The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-01-30
HIS WATER ARGUMENT.

The argument of the mayor to explain
and defend the expenditure of just Sl77,-
$685. on the water works department and
S63, 1915 in the irrigation department,
without perceptibly increasing the actual
supply of water, is very lame one
or tie whole amount expended in this
department Sl06, 1867, or 60 per cent. of
the whole, was for additional water pipes
throughout the city. The remainder was
expended in MIGRANTS, fixtures, etc, and
in taking better care of the water of City
creek and Emigration canon.
There has been no real addition to the
supply of water for this city, the mayor to
the contrary Notwithstanding.
We suggest to any one familiar with the
stream that always has flowed into the south,
west corner of Liberty park and thence into
the old mill pond to visit that stream and
state whether it's flow is much greater
now than it was many years ago,
or any greater now than a year
ago. 1t is mere deception to SPEAK
OF that little stream from the spring
lot as so much added to the available waite,
supply. That stream has always been there
and its full capacity was developed, as fan
as the eye can judge, with the first two OF
three wells sunk there. AS each recent
well has been sunk one of the former wells
has almost dried out Moreover, this
water. if ever used, must be pumped and
put into pipes, the plant to cost S142. COO
and the working expenses $50 per day.
The talk about the Emigration stream
being an addition to the water supply is
likewise sheer deception for those unac.
quainted with the status of affairs in re
gard to that stream. For thirty years
every drop of water in that stream has
been used, and the trouble every summe,
has been that there was not enough of it
Had a reservoir been built on the east
bench, capable of holding several hundred
million gallons, so as to save the early
spring water, then it could fairly be saic
that the supply of water from that source
had been increased.
As to the hypothetical increase due tc
the tunnel exploration of the mountain
with view to finding the lost water. the
missing stream may or may not be founc
by this blind tunneling for it.
The construction of the Emigration pipe
line, however, was very good step in the
right direction.
The right to most of the water
of Parley's canon was purchased b,
the former council, and no increase has
been made by the present city government
to the supply of that stream, which ran
dry two years ago, so that we may know
what to expect of that stream in case OF
another extreme scarcity.
1t is therefore plain that so far as the
water supply is concerned we are com.
pletely at the mercy of the elements. Il
there shall be heavy fall of snow, we NAV
have water, otherwise we may not. AND
it is particularly exasperating to read tina,
of the S177, 1895 expended in the water
works department, scarcely any was de
voted to securing more water, and then Il
be assured by the mayor that plenty o.
water can be obtained by the expenditur,
of $4,000; that it is only ga question O.
money and how much the city is willing II
pay for lt.'
Great SCOTT! After s241, 745. 81 has beer
spentin the waterworks and irrigation de
partments in enc year, to tell the peopl,
they can havea water supply if they ar,
willing to pay for it!
An abundant water supply was and is tn,
most urgent need Of this city, and was tn,