The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-08-31

last evening, and all were referred,
without discussion, to a special COM
mittee composed Of Councilmen Howe,
Callister, Margetts, Diehl and Weller,
the superintendent of waterworks, the
city engineer and the superintendent of
irrigation, TO report at as early date
as possible.
The first communication read was
from his honor, the mayor, as follows:
FROM THE MAYOR.
sufficient supply of water for domes-
tic uses. for the distinguishing of fires and
for street sprinkling is absolutely essen
tial to the health aud protection of every
city. and for a city situated, built and
inhabited as Salt Lake is there is of ne
ceSsity, an extraordinary and an unusual
requirement for water for sprinknnS
lawns and the irrigation of trees and
gardens. The health and comfort of the
people are of paramount Importance, and
,hese are dependent largely upon the
convenience, the purity and the sutficien
cy OF the water supply. But there are
other important considerations to be
taken into account in dealing with this
problem. The growth and expansion of
the city, as well its industrial pros
perity, are matters which we should ever
have in mind. the thought for the future
never beng separated trom the care for
the present.
The present season indicates the neces-
sity for the procurement of an increased
water supply for Salt Lake City While
there may have been seasons when the
water sources under the control of the
corporation have dwindled or failed as
lhey have Done this n miner. the in
creased population since Il previous short
age has occurred. has greatly augmented
the consumption and demand, necessarily
reducing the per capita supply and cauS
ing great annoyance and Inconvenience.
1t must be recognized by all that an
Increased water supply Is necessary Tor
the growth and prosperity of Salt Lake
CITY. and alfn0uGh we nav not aDprP
bend the immediate ensuing of another
such year of scarcity, Sucn a season -
not improbable IN my opinion, the dan
ger Is sufficient TO demand that we take
such precautions as may be within our
reach. consistent with the limited means
at our disposal to guard against a fu-
tUre water famine.
Members of former city councils have
had under consideration the propriety
Of this corporation obtaining portion of
he Big Cottonwood stream. but, so far
as | am aware. no official action was ever
taken in the premises.
AS you are aware, some years ago
there was an arrangement made with
certain farmers. owning water rights in
Parley's Canyon creek. by giving them
water from the Jordan * Salt Lake ca
nal in exchange for their share of the
waters Of said creek. The results of the
exchange have been so satisfactory to the
farmers as to lead to the belief that
similar arrangement may be made with
parties owning rights in the Big Cotton
wood stream. Conversations with certain
of these owners encourage me to believe
that satisfactory exchanges can be made
and that the present is a good time to
commence negotiations to that end.
am of the opinion that if satisfactory
arrangements can be made along the line
herein suggested the city may. without
great cost, increase its water supply by
a volume equal to the average flow of
City creek, our present chief source of
supply.
In view Of the outlook ar the favorable
result of carefully conducted negotia-
tons, and realizing as we all do. the ne
ceSSity for early and successful efforts
TO secure an increased and adequate sup
A1y. l recommend that the matter of en-
ae2voring TO effect the exchange herein
suggested be referred TO a committee for
Investigation and report to your honor
able body. In this connection | would
suggest the propriety of associating the
city engineer. the superintendent of
the committee for the consideration of
this subject
FROM THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE.
The next water communication was
from Eouncilmen Weller, Howe, Mar
getts and the superintendent of irriga-
ton. to whom the matter of increasing
the city's water supply had been re-
ser-e9- It was as follows:
We, the undersigned, beg submit to
your honorable body the results of ouc
Investigations looking to the securing of
an adequate water supply for Salt Lake
City.
We attach hereto copy of motion
passed by the directors of the Big Ditch
irrigation company, expressing willing
ness to exchange a little more than one
third of the entire flow of the Big Cotton
wood creek. for certain proportion of
Salt Lake & Jordan canal water.
We also attach copy of agreement
signed by the owners of one-half of the
water in the Mill creek stream, agreeing
to exchange the same for certain pro-
portion o: Salt Lake & Jordan canal
water.
We respectfully suggest that the mat
ter be referred to a committee of this
Council for further investigation. TO re-
port al the earliest possible moSSent.
The documents referred to above are
as follows:
WILLING TO EXCHANGE.
Minutes Of meeting of the directors of
the Big Ditch Irrigation company held
Aug. o. 1898:
Mr. George Taylor moved that we. the
directors present, call a meeting and
present to the stockholders our approval
Of trading our water right in Big Cotton
wood creek consisting of q $40 sixtieths
of the entire Big Cottonwood creek, for %
shares of Jordan water. each share equal
10 one siXtieth of the entire stream in Big
Cottonwood creek at the time of division |
Of water
Carried unanimously.
= NH Creek. Aug. = 1898.
This Is 10 certify that we, the under |
signed owners GA in number) of the one |
half of the Mill creek stream in Salt Lake |
county. Utah. are willing to make an |
agreement with the corporation of Salt |
Lake City, Utah, tO-wit: That for the con- |
sideration OF certain amount OF Jordan |
river water. or other water now owned |
and controlled by said corporation we will J
give three-fourJhs Cd of that amount of |
Mill creek water provided, that If the |
city fails to supply us with said water |
we shall then be entitled to our former |
Dr. present rights of said Mil creek water. |
provided further that all expenses by |
transferring said water and oil further |
expenses and repairs upon canals, etc, |
20 convey said water into our own bitches, |
shall be paid by the city corporation
THE CITY ENGINEERS SUCCESS
TON.
City Engineer Kelsey presented the |
third and last water communication TO |
the council 1t suggested and recon- !
nended that an officer be appointed to |
attend TO the city's interest in regard |
to the water OF the various streams |
from which the city derives its supply. |
MIR. Kelsey POINTED out that there was |
a great waste of water which. with |
proper precautions, might be avoided 1
and the supply increased very mater
ally Some of the farmers located on /
The various streams take a great deal
more than they are entitled to. on |
Friday last it was discovered that there |
was a decrease of million gallons per
day in the conduit from Parley's can
Won which reaches the city. The city. |
Mr.. Kelsey said. had failed to carry
put its agreement to protect the pri-
mary rights OF those located on Par
ey's creek below the head of the con-
iuit. and had also neglected to protect |
timber growing on city land. These
are matters which il would pay to look |
after. and an officer for that purpose