Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-04-18
THE WATER QUESTION.

live north OF the water bitches IN the
Eighteenth, Twentieth and Twenty-frst
wards of our city is well founded, and
when the city made so much ado about
water some years ago, and gave such fair
promises that all would have ample water
to use for irrigating purposes, the citizens
congratulated themselves and most will
ingly submitted to the proposed tax for
constructing a canal 10 bring water from
the Jordan to the city. The city did
construct canal as they had promised.
But they did more; they purchased an old
canal from the church, and to economic
time, money, work and water, the canal
which was newly constructed kindly
dropped some forty-four feet to meet the
church canal. Was it not exceeding kind
for the new canal to come to the line of
the old one and acknowledge
that its aim was too high? The new canal
had been so bold as to say care not the
waters of Damascus as good as those of
ALBANIA and Pharpar?" and in reply the
new canal was told that that was not
question for it to discuss, but to come to
the old canal and it came
1t is an open secret, it is vastly more,
it is a notorious outrage, that the
City Council was compelled to buy the
old church canal, and compelled by the
church, too. Is this doubted or denied?
Ii SO, we can give the name of gentle
man who was a member of the City
Council at the time, who said at that
time: owe had better give the church
SO much, and carry our canal higher"
The amount was given, but the canal was
not carried higher, and to-day the lower
wards of the city are in state of semi
quagmire when the canal is filled with
water. After it was decided to have the
canal where it now is, the contract for
huming the portions running through the
city was let to a firm that had
two of its members in the Council. And
this contract was let to them not after an
open competition to see who would give
the lowest bid, but without any bidding
at all. But these are things of minor
Importance and only 60 to show that our
public Ser0dnts are our masters, and that
citizens are created for the sole purpose
of being taxed and plundered. The cry
of the American revolution was that tax
alton without representation is tyranny
but in Utah this has been changed, and
the cry of our guardians is that
representation without taxation is
tyranny. Let it not be thought |
that we think that taxes are high in
Utah, but we would be understood to say
that the amount of public improvement
in proportion to the amount of taxation
is very small.
Again we are confronted with the
water question; and the citizens of the
wards above mentioned are deeply in
terested in it, interested as thing of every
day use, without which they cannot live,
and they now ask the city to construct a
reservoir in what is known as Little
Valley. 1t is to be hoped that the city
will give the matter favorable considera-
ton. Competent engineers state
that the project is perfectly feasible
and the cost is comparatively
light, while the benefit that it would be
TO the citizens on the benches is almost
and in few years should
80 enhance the value of property in that
section as to soon indemnify the city for
he actual outlay. 1t is safe to say that
he very day on which water flows on to
he dry benches from a reservoir in Little .
Valley, property there will double in
yalue
The proposition to construct reservoir
s receiving more favor each day and will
10 doubt be done; and this being the
ase, would it not be better to make !
as large as Little Valley will :
dmit, although the cost will doubt :,
ess be double the present estimate? =
'erhaps it might be more, but when we :,
emember that number of the residents :.
the dry benches stated that they were !,
bliged to pay fifty cents a barrel for !
-ater, it will be seen that a tax, which
hight otherwise seem large, to construct D
thing of permanent use and benefit, is A
othing when compared to the amount :
ctually paid out for the water which is
DIV used each day. If this reservoir -
lall be cons tructed, let it be upon the !,
ost approved methods, and without anv :,
ference to any political or church party. ef e
is thing which would be a benefit to y,
'me thousands of people, and people -
no have no religious or political differ 9.
ices so far as the want of water is con- -
,rned.
If the City Council refuse to act in the =,
after, it should be made an issue at the a,
'xt city election, that we may know -
neither as taxpayers and voters we have A.
" right to say what is needed and :,
neither we will pay for it. 1t is a most a;
.cellent issue on which to make pol
cal fight in this city, as it contains no -
ement in which any religious or sor
ti-religions feelings can find place, oft
d people would assert their -,
5hts as taxpayers and nothing else. If o.
e City Council do not act in accordance g.,
tn the wishes of some thousands of
ople in this city who want the reser- 20,
if constructed, and construct it, there an
one party which will make it an issue g.
d go into the field asking for votes from mn =
'se who favor a supply of water and tbe
drinn Il snlf fhnf &c thn ,,art,. 10 ,,,,.. -