The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-07-27
NOT A PARTY MATTER.

One of the silly things of the day is the
proposition TO make the water question
figure in the next municipal election. We
hear members of either party talking
wildly, and saying that they will not vote
for any candidate for q municipal Office
who is not pronounced and earnest in his
determination to obtain water for the city
and to sec that the fluid is eQuitably di-
vided.
We would like to ask these GROWERS
when any man has been sent to the city
council who was opposed to an abundant
supply of water for the city? Also, is
there member Of the present city govern
ment who would stand in the way of
trebling the water supply, if such thing
were possible? If there is one such man,
let US know his name that we may warn
the voters against ever again placing him
in position of trust. If there is member
of the council who would oppose an equit-
able distribution of the present water
supply, please name him that he may be
branded as an enemy to right and Justice
and the human race.
The fact is good many people are I'M
reasonable and unreasoning in this matter.
They thOughtlessly blame the council for
the failure of nature to be as lavish as is
desirable, making the aldermen response
BILE for the absence of SHOWS last winter
and charging the watermaster with the
burning up of their trees and gardens
when the official has no more control over
the elements than has the most insignifi-
cant creature on earth. Nor can the water
be made party question, Liberals and
the People being equally pOwerless to pro
duce rain in summer and snow in winter,
and neither having any influence over the
rays of the sun. 1t would be just as reason
able to bring the temperature into politics,
or make the rising and setting of the moon
party question.
The HERALD believes the present council
has done and is doing its utmost for the re
lief of the community in this matter. The
body is made up of wise, progressive gen
tlemen, every one of whom can be counted
upon at all times TO do his full share indi-
vidually in every movement which has for
its object the benefit of the city. 1t is pos
sible the council has made some mistakes
IL hOulu Dc "a IGlIldThdDlC DOuy II IL ucNCE
erred. But if mistakes have been commit
ted they have been those of the Judgment
at the time, and not willful ones, and we
defy anybody to point to an act which has
lessened the supply of water. Paying for
water never delivered does not decrease
{ lie quantity already possessed.
The whole trouble lies in the fact that
there have occurred three or four dry sea
sons, for which man is not chargeable. and
the remedy for which does not lie in his
power at this moment. We believe that in
time the municipality will be in position
to encounter without apprehension or dread
a protracted period Of drouth; that is to
say, by systems of storage and the utiliza-
ton of all the water hereabouts, will be
independent, however light the
winter SHOWS and rains of summer But
there is no sense in swearing about the
situation this season, for it is beyond the
power of the council and the citizens COM
bined to bring the relief demanded. Nature
alone can do it, and she doesn't seem dis
posed TO exert herself.