The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-01-25
MERGER PLANS
NOT ALL DEAD
Three of the Canal Companies
May Decide to Consolidate.
PLAN DISCUSSED YESTERDAY
EFFORTS TO INTEREST GOVERN
MENT IN PROPOSITION.

A consolidation OF local water
companies is still possible. The pros
poets are by no means unfavorable,
and the question was discussed at some
length yesterday afternoon. The out
come is yet a matter of speculation,
but it would not be surprising if this
action is taken. There viii be only
three of the canal companies in the
merger, but it is believed the repre-
sentation will be large enough to secure
the ear of the government in the Utah
lake reservoir proposition.
A meeting of the directors and presi-
dents of the four canal companies was
held yesterday afternoon in the office
of Angus NJ. Cannon. and while no con-
clusion was reached, the question of
the three-cornered merger was dis
cussed. 1t may be brought about. The
meeting yesterday was called through
the efforts of Colonel Z. T. Holmes
and Attorney Franklin S. Richards.
who have been untiring in their en-
deavors to consummate some plan by
which Salt Lake will share in the
government funds to be used in pro-
viding for the reclamation of the arid
lands of the west.
Utah Lake Plans.
If government aid can be secured for
Utah lake it would wipe out the water
troubles existing between the city and
the farming districts for all time, The
plans are to enclose Utah lake, and in
this way store the surplus water which
goes to waste there every season. This
can be accomplished by Transforming
the lake into a vast reservoir, and also
improving the Jordan river so that il
cannot overflow it's banks in seasons OF
high water.
This Improvement would keep the
lake always above the compromise
level and insure the farmers an unfail-
ing supply of water, and the city could
then easily make arrangements for the
entire supply from the Cottonwood
streams. At present the farmers get a
share of this water. The quaTrels over
water privileges are renewed every
year. and during the dry periods
neither has full supply. Jt is to set
tie these differences and insure an I'M
failing supply for both sides that public
spirit is being directed to secure the
aid of the government for storing the
waters which annually run to waste
instead of being imprisoned in reser-
voirs for use when needed most.
Other Schemes Suggested.
There are other propositions for Sc
curing government aid for Utah, but
Salt Lake would be only an indirect
beneficiary. In fact, there is a serious
doubt whether the government would
look with favor on the other schemes.
There is some doubt whether anything
can be done with a merger representing
only three of the irrigating canal com
panies. but these companies represent
a majority of the water interests. Mr..
Richards said yesterday:
I'VE are not positive whether the
government will take up the PROPOSE
ton with only a part ofNthe water in
terests represented. 1t is not positive
that the three companies will CONSOLE
date. A meeting of the four companies
was held today and the directors of the
North Jordan reported and renewed the
reasons for not entering into the con-
SOlidation. The committee was then
discharged and a meeting of the three
companies was held. The plan was dis
eussed, but nothing was accomplished.
We will have another meeting on
Wednesday and we shall probably de-
eide then what can be done