The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-10-23
The Water Supply.

Edttor Herald:
A great deal has been said and
written In regard to the Importance
OF our city having good supply of
water for culinary and domestic
purposes: In regards to reservoirs
being built up City Creek canyon,
to me 1t seems an expensive luxury |:
IL may seem so to me owing to the
nature or the soil being of a gravel
wash; If it was clay it would be
different, for that can be puddled
ana made to hold water, while on
the other hand, the sand and gravel
composing the sides of the canyon
Is SO loose and porous, even if wings
OF masonry are placed deep
into the hills they a1e
liable to be undermined. and
with the heavy pressure of water
ab0ve,are likely to bi eak and spree d
destruction and gravel over the
heart OF our city. Another danger
arises owing to the sudden cloud
DurstS which our mountain region
is subject to. 1t would not take
many of them, with our spring
thaws, to completely fill up the res,
ervOlr or reservoirs that may be
built. We should not lose sight of
the death and destruction bursting
reservoirs caused ii the east a few
years ago, by being built above
towns and cities. When they were
built 1t was supposed they would
stand for centuries, but death and
destruction followed. Before they
are built or steps taken, let
the matter be thoroughly cars
vsssed, for property can be replaced,
but life never. If the water could
be conducted to some open space
where 1t could be confined in good
substantial walls, or bounds, as citi.
zens We would feel safe, but up the
canyon it would be doubtful. By
the way, the Arsenal Hill has a
commanding view of the city, with
sufficient fall to give sufficient force
for any emergency in case of fire.
Besides this advantage, in excavat-
ing, the soil could be used for street
purposes. In winter the ice crop
could be sold to good advantage,
anC in measure aid in paying the
expense and interest of keeping in
repair, and in a few years it would
tie required to plant trets, shrubs
walks, in fact, a beneficial resort fol
invalias, ladies and children, to pass
a few hours of healthy recreation, in
fact, construct q park for the health
Of our citizens. Arguments will be
brought out, it will cost money.
True; get water from whence we
will 1t will cost money, and plenty
of it. Consequently it will require
good solid thinking, combined with
judgment to meet the emergency
Another objection will be raised to
the location. The same loose sand
and gravel compose the hill and
sides Of the canyon, but by proper
| paving and cement no fear need be
entertained by those living below OF
! seepage encroaching on them. Utah
Lake is long way off, but: plenty
Of water theri but would it not re
quire a double set of pipes to divide
\ The pressure to convey the amount
| Of water,needed, for Salt Lake is NJ
fchild it is coed sized now and de-
tined through natural laws to be-
come a mammoth city In the future
Correspondingly our means anC
that future should be brought face
to face. There are the Cotton wooG
streams which can be, canvassed 81
a source Of supply, the water beinf
pure and good and could no doubt
be had in exchange for canal water
for irrlgating purposes. But water
| must be looked after and procured
from some quarters before it is too
late. Excuse length Of writing an(
oblige one who has had too much Of
not enough. WATER.
SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. %, 1885,.
| WV ara vou al > Whv do vot