-Bolivar Roberts."
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HISTORY OF SALT LAKE CITY.
The vote cast for the above was so amazingly small, that the movers lost all hope of bringing about a revolution, and indeed, the encouragement extended was, to say the least, not very inspiring. It was at once tacitly understood that no further efforts should be made under that banner. Since that time, but few refer- ences to the outcome have been made. The enemies of the cause speak only oc- casionally by way of ridicule, while its friends seldom find it advisable to speak boastingly.
CHAPTER XCII.
DIGEST OF THE MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION. CITY NOTES.
In the foregoing chapters of this history, there has regularly appeared, from time to time, the rec- ord of the action and resolutions of the city council, so far as they entered into general affairs and events transpiring in the city or were related thereto; in this chapter we give a digest of the municipal admin- istration with city notes and references ; thus presenting the whole in a connected narrative before the eye of the reader. It may be further observed that the subject matter following is copied from the city recorder's books, with the exception of the author's historical linkings and explanations.
" STATE HOUSE, G. S. L. CITY, January 11, 1851.
" An ordinance having been passed by the General Assembly of the State of Deseret, January 9th, 1851, incorporating Great Salt Lake City, which received the sanction of his Excellency Governor Brigham Young, Jedediah M. Grant, mayor, Nathaniel H. Felt, William Snow, Jesse P. Harmon and Nathaniel V. Jones, aldermen, and Vincent Shurtliff, Benjamin L. Clapp, Zera Pulsipher, Wil- liam G. Perkins, Harrison Burgess, Jeter Clinton, John L. Dunyon and Samuel W. Richards, councilors, met pursuant to notice from the clerk of Great Salt Lake County Court, in the state house and having been severally sworn to observe the Constitution of the United States and this State, they organized in due form.
" The ordinance incorporating Great Salt Lake City was then read by the clerk of the county, when the mayor informed the council that it would be nec- essary to appoint a recorder, treasurer and marshal for the city.
" Motioned that Robert Campbell be the recorder of Great Salt Lake City. Seconded and carried.
" Motioned that Elam Luddington be the marshal, and assessor and collector of Great Salt Lake City. Seconded and carried.
"They being notified of their appointment, appeared and accepted their offices.
" His Excellency the Governor, addressed the council, and said, you have now been sworn to fulfil the duties of your office ; the next thing will be to file your bonds, then attend to such business as shall be for the welfare of the city. You will have to regulate markets; keep streets clear ; remove nuisances ; you will want a city police, city inspectors, and you will appoint the different officers,
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HISTORY OF SALT LAKE CITY.
who will see to the cleanliness of the city. £ The municipal council will meet in every month, and the city council as often as necessary.
" D. H. Wells, attorney general of the State, addressed the council and said, ' I am very glad that the city council is now organized. I hope to see the officers proceed in seeing that the original design of beautifying the city by planting trees in the streets is carried out, and that the water is carried into its proper channels and not run down the middle of the streets.'
"The governor suggested to the city council to appoint a supervisor of streets and levy a tax forthwith, and said to the council : 'You will attend to the duties of your office in this time and receive your pay in the next time; but as alder- men and magistrates they will receive their fees ;' he wished them to counsel the Saints not to go to law one with another.
"The mayor, Jedediah M. Grant said, ' I am on hand to do what good I can, and the council have similar feelings In my opinion it should be the pride of this city council to be men of piety, and men that will do their duty, and have a pride in it. We should work for the welfare of the people, as we have the license to do all the good we can. We should move what nuisances there may be in the city. We should be constantly awake to the interests of the city, have as little law as possible, and attend to peace and good order, and as we know what is right have the firmness to do it.'
"The clerk then read the rules of the city council of Nauvoo, which had been appointed by the Prophet Joseph Smith, defining their duties which are somewhat similar to the rules of Congress and those of the Legislature of Deseret. At 12:30, on motion adjourned to 2 P. M.
" THOMAS BULLOCK, Clerk of G. S. L. County Court.
"2 P. M .- City council met. Roll called, majority present. Robert Campbell sworn in as city recorder, Thomas Rhodes, treasurer, and Elam Luddington as marshal and assessor and collector, by the clerk of county court.
" The mayor brought forward the subject of a division of the city into wards for city purposes.
"The mayor stated that the Governor has recommended the city divided into four wards, that the only thing to be attended to is the boundary lines-it would require an alderman in each ward.
"Councilor Clapp recommended that East Temple Street be the dividing line for the eastern and western wards so that Emigration Street and South Temple Street would form the boundaries of the wards.
"The county clerk then laid a city plat before the council, and at the sugges- tion of the Governor the following wards were laid out from the map and their proper boundaries designated in the following manner as the jurisdiction of the city aldermen :
"Jesse P. Harmon, Ist ward .- Bounded on the N. by S. 3d St., S. by southern limits, W. by East Temple St., E. by eastern limits.
"Nathaniel V. Jones, 2d ward .- E. by East Temple St., S. by southern limits, W. by Jordan River, N. by South Temple St.
" Nathaniel H. Felt, 3d ward .- E. by East Temple St., S. by South Temple St., W. by Jordan River, N. by northern limits.
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HISTORY OF SALT LAKE CITY.
"William Snow, 4th ward .- E. by eastern limits, S. by 3d S. St., W. by East Temple St., N. by northern limits.
"Mayor instructed the marshal asassessor and collector to proceed to assessing property and levying a tax. Mayor appointed Aldermen N. V. Jones, Harrison Burgess, Vincent Shurtliff and S. W. Richards a committee on finance.
" GREAT SALT LAKE CITY, STATE HOUSE, January 13, 1851.
" The secretary of State said that the Old Fort had been declared a nuisance two years ago by the council, and the grand jury had referred it to the highest court.
" Governor Young spoke of the right that this city council had in determin- ing that it should be removed ; as for making provisions for property sacrificed by its removal, it does not come under the purview of this city council. If a man has bought property then he can refer the matter to the bishops to adjust all diffi- culties that may arise therefrom.
" The committee on municipal laws presented a bill for an ordinance re- quiring the public ground on which the Old Fort now stands to be vacated by the first of April next, Council adjourned till 2 P. M.
" An ordinance was presented to the council by Alderman Felt requiring holders of lots to set out trees, for the improvement of the city, in front of their lots, within a reasonable time.
" A discussion ensued by the mayor, Councilors Pulsipher, Burgess and Clin- ton, recommending the Balm of Gilead, Cottonwood and such trees as would tend to beauty and usefulness.
" The mayor said the citizens are too dormant in the setting of trees. Sug- gested that certain men should be appointed for this purpose who understood it ; if neglected the men appointed may do it at the expense of those holding them."
" STATE HOUSE, G. S. L. CITY, January, 16, 1851.
"Appointment of supervisors of shade trees. On motion of Councilor Clapp, Charles Drown was appointed supervisor of public streets in the city.
" Motioned that Samuel Moore be assistant supervisor of 3d city ward. Carried.
" Motioned that Thomas Thurston be assistant supervisor of 2d city ward. Carried.
" Motioned that Stillman Pond be assistant supervisor of Ist city ward. Carried.
" Motioned that Heman Hyde be assistant supervisor of 4th city ward. Carried."
" POST OFFICE, G. S. L. CITY, February Ist, 1851.
" Alderman Felt expressed himself doubtful as to the jurisdiction of this board over the waters of the city as an infringement upon the legislative powers of the bishops who had the prior right of control before the city organization.
" The mayor contended that the bishops virtually resigned their jurisdiction over the waters, and it is now thrown upon us.
" On motion Jacob Gibson was elected sexton of Great Salt Lake City."
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HISTORY OF SALT LAKE CITY.
" STATE HOUSE, January 30, 1851.
" The committee on municipal laws presented an ordinance called 'An or- dinance dividing the city into wards.' After its third reading it passed the council.
" A petition was presented by Brigham Young and others praying for a char- ter for constructing a railroad from different points of the city to the Red Butte Canyon and mountain south of the Red Butte Canyon to convey stone and other material."
" STATE HOUSE, March 24th, 1851.
" On motion, the council ordered fifty copies of the city ordinances to be pub- lished forthwith.
" On motion, Robert Campbell was appointed clerk of the ensuing election."
The literal record of the acts and business of the original city council is given, as it exhibits the simple process and methods by which this municipal gov- ernment of Salt Lake City was evolved ; and this exhibit is more pertinent from the fact that nearly all writers, who have described the early government of our city, have made it appear that it was purely ecclesiastical, proceeding from devices of church councils ; how much of this statement is correct, the foregoing notes from the city recorder's books will show.
It will be observed that the original city council was not elected by the peo- ple, but created by the Legislature of the State of Deseret, according to the clos- ing section of the city charter :
" Sec. 47. The mayor, aldermen, and councilors of said city shall, in the first instance, be appointed by the Governor and Legislature of said State of Des- eret ; and shall hold their office until superseded by the first election."*
It will also be observed that the Governor of the State (Brigham Young), the Secretary of the State (Willard Richards), and the attorney-general of the State (Daniel H. Wells), took part in behalf of the commonwealth, and as repre- senting the Legislature, and that they made several initial suggestions and remarks for the purpose of harmonizing the first business of the city council with previous acts of the State. This action of the State-through its Governor, Secretary and Attorney-General-occurs merely in the two first sessions of the council, during the very process, in fact, of the creation of the provisional city council. After the election of the city council by the people, in April 1851, there is no interfer- ence of the State, whatever, in the municipal business, the city government being no longer as the ward of the State, but a creature of the people.
If, in the formation of this city government, there should seem to the reader a relic of the primitive features of a colony, the explanation is very simple : All Utah at that date was a colony, and was under the provisional government-State, county and city-which the people had formulated in the capacity of a colony.
The provisional government of the State of Deseret was, as before noted, set up in March, 1849 ; Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Utah, Sanpete, Tooele and Iron counties were organized by this provisional State government in 1849-50 ; and Salt Lake City, Ogden City, Manti City, Provo City and Parowan City were in.
*See city charter, Chapter IX. of this HISTORY, page 72.
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HISTORY OF SALT LAKE CITY.
porated by the State in January, 1851, previous to the arrival of the news of the passage of the Organic Act of the Territory ; hence a slight tracing is found of the provisional government in the opening of our municipal business.
It is further seen, in the city notes, that the bishops of the wards of "Great Salt Lake City," are named by Alderman Felt in relation to the water question. The explanation is that those bishops had been duly elected magistrates of those wards by the people on their State ticket, nearly two years prior to the city incor- poration ;* and they were, therefore, up to the formation of the city council, the proper executive officers in all such local matters ; but the mayor decided that these magistrates (the bishops) were superseded by the organization of the city council, and the members of the council coincided. After that decision, as the records show, the affairs of the city, in every department, have been admin- istered through regular municipal methods, upon the ordinances passed by the city council.
On the first Monday in April, 1851, the first municipal election for Great Salt Lake City was held as provided for by the charter, and the following mem- bers were returned :
Mayor-Jedediah M. Grant. Aldermen-Jesse P. Harmon, First ward; N. V. Jones, Second ward; Nathaniel H. Felt, Third ward; William Snow, Fourth ward. Councilors-Lewis Robinson, Robert Pierce, Zera Pulsipher, Wm. G. Perkins, Jeter Clinton, Enoch Reese, Harrison Burgess, Samuel W. Richards, Vincent Shurtliff.
The members elected took the oath of office at their first session, held at the state house, April 14th, and proceeded at once to business. One of the acts of the opening session was to appoint Dr. Jeter Clinton as physician to attend on the quarantine ground during the season of emigration.
The city council from the onset attempted to suppress the sale and use of in- toxicating liquors of every kind, and so far as necessary for medicinal purposes, to strictly control it by the city authorities. Here are the council notes :
" BOWERY, G. S. L. CITY, June 21st, 1851.
" After mature discussion the council instructed the committee to draft an ordinance regulating the sale of intoxicating liquors within this corporation and providing for its immediate inspection, and placing all liquors brought for sale within the limits of the city in the hands of such physician or physicians as may be appointed by this council.
" BOWERY, June 23, 1851.
" The committee also introduced an ordinance regulating the sale of spir- ituous liquors and appointing an inspector of liquors to give proof of the same and giving said liquors in charge of the marshal to be handed over to the physi- cian or physicians for sale."
In November, Mayor Grant left the city for the Eastern States, and the coun- cil appointed William Snow president pro tem. in his absence, during which time nothing of marked importance occurred.
In July, 1852, Mayor Grant returned from the States.
See this HISTORY page 50.
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HISTORY OF SALT LAKE CITY.
In October following, the city council adopted measures to organize fire bri- gades throughout the city. A resolution was passed authorizing the Bishops in their several wards to organize a fire company for each, to elect their own officers, furnish their own apparatus and report to the council.
In 1853 the municipal election resulted as follows :
Mayor-J. M. Grant. Aldermen-N. H. Felt, William Snow, Abraham Hoagland and Jesse P. Harmon. Councilors-Zera Pulsipher, Wm. G. Perkins, Lewis Robinson, Harrison Burgess, Jeter Clinton, Enoch Reese, Seth Taft, Elijah Sheets and Joseph Horne. Recorder-Robert Campbell. Marshal and Assessor and Collector-Jesse C. Little. Treasurer-Hiram B. Clawson. Supervisor of Streets-A. P. Rockwood.
On June 25, 1853, Enoch Reese was removed, and Bryant Stringham was appointed in his place.
September 9, 1854, A. H. Raleigh was appointed alderman of the Third Mu- nicipal Ward to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of N. H. Felt, who had gone on business to St. Louis ; at the same time A. O. Smoot was appointed alderman of the Sugar House district, in the First Municipal Ward, and S. W. Richards was appointed a councilor to fill the vacancy of Jeter Clinton, who had gone on business to New York.
A. H. Raleigh and S. W. Richards were added to the committee on finance ; and A. O. Smoot, S. W. Richards and A. H. Raleigh were added to the commit- tee on municipal laws.
At its session, Oct. 2Ist, a resolution was passed instructing the committee on revision to examine, revise and prepare the ordinances and resolutions of the city council for publication ; and another resolution was passed instructing the recor- der to get them published in book form and furnish the members of the council and the officers of the city, each with a copy of the same. This was the first book of municipal laws published.
The city election of 1855, was held at the Council House, on Monday, March 5th, when the following were elected :
Mayor-Jedediah M. Grant. Aldermen-First ward, Jesse P. Harmon ; Sugar House District, A. O. Sinoot ; Second ward, Abraham Hoagland ; Third ward, A. H. Raleigh ; Fourth ward, Wm. Snow; Councilors-Ira Pulsipher, Seth Taft, William G. Perkins, E. F. Sheets, Lewis Robinson, Bryant Stringham, Harrison Burgess, S. W. Richards and Joseph Horn.
The committees of the council by this time were well defined. They now stood :
On municipal laws-Wm. Snow, A. O. Smoot, A. H. Raleigh. On improvements-J. P. Harmon, Zera Pulsipher, Joseph Horn, Bryant Stringham. On finance-Harrison Burgess, S. W. Richards, A. H. Raleigh. On revision-Robert Campbell, Harrison Burgess, E. F. Sheets, A. H. Raleigh. On ways and means-Bryant Stringham, Jesse P. Harmon, A. O. Smoot. On claims-Abraham Hoagland, E. F. Sheets, Harrison Burgess. On unfinished business-Seth Taft, Zera Pulsipher. On elections-Lewis Robinson, Abraham Hoagland. On police-Joseph Horn, E. F. Sheets. On public grounds-Seth Taft, Lewis Robinson. On Public works -- Abraham Hoagland, W. G. Perkins.
City officers-Board of examination of teachers-Orson Hyde, Albert Carrington, W. W. Phelps. Captain of police-L. W. Hardy. Water master-Phineas WV. Cook. Sexton-Jacob Gibson, Sur- veyor-J. W. Fox. Sealer of weights and measures, inspector of spirituous and malt liquors-Robert Campbell.
On the morning of June 29th, 1855, the Hon. Judge Shaver was found dead in his bed, in Great Salt Salt Lake City. The council paid due honor to his memory ; and Mayor Jedediah M. Grant preached his funeral sermon.
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HISTORY OF SALT LAKE CITY.
In July (20th), 1856, the liquor question came up again on a petition pre- sented from Mr. Sanford for a license to sell spiritons liquors. The following are the notes of the discussion in the council at its session :
" A petition was presented from Mr. Sanford for license to sell spirituous liquors. The ordinance declaring distilleries, breweries, liquor and beer shops in Great Salt Lake City a nuisance, was read to the council.
" The mayor stated that Mr. Moon and others had now closed business in the sale of liquor. Since that period, Messrs. Sanford, Banning & Co., had brought a quantity of liquors into the city, had sold no liquors only as he (the mayor) had by order given permission-and now he left the matter with the council to say whether they would repeal the prohibitory ordinance and make one to meet the case before them or continue the present ordinance. Said no doubt quantities of liquor would be imported during the season, spoke of the peace, harmony and good effects produced by enforcing the existing law, but left the matter entirely with the council.
"S. W. Richards made some excellent remarks on the good effects produced by the working of the existing law ; he considered that the present regulation was necessary and the discretionary power now exercised by the mayor in grant- ing permits to obtain liquor in small quantities was quite sufficient for any emer- gencies and contingencies that might arise.
"E. F. Sheets felt to acquiesce in the remarks of the last speaker, and urged the continuation of the existing ordinance.
" H. Burgess would sustain the course taken by the mayor in the disposal of liquors.
" A. H. Raleigh took rather a different view from the gentleman who had previously spoken, that the ordinance declaring the manufacture and sale of spir- ituous liquors a nuisance, was passed at a time when drunkenness and disorder seemed to be very prevalent in our streets, and had a very salutary effect in put- ting a stop to the evil, that that law had produced the effect it contemplated- that now he did not consider any inpropriety in repealing it. He did not think the liquor and beer shops were an evil of themselves, but it was the abuse the public made of them that created the nuisances ; and thought this council might repeal the ordinance and grant the gentleman a license.
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