Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-08-27
INCREASE WATER
IN UTAH LAKE.
Surplus Water In Weber River to
be Diverted
WILL construct A CANAL.
Big Project ON Foot by Irrigators Of
Salt Lake Valley 10 Raise water
level OF Lake.

A very important meeting was held
in West Jordan yesterday, between the
officers and some Of the stockholders
Of the four canal companies and Land
and Water Commissioner Westerheld.
The meeting was held with view TO
devlslng means for increasing the wa
ter supply from Utah lake, and several
important actions were taken TO that
end, There were about one hundred
persons present at the meeting, which
lasted nearly all day. Willard y. En-
mis- acted az president and John Han
sen Jr.. was made the secretary.
Thomas z, Page made a report In be-
half OF the committee appointed some
time ago, consisting Of n. g. Beckstead
and N. A. Nelson, 10 investigate the
probability Of diyerting the surplus
water OF the Weber and Duchesne rly-
ers into the Provo river, and thus run
ming II into Utah lake.
Mr.. Page said the committee discov-
cred considerable water going to waste,
especially during the spring and winter
months, which might Just as well be
stored In Utah lake for use In the dry
season. The farmers owning water
rights In the Weber river led the COM
mittee to believe there would be no
serious objections against taking the
surplus water Of the Weber. and the
committee acting for the four Jordan
Valley Canal companies, and Salt Lake
city, filed In summit country. notices
Of appropriation Of those waters. which
would amount TO from 200 to 40 cubic
feet per second, or from i29. 800 900 gal
Ions TO 2s0,700O00 gallons nsr day for
about six months Of each year. In or
der TO get that water into the Provo
river II was necessary 10 cut canal
over Kamas bench for a distance of
eight or ten miles, according To the
route selected. Such q canal cut twenty
feet wide and four feet deep would IA
the estimation Of Mr.. Page, cost about
$4,000, and a fan Of from four 10 Ave
feet IN the mile could be obtained. The
committee endorsed the plan and rec
commended its adoption
CANAL TO BE BUILT.
The report OF the committee was
adopted by Unanimous vote and the
board Of canal presidents was instruct.
ca 70 begin work on the canal before
september 9Th, and 10 do sufficient work
TO hold the appropriation until the
plans for the completion Of the project
could be made Salt Lake city by
virtue OF beng owner OF the Jordan and
SAT- Lake canal was given the option
Of Joining with the other canal compan-
les In the work.
Land and Water Commissioner Yves.
terrified was personally in favor of Inc
scheme but said he had no AUTHORITY,
TO speak for the city. He said. however
ne would report to the Mayor and CITY
Council, whom he thought would he
willing that the city should assist in the
construction OF the canal.
In regard 20 the Duchesne river. Mr.
PAGE stated that the committee had
not made q full investigation and was
NOT prepared TO report. The COMMITTEES
was directed 70 continue IFS investlra-
lions OF the Duchesne. and 10 file an.
preparation on surplus water ana report
to q melting as soon as possible.
AFTER WATER JUMPERS.
IL was reported In the meeting that
q number Of new settlers along the
Provo river were dlyerting the water
lnlawfully and reducing the volume
Rowing into Utah lake After some ais
'ussion the board Of canal presidents
was instructed 20 begin Injunction pro.
,eedines without delay against an par
Ties taking water from the river who
are not clearly entitled 20 II.
PUMPING APPARATUS
The board was also Instructed 10 In
stall an electric pumping apparatus I'm
he Utah lake In order to pump water
INTO the Jordan river when the lake
falls so low that the river can draw
but little water from It. The pump
viii be put IN as soon as possible al
cost of about $4,000.
TO RAISE WATER LEVEL.
The last subject handled by the meet 4.
Ing was the problem OF increasing the
capacity Of the lake In order TO make
II hold the additional water which Il
is proposed TO pour into e. II was
generally thought the lake level should
be raised eighteen inches above COM
promise point or about thirty Ave
inches above Its present level. O. p.
Miller thought the object could be ac-
complished by dredging while others
recommended dyklng around the low
shores as the best means. There was
another suggestion that II would be
cheaper TO buy the land on the very
low shores and let the lake spread
over II. A committee was therefore
appointed composed Of o. p. Miller. W.
II. Ennis and Jesse W. Fox. Jr.. TO look
into the matter and report as to the
preferable way, dreglng, dykIng or buy
ing the low lands.