August 1996 Blazer

SLC officials filled a variety of posts in 1875

* THE HISTORY BLAZER ATEU'S OF UTAH'S PAST FROM THE Utah State Historical Society 300 Rio Grande Salt ~ a kCei ty. LTT8 4101 ( 801) 533- 3500 FAX ( 801) 533- 3503 SLC Officials Filled a Variety of Posts in 1875 VOTERS IN SALT LAKE CITY WENT To THE POLLS on the second Monday of February every two years to elect a mayor, five aldermen, nine councilors, a recorder, a treasurer, and a marshal. In addition to these elective offices, city ordinances allowed the council to fill a number of appointive offices, including auditor of public accounts, assessor and collector, supe~ soorf streets, fence viewers, captain of police, water master, sexton, surveyor, attorney, inspector of buildings, inspector of wood and lumber, sealer of weights and measurers, inspector of spirituous and malt liquors, stock inspector, jailor, superintendent of insane asylum, superintendent of water works, market masters, and inspector of provisions. These jobs likely went to individuals well known to the council members; nevertheless some appointees were required to post bonds ranging from $ 500 ( sexton) to $ 10,000 ( auditor). The water master fded a vital and difficult role in the city at that time, and the council could if it wished require him to post a bond as well. The water master was required to appoint and supervise assistant water masters in each ( LDS bishop's) ward of the city and ' adjudicate all difficulties arising from the distribution of wakr"- a major responsibility in a community where many residents still farmed and needed water for irrigation. The sexton of the city cemetery had the potential to earn a fair amount of money from his employment. He was allowed to sell burial lots to the public for no more that $ 12 each and keep a 10 percent commission on sales. The rest of the sum was to be turned over to the city treasurer quarterly. The sexton could also exact a fee for a variety of services. For example he could charge $ 1.25 per running foot to furnish and stain a plain coffin. A family could, of course, make or provide a coffin for a loved one. Nothing in the ordinance required them to use one built by the sexton. Graves had to be at least six feet deep. To dig a grave less than four feet in length the sexton could charge $ 2.00 and for graves more than four feet in length $ 3.00. He could also charge 50 cents a mile to deliver a coffin anywhere in the city and a flat $ 2.50 to convey ' the dead from any part of said city to the burying ground in the city hearse." If a family provided the coffin and took the body to the cemetery, burial costs for an adult would total $ 15.25-$ 12.00 for the lot, $ 3.00 to dig the grave, and 25 cents to record the death. With an estimated population of 16,800 in Salt Lake City in 1875 and perhaps 250 deaths each year, the sexton had the potential at least to earn a substantial income. The family was required to mark the boundary of the burial lot and put up a headboard or monument with the deceased name. If they failed to do so, the sexton would do it and charge a fee. The sexton had to record the name of the deceased and his or ( more) her parents' names, birthplace and date of birth, time and cause of death, and name of attending physician or nurse. The sealer of weights and measures and the inspector of spirituous liquors also charged for their services. For example, the owner of a business using scales of any type that weighed amounts up to 200 pounds paid 25 cents to have the accuracy of his scales certified. Scales weighing larger amounts cost more. All liquors received, stored, or sold within the city limits had to be inspected for proof standard and to verify the quantity actually contained in a cask. The inspector charged $ 1.00 to inspect the first cask, 50 cents for each of the next nine casks, and 25 cents per cask thereafter. One of the unusual jobs in the city at that time was market master. Salt Lake City was divided into market districts corresponding to municipal wards, each with its own public market and supervising market master. ( Markets may not have actually operated in every municipal ward.) One of the most important tasks of this official was to see that vendors kept the market area as clean as possible, paid the fee required to lease a stall or stand, and maintained opening and closing hours required by the city. Butchers had to paint or whitewash their stalls in April and October of each year and were strictly regulated regarding slaughtering of animals and disposal of offal. No butchering was allowed in the market area. The markets undoubtedly attracted many people and were lively, interesting places where one might visit with old acquaintances and stall keepers, just as people do today in the open markets of many European towns or in a suburban mall. But loitering was discouraged. One section of the ordinance made it ' unlawful for any person having no business to idly sit, lounge, stand, walk or lie in or about the market house. .. ." If loafers were not allowed, neither were other distractions. In every time period adults have found some children's activities annoying. In the late 20th century it might be boom boxes, skateboards, and rollerblades. In 1875 it was obstructing ' the sidewalks or streets by games of any kind, playing at ball, quoits, marbles, jumping, rolling of hoops, flying of kites, to annoy or obstruct the free travel of any foot passenger or team." The fine was steep- up to $ 50 and up to 20 days in jail. Source Revised Ordinances and Resolutions of the Ciiy Council of Salt Lake City. .. 1875 ( Salt Lake City, 1875). THE HISTORYB LAZERis produced by the Utah State Historical Society and funded in part by a grant from the Utah Statehood Centennial Commission. For more information about the Historid Society telephone [phone] ( MBM)