The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-03-27

The deep SHOWS in the surrounding
hills this year give promise or
abundant water for every purpose dur
ing the coming spring and summer. l
say coming" because it can hardly
be said that spring has yet arrived
The rays of Old Sol have scarcely been
felt this year. Yet are all the streams
leading into the Jordan, whose murky
waters finally find their way into the
Great Salt Lake, already swollen TO
point which suggests impending danger
in case of a sudden change of temper
ature, which may occur at any day
or at any hour
There has been a limited amount of
criticism. over the action of the irriga-
ton committee of the city council IN
widening the North Temple street
aqueduct for several of blocks, re-
pairing the stone portion of the same
aqueduct and otherwise spending the
money of the taxpayers.
AN INVESTIGATION.
With a view of seeing for myself,
spent a couple of hours yesterday, the
investigation extending from the
catch basin in the canyon-which is as
yet incomplete-to the Eleventh West
street canal, which will carry OF the
surplus water which will come n tor
rents from City Creek canyon during
the next few weeks.
THE CATCH-BASIN,'
as Watermaster Wilcken terms it, is
located about three-quarters OF a mile
from the Eagle Gate, Immediately
east of the gravel pits in the broad
mouth of the canyon. At this point
where the channel of the creek is very
wide, it is proposed to capture the
greater part of the gravel, rocks, sticks
and probably trees, that will, of ne
cessity, come down the creek. Horses
and scrapers will be used here day and
night, an arc light being put in so that
the night men may be able TO work
TO good advantage, and as Councilman
Morris put it, earn their money.
Carload upon carload of debris that
would otherwise find its way further
care of at this point, and much danger
averted.
ANOTHER DEFENSE.
At the bridge which crosses the
creek at the end of Third street, and
where the channel narrows consider
ably, a catch made of railroad iron
will be put in, and at a point where a
Waterman on the bridge will be en-
abled to easily remove nearly all OBJ
structions that may pass from the
catch basin further up the canyon.
Special attention will be paid TO the
of this feature of the work.
At this point, the creek, during high
water, has always ragged with great
violence, the several turns that are
necessary causing the water to go up
against both banks with disastrous re-
suits. In order to avoid, as far as pos
sible, a recurrence of events of late
years, this portion of the creek has
been riprapped with cObble stones to
the height of several feet and the bed
nicely cleaned out.
THE ORIFICE.
Just before the water enters the
covered aqueduct, the mouth of which
is generally conceded to be too small, /
another CATCH similar to the one
mentioned above, will be put in, and
here, also, Watermaster Wilcken and |
Councillor Morris are in favor of put
ting in an electric light, so that the !
man or men whom it will be necessary !
to station there can work to good adj |
vantage. 1t is believed that one man |
can take care of both catches, as they |
are within easv access of each other. |
but of course that depends largely |
upon contingencies.
The covered aqueduct extends but a
little over a block and is cemented |
and while smaller than it |
should be, City Engineer Kelsey is of |
the opinion that it will carry all the |
water that may reach its mouth if it |
is entirely unobstructed, as it is pro- |
posed it shall be.
AT THE GATE HOUSE.
At the gate house, on the corner of |
Main and North Temple streets, where |
he water comes out with great force,
many repairs have been found to be I
Decessary, as the old cobbleStoneS have |
become loosened, and would easily have
been carried away by the sudden rush
1r constant wear of the waters,
which will soon occur. In fact. from
that point all down the aaueduct to
where the wooden fiume begins, there
are manv places where repairs are
absolutely necessary, and must be
lone at once or not at all. These will
De attended to.
RAILROAD BRIDGES.
The railway bridges between Third
md Fourth West are serious eobstruc-
ions, and would easily be taken out
n case of a flood. The Oregon Short
Line, however, proposes to avoid all
LANCER by at once deepening and ce-
nenting the aqueduct running the en-
ire length Of its property-an act that
S greatly appreciated by those having
he control of the water in their charge.
WIDENING THE FLUME.
The widening of the wooden fiume
or several blocks was also a good
move, aud the wisdom of it will be
cen later on, although, as a matter of
act, it should have been continued
everal blocks further.
ELEVENTH WEST CANAL.
Along the Eleventh West canal, run
ing north from North Temple, and
nto which must flow the surplus from
,ity creek, men are also at work,
leaning out the refuse which has
altered during the winter months
From the White bridge to Fishers
rewery, south, a levee of several feet
n height is being constructed, and it is
eing built, mainly, from garbage COL
scted by the sanitary department and
7hich would have to be burned under
Their conditions. Manure, straw.
ranches of trees, etc, have been piled
pom the east bank. and over all this
ill placed a heavy coating of sand
nd gravel, thus making, Councilman
Iorris believes. one of the best cheap
wees that can be devised. The work
ill soon be completed, but none too
BON.
SOUTHERN CANALS.
1.-THE Eighth South and Tenth South
inalS' said WatermaSter Wilcken