Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-03-18
AS TO OUR WATER SUPPLY,

Prospects are excellent this year for
a good supply Of water. That is to say
the deposits of snow furnish ample
storage of solicited material. which will
flow down In due season for irrigation
and other purposes. In addition TO that.
the ground is receiving frequent soak
age which. when the frost Is entirely
eliminated, viii penetrate to a depth
that win afford moisture to the roots Of
crop vegetation as it rises to the sur
face from the warmth developed by the
rays Of the summer sun, The irrigation
outlook Is therefore most encouraging
salt Lake City is not likely 10 suffer
during the season approaching from
lack Of an adequate water supply.
Probably there win be plenty for all
needful purposes during the present
year This. however. should not stop
practical projects TO provide against
future contingencies and to secure flu
turc supplies. The city Council ought
to proceed with measures to erect res
eryoirs and in every feasible way en-
deavor 10 increase, conserve and fairly
distribute the waters within its control
for the benefit Of our growing popua-
ton.
Nothing in that direction viii be
fastened or improved by unjust osper-
sions upon the council or by uatruth-
ful assertions concerning our water
supplies. Capits1 is not likely TO be at
tracted to this point by statements Ike
this. made by a city paper;
"salt Lake city stands today just
where she was year ago, with abou,
one-fourth enough water 10 supply
uregcpt demands Not one yard IN
twenty has "a spear of grass ur uoWei,
Hall the time water cannot be elevated
above the second story lloor ANA baths
are at a premium
That which Is not positively falls, IN
those sentences is gross eNaggerotion
Although the volume Of water has been
short for several successive ssasousow-
ing 10 the drou,h experienced through
ou. the entire arid region the real
difficulties experienced have been
but of short duration and never
TO the extent described above. The no.
ton that II "a scheme devised 20 over
turn the entire system OF suncpal
government here had prevailed, the oIe-
ments would be SO ordered as TO yield
water in abundance, might do ioI bun.
rombe IN pushing the p.an but DO is too
snly for serious argument Continued
drouth IS not TO be prevented by leg,s.
lation. nor can the clouds De compelled
to drop moisture by commercial OF tn'
: ancial combinations.
All that could possibly be effected by
my sort Of commission, can Do
brought about by O City Council an,
the wants and wishes of the people car
be met and granted through the meant
that the laws now provide. The powe
IS IN the hands OF me cii@'ns lo on
tain what is needed II they win eyer
else il. everything necessary can be ob
tanned; II they will not, they must SUI
fer the consequences.
While we are enjoying the benefits q
the bountlful supply OF the now-rich
es treasured up In the heights OF III
hills. we should be preparing for Oh
dry times likely TO follow. There az
borings that can be made In city Cree
and Parley's canyons, which win uti
lie the undercurrents there and u
crease the volume OF the streams gfea
". There are spots where reservoir
can be constructed for STORAGE at mu'
less expense than would be entailed
some of the schemes projected are ca
rled out. one place In particular v
have pointed out several times; 'hal
the mouth Of Lambs canyon in Ia
ley's. A stream Of pure water COM
down at that point, and there is = sol