The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-12-29
IsDoRsED rvs wArgR Plan.

HDohSso FHs WATER PLAN.
THE VALUE of the Commercial club
10 the community was demon
strated Tues1ay evening in the public
discussion of the water question held
IN the club rooms. With more than a
hundred menceTs and guests present,
the whole III estiOn was threshed out
pro and con and every debatable phase
Of the proposal bond issue and con-
tracts with the farmers was developed
fully and TO the satisfaction Of the club.
The result Eas an almost unanimous
Endorsement OF he clubs board Of gov
errors who had approved the mayors
plan.
During the discussion these objec-
tons were brought up by J. E Dooly,
who had planned the meeting, and who
was evidently the chief source of oppo-
sitiOn. Mr.. Dcoly urged:
That the city would get nothing in
return for the water the city under
takes to deliver the farmers.
The city promised to give too much
water in exchange for Big Cottonwood
water.
The proposed system of arbitration
gave the farmers an undue advantage
in permitting them to name the third
water commissioner in case the two
appointed by NE city and farmers re-
spectively taii "a to agree within ten
Of
There was 5ianger Of heavy damages
to the city IN case it failed to supply
water as it agreed
The proposal conduit was TO be built
too high up. ..--
Utah lake might fail the city and ia
that case a serious condition would
confront it oaoause it would be liable
fer damages. would be at the mercy of
the farmers and would have no ade-
quate relief from any source.
These ohie,rions were answered con-
clusively by :-Ity Engineer Snow, by
state Engineer Doremus. by Franklin
s. Richards auI others
1t was show that the city is operat-
=
farmers whereby ii secures Parley's
canyon water under much the same
conditions proposed for the Big Cot
tonwood exchange; and that there has
been no difficulty i'm securing the water
since the pumps installed at Utah lake
have insured toe farmers an ample
supply from that source in the irriga-
ton season It was also shown that
the city secures Big Cottonwood water
for twelve months of the year. giving
ia exchange a siX-months' supply so
that the . Fer cent bonus in water
given by the city during the six months
is no disadvantage. Stress was also
laid on the fact that the city secures
potable water of the finest quality.
while it gives Utah lake water in re-
turn which S unfit for drinking or cul-
mary purpos Is, although satisfactory
for irrigation.
Mr.. DoremIs and Mr.. Richards, both
Of whom are competent authority. de-
clared there was not even a remote
possibility Of failure in the Utah lake
supply: and Nr. Snow called attention
10 the fact that the city could not suf-
fer under the contract unless it failed
10 deliver The farmers water for six
consecutive m9nths-an absolute i'm
possibility. che conduit ought to be
built up high TO bring water into the
city on the highest line practicable.
On the arbitration clause in the con-
tract there was a general agreement
that it should De modified so as to per-
init the appointment of the third COM
missioner by the governor or some 9TH
er disintereste1 third party in case the
two commissioners failed to agree on
the third name. Attorney Ashby Snow
who represented the farmers, assured
the meeting that the farmers wanted
nothing but s, fair contract that would
protect their interests; and he was sure
they would consent to the modification
suggested. He believed, also, that they
would agree 10 maximum figure as to
the water to be delivered by the city
so there would he no occasion for a
charge of InfaiTness in that particular
Taken altogether. the explanations
and dehnitiols Of the situation were SO
overwhelmingly against the Directors
that bare cOrpOrsrs guard voted with
Mr.. DoOly when the question came to q
decision, and he club went on record
for the whole proposition and against
Mr.. DOOly.
After this defeat. there seems little
probability that the opposition to the
bonds will mister any considerable
strength at the polls II the mOdifica-
tions promised are made. there viii not
be even an excuse for voting against
what promises 70 be the most important
and beneficial addition 10 the eity's re-
sources propos d in many years.