Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-05-23
THE PARLEYS
CANYON RESERVOIR.

To the Dear Public:-The city coun-
ell should not order $4,000, nor any sum
whatever, expended on the present Sc
lected site OF the Parleys canyon res
ervoir, for the following good and suffi-
Client reasons
Fhst-'rhe site chosen on the Young
berg property il not well chosen, for ii
is a gulch In the center Of deep can
yon where all the food waters from
Parley's creek and the Dell creek, with
all their mud and filth, viii empty di-
rectly into the proposed reservoir and
whether the water TO be saved comes
from the melting SHOWS Of early spring
or from the more gradual melting OF
the deeper drifts piled In the canyons
from the early winter deposits, OF from
the cloudbursts Of summer all mud
and gravel and filth coming In the wa
ter from the above mentioned sources
will unavoidably be carried into this
reservoir There viii be no way of
getting rid of this matter only by hoist
ing the waste gate after each storm
and thus letting the receptacle cleanse
itself and what a waste Of the water
this would mean Is apparent TO the
most casual observer.
Secondly-The reservoir site would
have TO be deepened, squared and
trimmed up to the amount of several
hundred thousand tons OF rock, dirt,
brush rooths and so forth. not for
getting 70 mention the dead squirrels
that this pool would cover-their juice
for the citizens TO drink in case the
site IL not thoroughly cleaned and
scraped to at least eight or ten feet
deep over the entire proposed recep-
tacle.
WELL" say those In favor Of the
present site, "the city can and viii do
this" but II may be truthfully said
the city cannot do this without going
TO needless expenditure Of the peoples
money for the city lands. on which they
could safely deposit this eXcavated
matter are situated one and one-half
miles above the proposed slte,and many
ten thousands OF dollars would need to
be expended In thus hauling away this
eHtraneous matter,
Third-The proposed reservoir will
entirely interfere with the travelling
public. as coal haulers, vendors OF
vegetables and fruit, etc, TO Park City,
and the general travelling public be-
tween Summit and Wasatch counties
and this city, would be turned out from
a smooth, pleasant canyon road up on
TO n PERCEPTIONS and steep, narrow dug
way TO be traversed In a too near
proximity 10 a very deep and danger
Gus pool OF water, when one msstep
from a balky or frightened horse or
team would precipitate the load, wheth-
or OF coal merchandise or living freight,
into an unavoidable watery grave.
Fourth-Then comes the danger to
the X. @. Western railroad track OF
being water soaked and loosened, and
from any cause from which the safety
OF this track might be lessened. A
train so interrupted would 60 into this
deep pool Of water, and drowning like
rats In a hole would be the probable
fate OF every passenger or thing on
board.
Now. the above are some Of the rea-
sons why a reservoir on the proposed
site OF the Youngberg property should
not be constructed.
Now, Il is said, and truly, too, that
objections are easily raised, but what
remedy Is proposed against all these
supposed evils or dangers?
This can be safely and surely an
swered in one sentence as follows.
Build the reservoir on lands already
owned by the city.
II the question Is asked, where9-any-
where in the Mountain Dell proper,from
the mouth Of Branches canyon, includ-
ing the canyon, near the foot OF the Big
Mountain. down along the bed Of the
stream to the sheep trail, distance OF
four or FIVE miles, where the city at
present owns more than one thousand
acres OF land. and four-fifths Of the wa
Ter supply passing through the Dell and
emptying into Parley's creek az the
junction. thus giving the city q chance
TO be benefited by the land and water
already owned by her citizens With
all this land and water already In pos
session OF the city by purchase Of tens
Of thousands Of dollars outlay. the se-
lection reminds me very much OF an
ancient king Of Israel. TO whom the
Prophet Nathan said: Thou vert not
satisfied with all thy great possessions
Thou vert not satisfied. Thou didst
take the one eve lamb possessed by the
Hltite and dldst rob him Of his only one
Jewel"
And let Il be stated here and now.
that should the proceeding OF condemn
ing for city reservoir purposes be sub
mitted to fair and impartial jury.
they. in visiting the proposed site.
when the place Ii examined and the
city's possessions in the Dell also care
fully gone over, with all the facilities
OF the latter and all the non-facllities
Of the former duly considered, no citl-
zen. II Is believed would have reason
10 find fault with their verdict for no
Jury Of good men would for a moment
consent TO verdict that would rob
the widow OF her possessions without
any benefit 10 the city.
Now. the Above suggested way 10