The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-04-04
WATER AND THE CAPITOL GROUNDS.

The HERALD regrets that the city coun-
Gil voted money to the Capitol Hill re
servoir scheme. We regret it, because if
the reservoir shall prove failure, as not
few intelligent men believe it will, the cash
will be wasted, and we regret it because if
the reservoir shall be a success, the citizens
must suffer further restriction in the use
of water 1t is said that it is the intention
to take only surplus water. We all
know too well what that means. During
the season when water will be needed on
the hill there will be no surplus water, The
intention is to fill the reservoir during the
winter, or in the spring, when water runs
to waste, and draw from the stored supply
in the summer. There is not an intelligent
person here who has a reasonably fair
knowledge of irrigation in this arid region
who believes the city and territory will
undertake to or can retain enough water on
the hill named TO irrigate an insignificant
truck Patch through the summer months.
To make pond that will be of practical
value involves more of an expenditure
than Salt Lake City and Utah
territory combined would be warranted in
making for the purpose. This is an honest
opinion. The reservoir will be a toy.
thing to look at and into which to sink
money, or it will be bigger thing than the
public will want to carry for the mere show
that is intended.
But what the project really means and
what it will result in, is the diversion of
portion Of City creek to the Capitol grounds
and the consequent deprivation of the right
full owners of just that amount of water
Surplus only is asked for, but when the
grounds shall be laid out in walks and
planted with valuable trees and costly
shrubs, it will be an easy matter to find an
excuse for taking any water which may be
in sight to keep the trees and grass and
shrubs alive. Public institutions are, as a
rule, looked after, however much it in
fringes individual rights to do so. THE
HERALD predicts that Just so sure as that
reservoir shall be constructed and City
creek shall be tapped, just so GER
tain will the Capitol grounds be
kept well irrigated at the expense
of the rightful owners of the stream,
the present promises of the commission and
the city council to the contrary notwith-
standing.
y
looked upon this whole Capital Hill bust
ness as largely of the humbug order. 1t
was one of Governor VESTS pet schemes
for spending the public money. His excel
lency had a mania for squandering the
peoples money and plunging the territory
into debt, and unfortunately there were too
many members in the late legislature who
lacked the courage, the backbone or the
intelligence to defeat the projects that
were devised for the unwise and reckless
expenditure Of the peoples cash. 1t was
proper enough for the city to give the site
for state capitol, and the site donated was
probably the most eligible: but having done |
this much the matter should have rested |
until there was 4 pressing demand for a
capitol and the territory or state was able |
to erect one. But SO, 600 was appropriated |
as beginning, and when the money has !
been spent. about all there will be to show |
for it will be a fence which everybody I.
will ask to be removed when |
the buildings shall be erected and
the grounds improved. AS to the capitol
building, that is a matter of the dim, dis
tant future. If the cornerstone shall be
laid ten years from now good many men
uGE6dDOuJS VIII Dc ulSd JDOluttu- anu all Tue
intelligent ones will say that there has
been unwise haste. AT present the territory
has about as much use for capitol as an
eagle has for three wings. 1t will not be
claimed by any taxpayer at least, that the
public finances are in such a condition as to
warrant the commencement even of a pub
lie building to be occupied sixty days every
two years.
THE HERALD thinks that instead of find
ing new places to put the limited supply of
water, the council should at once establish
a water line, and let it be understood that
above that line no effort would be made to
carry the water until an extra supply has
been obtained That line should fall below
the capitol grounds, which are no more en-
titled to water than are the benches and
hills in the vicinity and on the east side of
City Greek canon.