The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1880-04-13
CANAL ROUTES.

CANAL ROUTES.
The visit of the members of the
City Council. on Monday, to the
canals now being constructed at the
southern end of the valley, probably
determined two things that have been
agitating some parties lately-namely:
first, that the city will not accept the
proposition presented By the owners
of the Draper Canal for the city to
obtain a half interest in, and make
that ditch the southern end of the
Jordan and Salt Lake City Canal;
and, second, that the city will have
no partners in its canal. The owners
of the Draper Canal have performed
a vast amount Of work, what they
have accomplished representing
many thousands of dollars; and
before they can realize any benefits
from their labors, other thousands Of
dollars in hard work must follow the
first. They are unfortunate il hav
ing to construct their canal along a
most expensive route, and when the
work shall be completed the cost Of
keeping the ditch in successful Oper-
alton will be 70 small item. Had
the city not yet struck @
pick in the soil it would
be a blunder, almost criminal in its
reckless extravaganza, TO join With
the Draper Canal, and enlarge it 90
as to obtain the supply of water that
the city must have. 1t requires no
estimates by engineers to tell an
ordinarily intelligent person who
passes along the route that the cost
would be enormous, and q good deal
more than even Salt Lake City can
afford to obtain water. Particularly
reprehenaible would it be for the
Council to adopt the proposition for a
union of canals, while the route of the
ditch already being dug is so much
preferable in other respects. besides
the original cost. The difference in
elevation is but fity-six feet and if
this we're taken advantage Of by con-
tinuing the Draper Canal into the
city. the extra land brought below the
canal would be only between Thirty
and forty rods. 1t is believed the
cost would be double the outlay for
the city canal as being dug. while
the service could be no better, and
certainly net SO satisfactory. Trouble,
annoyance, disputes, and perhaps
law suits, would arise if the city held g
ditch in common, with farming COM
munity, and as they would have the
advantage of controlling the head of
the canal, Salt Lake would very
naturally be the sufferer. If, by the
adoption of the Draper Canal large
& cope Of country within the corporation
limits might be brought under c1lti-
walton, the inconvenience and dis
advantages might be borne, aud the
additional expense incurred; but
when it appears that the benefit and
detriment are so widely dispropor-
tionate, the idea of 8 union canal
ought to be promptly abandoned.
Engineers assert that the Salt Lake
and jordan Canal taps the river at
the most favorable point, and it Ger
tainly so appears to the unskilled.
To have gone higher up the river
would have gained little in point OF
elevation, as shown by the Draper
ditch, which is taken out two miles
above the city dam, and is only fifty
six feet higher; while the cost would
have been greatly enlarged. The
point was chosen only after careful
observation and surveys, and reflects
credit upon the good judgment of
those who designated it. Instead
Of being a mistake" as some
have charged, we believe the
route, so far as the canal has been |
surveyed, the most practicable and in
every way the best that could have
been selected. As to the grade, with
which some Of oar engineer friends
have found go much fault, expert
elce teaches that Surveyor Fox was
correct, no matter what the books |
and theory may say 10 the contrary. !
The South Jordan Canal, which I
leaves the river at the same po;nt as
the Jordan and Salt Lake, has the
same "fall' as the latter, yet its |
banks show no signs of scoring, |
though the ditch has been in success /
ful operation for seven years.
We believe the people wantan indie.
pendent canal, and one that cannot
be tempered with by outside parties:
and we also believe the taxpayers will
heartily endorse and approve the
Il