Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-07-15
a SERIOUS SITUATION.

Salt Lake City Is confronted with a
very serious condition OF affairs In
consequence Of the hostility which has
been raised against almost every prae-
teal measure for increasing and secur-
ing our water supply, there Is a short
age which will affect us very mater
tally unless something is done at once
TO prevent the threatened trouble. The
people Of Farmers Ward have a vested
right in certain flow Of water from
Parley's Canyon Creek. This they ex-
changed for an equivalent flow from
the Jordan and Salt Lake city canal
This arrangement was Of mutual ben
EFT to the people OF this city and those
OF Farmers Ward, but recently the lat
ter have not received their proper
quota, and consequently they demand
either their supply from the canal OF
from Parleys Canyon creek.
The delays that have been made in
the erection Of the pumping plant,
through which an ample supply could
have been obtained, have been one
cause OF the threatened trouble. For
some, at present, unexplained reason
there has been determined hostility
against the securing OF the citys wa
ter supply from Utah lake. 1t is be-
lieved that there is another scheme on
foot which, II carried out, will cost
the city an immense amount Of money,
requiring further bonds and plunglng
the municipality into still greater debt.
OF this, however, more may be said la
ter on. Just now the city has to meet
the difficulty herein explained.
1t may be necessary for the citizens
10 take definite action, in order to re-
move obstacles which are being con-
tinually raised. against obtaining
proper supply Of water from Utah Lake
through the Jordan channel. one
source of relief would be the settle
ment OF the purchase Of the mattress
factory's water rights. The Council
has acted upon this. but the City At
torney and the Mayor appear to be de-
termined to obstruct the consumma-
tion OF the deal. They interpose the oh.
lection that there viii be probable lit
igation II this purchase is effected. In
the transaction, however, provision has
been made for such a contingency SO
that the city would suffer no loss.
The injunction which those officials
seem to think probable Is only mere |
possibility, and that ought not to stand |
In the way Of the great benefit which |
would accure to the city from that
source of supply. IL the sale is closed |
at once, that water right will cost the
city but $500. Should It be stu fur
Their delayed, the probability Is that
the cost will be doubled at least, and
meanwhile crops are suffering and the
city Is in danger Of serious trouble
with the farmers, whom It cannot fur
nish with the proper supply.
Why should this folly be permitted
to continue? There must be some po-
tent but hidden reason for 1t, and this
will certainly be brought to the surface
and thoroughly exposed. The water
that could be obtained from the mat
tress company's right, and from the
pumping plant project II fully carried
out. would relieve the city from ell
present distress on that account, and
enable It TO supply the farmers who
depend upon this municipality for the
carrying out of It's contract. The water
must be had; some steps viii have to
be taken to secure It without further
ielay,