The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1880-09-12
The Water Commissioners.

The adjourned meeting OF tn
commission was held 10 the FlTi
Ward Schoolhease, Saturday mon
ling, to hear further evidence in tn
dispute over the distribution OF tn
waters of Emigration Creek. 1! wi
be remembered that two weeks sg
the settlers on what is known as tn
Asylum Bench pres nted their evl
denee to sustain a claim to ons-hsl
the waters OF the creek, which CLAIM
was based upon the continuous use o
q certain portion Of the waters hoWinl
below the dam built By the citizens o
the First, Second and Tenth Wards
from the year 1868 to 1874.
The committee OF nine appointed
By the residents OF these wards 10 pre-
sent the case for them, each and FL
testified, Essentially as follows:
In 1S49 a dam and ditch were Goa
struoted to bring the waters OF Emf
grafton Creek to Salt Lake City. thai
sn the water in the creek flowing tt
the Hogs Back was claimed for said
ditch, and that in 1862 the high
waters washed the dam away. On
account OF the ditch having beee
washed deep and wide, another spot
a little higher up the creek was
selected for the next dam; this,
too, was washed away. As
Was also another which was
erected nearly opposite Wagner's
brewery. The high waters continuing
year after yeSr, and the repeated
efforts OF the citizens failaing to
keep in a permanent dam down
the stream they were compelled to
utilize some large rocks further up
the creek and stop what water could
DO secured there, so that some could
be got down for use. The nature of
this d&m-beiDg porous rock and sll
on edge - allowed considerable of
the water to sesp through the bottom
and sides to the injury of the inhabi
tsnts who were thus deprived OF it.
In 1874 the wards at last faced the
work Of erecting proper dam down
the creek, and eventually the present
site was determined upon, which gave
them control OF the whole Of the
water5. The present dam is several
feet above the location of the original
one. The settlers on the Asylum
bench then petitioned the City Coun.
Gil to guarantee them the amount of
water which they had been
using since 1868, and which was now
lesssned by the, building
Of the new dam. The abstract OF the
records produced proved that the
Council informed the petitioners that
though temporary relief might be
offered them, no grant could be given,
either by the Council or any OF its
of water in Emigration
Greek. (COuncilman Raleigh, who
Was one OF the special committee ap-
pointed by the city TO report on the
petition, was presen. and endorsed
he report. About two years agoI
he came petitioners met with the
take authorities and the people CT
be First, Second and Tenth Warda in
be Tenth Ward Meeting House, and
Isked for little water to be allowed
@ run to their houses for culinary
but now they claimed one
lalf of the whole stream in the creek. |
The citizens OF the city wards never
lave abandoned the waters OF the
ireek, and have never had enough |
water for irrigating in the lon season
# the year; they could not, in justice
o themselves. give up any portion of
heir prior claim or right to euch
Vater.
The commissioners adjourned to j
isit the site of the dams in the creek |
N Monday morning and will give
heir decision on this vsxed question |
ONE time next week.