The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-08-31
MYSTERIOUS LEAK
IN THE CITY CANAL
But Mr.. COndie Had to Be
Showed"
INSPECTION OF CANAL
MILLIONS OF GALLONS GOING
TO WASTE.

The startling discovery was made
yesterday afternoon by m1Abers Of the
city council and Engineer Kelsey that
there is a daily loss of several million
gallons Of irrigating water from the
canal conduit somewhere between
Fourth East street above First South
and the outlet OF the canal on North
Temple at the intersection of Main
street.
At the place where the canal fiume
crosses Fourth East street there is an
opening which late yesterday after
noon showed a volume of water seven
feet wide and six inches deep, flowing
at a rate that is estimated to be not
less than 5000, 900 gallons daily. Be
tween there and the outlet, a distance
Of about half a mile. and with only
stream that would scarcely I'LL a two
inch pipe, coming from the canal at
the State street crossing, the loss from
seepage or some mysterious cause yet
unknown is almost total At the out
let the flow would not I'LL an inch pipe,
where il should be in volume sufficient
to fill a f1ume three feet wide and
foot deep, ample to supply the irriga-
ton needs of the entire west half Of
the city.
Inspection of Canal.
This surprising revelation came at
the end of an inspection tour of the
canal from Twelfth South street in, the
city engineer and representatives Of
the press accompanying Councilmen
FernstrOm and Reid on their invitation.
For the past two days Watermaster
COndie has been declaring that no ade-
Quate amount of water was coming into
the canal from Ninth South street, and
with all of the headgates closed down
it is impossible to get any water at the
outlet. At the same time the water
master sOlemnly assured city officials
and complaining citizens that the canal
is in good repair and showed no leaks.
From the city limits the diverting
gates were found 10 be IN the most de-
p!orable condition. Even where they
are closed down, the flow from under
the gates is abnOTmally large There
are fifteen Of these from Shoots gar
dens 90 Ninth South street, and scarce
" one of them but sends out a flow
underneath. giving to that section Of
the city far more water than it is en-
titled TO- Especially is this true at the
intersections Of Eleventh East and
Tenth South streets. and at Eleventh
East and Wilson avenue. None Of these
conditions have ever been reported TO
the council BY Watermaster COndie.
But even with such evidences Of neg
lect there is large flow at the Ninth
South crossing. Here the stream is
ten feet wide and foot deep. flowing
at a fair current and amounting 70
upwards of $780, 900 gallons daily The
exact amount viii be determined today
by a current meter
From Ninth South street to the cen
trail part of the city the inspection
showed that there is not an appreci-
able loss from diversions or otherwise.
Down to Fourth East street, where the
fiume is uncovered for the last place.
the flow is at a stronger velocity, al
though narrower and at less depth.
It is expected that WsteTmsster
Condie win be required to explain Of
ficially why the canal is not permitted
to do its duty where relief might be
given TO the complaining people Of the
west side Of town.