The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-12-06
Four Districts in the City.

The distribution system comprises four
districts or zones, known as the lower
the upper, the Thirteenth street, and the
Capitol hill districts, respectively. The
lower and the upper districts are each
supplied with the commingled waters of
Parleys. Emigration and City creeks. The
Thirteenth street and the Capitol hill dis
uicts are both supplied from City creek
The Utah lake reservoir water Is
brought into the city through an open
channel known as the Jordan and Salt
Lake City canal The water from this
source is used for irrigation partly by the
farmers in exchange for Parley'S creek
and partly through the system of irriga-
ton bitches which ramify the city.
All the creek water comes from the can
yons and is distributed by gravity, thus
nSuring the least possible cost for car
riage and distribution.
The reservoir water originally ran out
Of the lake into Jordan river and through
the canal 10 the city by gravity, but dur
ing the last three seasons 1t has been
necessary to pump the water from the
lake into the river channel on account Of
the water in the reservoir having reCeded
10 = point below the level OF the river
outlet.
Better Water Is Needed.
So far as quantity is considered. the
city's present water supply Is sufficient
for many years to come. The greater pOr-
ton of the water. however. is not Of the
quality required for general use and the
need rs. therefore, Of more water of the
required quality.
on account Of the dryness Of the eli
mate and the consequent need for a lib
ersl use of water in lawn and street
sprinkling, it has been estimated that a
daily supply Of 800 gallons per capita IS
not an excessive requirement and should
be made the basis for determining the
city'S needs.
On this basis it is clear that the city's
present supply of potable water 1000
81 gallonsl is only about half enough TO
properly supply the present population.
Such a condition points out, more plainly
than words can possibly do. the need for
early and united effort TO supply this de-
ficiency and at the same time provide in
a reasonable degree for the future growth
and needs of the city.
In considering any plan for relief from
the conditions that confront Us. the tax
payers should keep in mind the facts
that. wherever we so, the water supply
has already been appropriated Dy others
and cannot be taken by the city with
out just compensation; that he sum OF
money which il is proposed TO expend
for increasing the water supply is only
$4,000 and that there is no practical
way by which this sum can be materially
( increased
Costs Money to Buy Water.
II water is purchased. the Price OF
tho water must include the value of the
land and all appurtcuanCeS. upon which
the water is now being used. To take
the water from the land implies its dogra-
datiOu and the practica destruction OF
all improvements that are upon IL.
In case Of condemnation the obligation
/ to provide the price of the water taken
would not he removed nor could the loss
OF time and increased cost due To such
procedure be avoided.
In addition TO the price of water that
might be procured through either pur-
chase or condemnation. there must be
provided a sum sufficient for the con-
/ strIrtion of a conduit i'm which TO carry
J the acquired water from its source into
the CITY and it is absolutely impossible
: to accomplish both the purchase and the
carriage of he needed water with the
/ sum of $50 600.