The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-07-30
CANAL.
The Big Undertaking Success
A Brief Account of the Enterprise.

Every udg OOAAO10 "ICo WIN
greater force the fact that the Jor-
dan and Salt Lake Canal is an I'M
equivocaI success. 1t was called
into existence, not through any
speculative inclination. but because
it had boone a recognized and abSO-
Lutte public necessity. Without
more water, it was certain that the
growth of Salt Lake City would
cease; and in order 20 accommodate
and provide for the rapid increase of
the city determined to
procure water that would for years
TO come, at least, provide sufficient
supply for the public necessities.
The subject Of obtaining this
water naturally gave rise to a
vari' ty of sugges lions as to the best
method for procuring it. Some
favored huge reservoirs in City
Creek Canyon; others proposed
that reservoirs be built on the
benches, to be flied by water not
alone from City Creek, but from
other mountain streams. Others
again wanted pipes laid from
this city into Utah Lake; ;
still others favored the construc-
ton of a canal, and some
went so far as to URGE the pumping
of water out of the JOrdOn River at
a point west of the cityand by meal .
Of steam engines, forcing the water
through pipes into an enormous res
ervoir northeast CT the city. The
discussion of these varied PROPOSE
tons was quite animated tor time,
but the force of argument was on
the whole, decidedly favorable to a
canal, as being certainly practica-
bic, as not involving any serious
risks, and as being at once the most
effective and cheapest way of secur-
Ing the much coveted. water.
The City Council after mature de-
liberation, and after having had am
pie facts and figures submitted to
it by Engineer Jessie w. Fox,
adopted the idea of the canal. This
was net done without opposition
from members Of the council itself,
some of whom expressed the decided
belief that, if the canal were con-
structed, water could never be forced
through portions of it which
lie about five miles southeast of the
city. The place only adopted, Mr..
Fox was appointed engineer of con-
struction, and at the urgency of
Mayor Little and some mem
bers Of the Council, began
surveying the route and putting
men to work. This was prior to the
authorization of the construction by
the Legislature, and therefore before
the citizens had voted upon the sub
ject. Work was commenced thus
early because it was known that a
number of canals were being con-
structed to tap the Jordan river in
the same locality, and that those who
first got the water out, would neceS-
Sarily have the first right to it. II
the cp~al was to be built, it was
very desirable point to make to
secure ascertain and unequiVocal a
right as possible to the water, which
right would always remain uEdis-
turbed. The wisdom of this move is
unquestioned.
After some work had been done,
and after the Legislature had been
in session for time, the City Coun-
Gil directed that a special act be
drawn UP, authorizing the bonding OF
the city for sum sufficient to con-
struct he canal, and that its pas.
sage be urged. These instructions
were complied with. Hon. John T
Game, city recorder, then 9
member of the Legislative
Council, took charge of the
bill, and with the assist.
ance of other members of the
City Council, who were at the same
time members of the Legislature,
succeeded in getting the M ASSURE
passed not, however, without de-
termined opposition on the part OF
some who were citizens of Salt
Lake; but who were opposed to
having the city placed under debt
The granting Of this special power
to the city by the legislature was,
however, given on condition that
a two-thiTds majority of the
taxpayers Of Salt Lake City
should, at q special vote, decide in
favor Of assuming the indebted
ness for the purpose named.
In the meantime, and prior to the
vote by the people, the HERALD,
which had been consistent and IN
failing advocate of the construction
of a canal, called, for a public ex-
preston of opinion through its col
umns, in order that all citizens
might nave the benefit of the full
est information on the subject, and
in order that they might be enabled
intelligently to vote for or. against
the debt. The consequence was that a
very animated newspaper discussion
took place, in which nearly If not
all the engineers in the city particl-
pated, and which was anything but
| favorable to the canal, and Gel tainly
anything but complimentary to Mr.
Fox. Without exception the en-
gineers augured unfaVorably to the
scheme, some going so far as to de-
clare that it would prove a dlsas-
trous and ignominious failure; that
the proposed plan was utterly I'M,
practicable, and that the city would
be fOolishly and uselessly involved
in debt, fer which there would
never be any adequate returns
This discussion was not INDUCED IL
nv Mr. Eov m, any of fbn GitV COuQ.