The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-01-20
A GOOD SCHEME.
4 Proposition for Draining
the Overlooked Lands
BY THE BRIGHTON CANAL.
A Subject for the OficiaIs of H.
County to Think of and
Act Upon.

The present heavy fall of snow has
awakened in certain quarters reflections
upon the state of affairs in the low
wards of the city last spring and sum-
mer. Everybody will remember the
alarm that was caused and damage
done and threatened by the high water
then, and none will forget the measures
and means suggested for remedying the
evil another season. AS result of the
many suggestions put forth, the CITY
and county combined to fight the water
and succeeded in controlling it to
great extent, at an outlay
of considerable means, one-half being
paid by the municipality and the other
half by the county. The outlook, at
present, is that the same difficulties
will have to be contended against dur
ing the coming summer, unless
steps are taken to drain off some of the
surplus water which will, with the
melting OF the mountain SHOWS, lodge
and settle on the bottoms. To avoid
renewal of last seasons unpleasantness
and absolute dread of the inhabitants
of the south and southwestern portions
of the city, is a matter which should
engage the attention of those having
authority, and preparations should be
now making to prevent a repetition of
the overf1ows and foundations of the
past year.
Last spring, there was considerable
/ TOLL of oil n rov,ol, 81 ha WI
drain off the water from the bottoms.
which was to be started somewhere in
/ ex-Mayor Little's field, continuing down
| through BoCkholt's and others, and
bringing it down through the 'big
slough" on the west side of the river.
] This would necessitate the purchase of
( right of way through all of the property
named, the cost of which has been
estimated at about $4,000 altogether.
This added to the outlay for making the
proposed cut would swell the total to
good round figure, and a more economi-
cal plan, suggested in an interview with
a resident OF Brighton yesterday seemed
so plausible that we present it herewith
\ HERALD reporter happened across
Mr.. A. G. AdamsOn yesterday afternoon,
and the matter was talked about, sug-
! gested by the snow now covering the
city, and the contemplation of its melt
ing and the water therefrom running
4 south. The gentleman IS one of the
1 directors OF the Brighton and NorthPoint
Irrigation Company, and has given the
] subjects OF water, drainage and canal
making considerable attention.
What do you think, Mr.. Adamson,
OF the prospect for the people in the
low lands, when this snow melts?"
asked the reDOrter
" Well, sir; the outlook IS as bad for
the coming summer IS 1t was last, If
not worse, ~ lie replied.
Don't you think the proposition
to make q branch OF the Jordan through
Little's field, Bockholt's and the big
/ slough WILDE good scheme2n
/ Yes; butt think / can see a project
I which VIII be more feasible, more bene-
fetal and cost less
Hal what's that?"
The people OF Brighton and the di-
rectors Of the Brighton and North Point
4 irrigation Company would be in favor
OF the county using their canal TO drain
of the water. They would willingly
grant them the right OF wav through
( the canal, which could be Widened and
deepened sufficiently to carry off all the
surplus water, and the surveyor could
readily determine how much charging
( would be necessary"
Where does your canal start from?'
From way up by Gardners
"Wen, wouldn't that furnish more
water in your canal to irrigate
/ with?"
Why, certainly. It would allow OF
more land being put under cultivation
and enchance the value of property on
the other side OF Jordan very materi-
/ ally"
@And how do you propose the work
OF charging your canal should be
'Oh, that's were the economy comes
in. You see, the people would turn out
and perform the labor on their taxes,
thus returning the cost of it to the
county; the enlarged value of the pro
perty secured would increase the taxes
and the county would be correspond
ingly benefited and enriched"
/ by George! that would be a good
scheme"
yes, and the county should be urged
to investigate this matter and he
induced to put its money where it would
do the most good -
! The reporter thought so too, and
animated as much to Mr.. Adamson,
who is sanguine of the success Of his
scheme if he can but get the county
officials to see the point.