The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-06-19
COUNCIL TALKS
WATER SUPPLY
Final Action on Reservoirs Post
poned For a Week.
PUBLIC INVITED TO ATTEND
XoUNGBERG's FARM IN PAR
LEY's ACCEPTED As A SITE.

Councilman F. s. FernstrOm was IN
successful in his efforts to force
through the city council at its special
session last evening his pet scheme
TO construct on the instaIlment plan a
reservoir in Parley's canyon. After
more than two hours debate decisive
action was postponed until next Thurs
oay evening. At that time the council
VIII hold another special session for the
Iurther consideration Of the water
question
committee of Eve consisting Of
President Cottreu and Councflmen
Thomas, Tuddenham, Fernstrom and
a. J. Davis. was appointed to invite
the members Of the Commercial club.
editors of the papers and other prom
1nent citizens who are interested in the
matter, to be present and give their
views as to what steps the city should
TAXI at this time 10 increase its water
supply.
When the city council met there were
Two propositions before II. one was
the committees report favored by
Councilman Fernst-Om. providing for
the construction Of the PaTley's can
yOn reservoir or the installment plan
S15.00G to be expended each year The
other was the resolution by A. ]. Davis,
providing for the issuance Of $500 600
worth Of bonds with which TO con-
strUct the Parley's canyon reservoir
and another in City Creek canyon.
Youngberg Site is Selected.
Before any action could be taken on
either, 1t was necessary to adopt the
report of City Engineer L c. KELSEY.
recommending the Y0ungberg farm as
the site for the Pariey's canyon reser-
Voir- The majority of the report was
read and the whole adopted without
comment
The two hours debate was opened
by Councilman FernstrOm, who spoke
in behalf Of the committees report.
be advanced the theory that the reser-
Yotr could be built by pfecemeaI with
out issuing bonds by levying a half
mill tax each year, and using the sur
plus fund OF the WaterwOrl1s depart
meEt for the three years
councilman A J Davis opposed the
resolution on tne grounds that it was
not right to use the waterwOrks sur
plus funds IN that way; that bonds
should be Issued so that posterity
could share a portion of the burden.
He called attention 10 the fact that the
Short Line, Union Pacific and San
Pedro roads purpose erecting joint
machine and car shops in the city.
which win give employment to about
1000 men, If they can secure the water
supply mat was cited as a single
instance showing why the city should
not delay in providing for as large
q water supply as possible.
Councilman Daveler favored the
Davis resolution because. he said, it
places the matter in the hands of the
people, and at the polls gives them the
right to say whether they want
greater water supply or not. He doubt
ed the ability of the city TO raise
$4,000 q year, under the proposed plan
Of Councilman FernstTom. without so
crippling the waterworks fund that the
city would suffer by it.
Cottrell Feared a Trick.
The longest speech of the evening
was made by Councilman Thomas.
who suggested the DrOprietv of aD-
prominent citizens of Salt Lake to
meet with the council and express
their views. He took the stand that
the project of increasing the water
supply Of the city is so great that
progress should be made slowly 50 as
TO avoid mistakes.
President Cottren attempted to put
his motion for the appointment of
committee out Of order. evidently be-
ing in the fear that 1T was a trick
to kill the whole matter. but was
forced to receive it. Later in the even
ing similar motion was made by
Councilman Tuddenhams which was
readily accepted Dy the chair. At that
luucture Councilman Thomas called at
t=ntion TO the actions of The presi-
dent, saving that his side Of the coun-
Gil was just as sincere in its endeavOrs
to further the increased water supply
project as was the other side Of that
body, and at the same time discIaim-
ing any intention Of trickery in intro
duCing his motion earlier in the even
ing
COuncilmen Black and Sharp also
spoke upon the two propositions
Councilman Thomas motion to post
poue was lost on q tie vote. The Davis
resolution was lost by vote OF to j.
After some further discussion the mo-
Ji0u 90 lay the whole matter over until
next Thursday night, when the city en-
gineer can produce some additional
statistics and citizens can be present
was carried and the council adjourned.