Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-05-06
coon wORW-AND BAD.


We DO not know whom to applaud
for the effective steps taken to control
the waters of City Creek during the
food season that is surely approaching;
but whoever the man IL he deserves
praise for his foresight and thanks Tor
the thorougbness Of his preparations
Old residents doubtless remember
when the sireAn, swollen far beyond
its ordinary size by rapidly melting
SHOWS and heavy warm rains, Hooded
East Temple street and put buildings
on some of the most valuable blocks
and apparently the safest Of the city,
in desperate peril; this not 80 much by
reason Of the tremendous flow Of water
as by the washing down Of boulders
and brush which choked up The
regular channel leading directly and
with admirable fall to the river. A
recurrence Of this evil has now been
guarded against. Not only nre there
various dams and gates Ia the canyon
itself, with attendants at each who are
supposed to DO always on The alert, but
capacious catch basin, In the form
OF a wide, deep pond, has been con-
structed at the canyons mouth, and
beyond this such obstructions as are
above spoken OF can scarcely come. In
view Of the narrowntss Of the channel
on North Temple sireet-its complete
closing In, In fact, for part Of the
distaucc--some such measure OF pre-.
caution was necessary. We rejoice TO
be able TO atate that 1t has not been
neglected.
Past and present operations along
tho Tenth South street canal, ita later
nls and the lands adjacent, constitute
quite another story. We shall no, dis
pute that men and teams Ia plenty
whole armies In fact--have been ems
ployed In carrying out the ideas OF
those who have the work Of protection
and defonae In charge. But we ques-
tion most cmphstically the soundness
OF those ideas. For instance: What
possible good does the mere raising Of
the street accomplish? Yesterday and
today force OF men me- engaged In
the amusing aud altogether harmless
business Of filling up Tenth South
street between Third and Filth East.
To say nothing OF the folly OF dump
Ing dry mud ai n point where
there Is already too much OF tho wet
variety-thus making bad matter
worse--the object Seems to be TO make
the water channel, which Is already
too narrow, still narrower. Evidently
there 10 no thought Of or care for the
property along the outer side Of the
contracted canal; II tho beautiful
streets can only be- built up high and
dry, or even high without being dry,
the trick Is done, the problem solved,
the danger averteJ, full security
restored. In other words, there seems
to be feeling that the only fear
OF the NEws and OF Others who
have expressed themselves on
the question Is that tho street
might perchancs DO submerged.
We suggest that person who eau be
10 culpably shorisightot ns this
who can sec no furthcr,ln other words,
than the track along which his horse
trots and his buggy rolls-is hardly one
TO be- entrusted with the care OF pso-
ple's property in an official capacity.
He Is too costly hand TO retain unde
any circumstances; for no not only
spends time and money at places
where there can DO no basis for suits
for damages, but no also. by this very
course, increases the danger TO those
places were suits may appropriately
lie.
Isthere no one in' the clty's employ
who has the authority and the courage
TO order the closed canals 10 be re.
opeheuT Thntis the remedy, ana tue
only one that can be made effective
this season. IL real estate speculaIcs
without permission have filled up ia,
channels that have been found useful
In the past, let them be compelled tc
restore them at once. If they have
done 1t with permission, let the city dc
the work Of re-excavation itself. ThiI
would be u confession OF error, II II
true; but we have reached poln
where nothing could DO better for ths
municipal soul than such confession
Tho blunder has been made; every
body knows II; why make ourselves
ridiculous by attempting to conceal ~