The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-12-15

DECIDE TO FIGHT
! THE WATER PLAN
Heal Estate Men Take Action
on Proposition.
MEET BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
%
STATE OPPOSITION TO coNTRAcT
WITH FARMERS.
MEET BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

Secret meeting held yesterday after
noon at the Commercial club. decided
TO oppose the water plan. proposed BIZ a
special committee of the council and
approved by that body and by the
mayor. This plan provides for a spec
lal election TO be held Jan 3. 1905. to
Vote upon propositions to issue $3.50. 900
water bonds and $4,000 sewer bonds.
Inc latter scheme was not antagonized
by the association. which adopted the
following preamble and resolution by a
vote of IA ayes to noes:
Whereas. The city council hiss recently
presented to the citizens Of this city "A
plan for an Increased water supply and
an extensive Improvement In the sewer
age system. the same involving bond
issue of Approximately 81. coo 900; and
Whereas. The Said bond issue wiz, If
voted by the people, practically exhaust
dicated: and
Whereas, The said plan Is in our opin-
ion, not OF such a character as would
commend II to conservative business men:
therefore, be IL
Reasons For Opposition.
Resolved. That the Salt Lake Real Is
tate association, while fully appreciative
+ OF the need for a material Improvement
in the present water condition, is opposed
to the plan as submitted by the council
committee for the following reasons:
First-ln view of the contention Of the
said council committee that there is no
Likelihood Of failure on the part of the
city to deliver all the exchange water
from Utah lake necessary for the fulfill
ment OF the contract WITH the present
owners Of Cottonwood water. we can see
no necessity for making a contract so
S. essentially One-sided in favor OF the pres
ent owners and so completely against the
ultimate interests of the city. This oh
lection is further strengthened by the
tact that the development of the interior
departments reclamation scheme would
still further remove all danger of the city
being unable to deliver the agreed quota
of Utah lake water. This being true and
the fact being admitted that the lake
water is far better than the Cottonwood
water for irrigation purposes. we are
earnestly opposed to any plan which gives
y per cent more water than is received
IN exchange. and in addition $40 per acre
bonus. and places the fate of the citys
water supply wholly i'm the hands of in
terests likely to become unfriendly at any
moment
Further. it seems to US that so impor-
tant factor in the life of community
as its water supply should not be held by
so questionable tenure as that imposed
by the proposed contract with the farm
crS, and while IL is true that the mu-
nicipalty needs and must have a more
elaborate system of water supply for fu
ture needs. the necessity is. in our judg-
ment. not so great as TO require the sac
rifice involved in the carrying out of the
proposed plan. Being fully convinced that
the City'S title 10 its water should be
absolute and unhampered by questionable
conditions. we arc strongly Of the Opin-
ion that the voters of the city should not
authorize the expenditure of the last dol
lar available for water purposes in the
exploitation of a plan the defects and
uncertainties of which are so apparent
3 plan. i'm short which. If carried out as
proposed may at any moment leave the
community without water and financially
resourceless TO acquire IT,
Approved Conduit Plan.
We heartily approve the construction OF
a conduit from the COttOnwoods TO the
city and the actual and unquestioned ac-
quisition OF water gradually. as oppor-
tunfty presents To obtain title to IL in fec
simple and We heiieve that IL this policy
should he adopted and pursued intelli-
gently the near future would see an album
dant supply of water. the ownership and
control of which would be entirely IN the
hands Of the CITY.
We also favor the proposed extension
OF the sewer system and of the repair at
an early date OF the Salt Lake and Jor-
dan canal.
We stand ready to support in every le-
Ultimate manner possible any plan for
the permanent requirement of an ade-
Quate water supply which in our judg-
ment will not work an injustice on the
municipality. but we are also opposed to
leaving the construction Of 50 important
a work in the hands of the city council
but this objection is not intended TO re-
fleet i'm any way upon that body as at
present constituted. but is i'm the interest
of a broad public policy. the wisdom of
which has been demonstrated over ana
over again in many cities where great
public works have been inauEurated and
carried TO completion by continuing nom
partisan boards.
Meeting Held in Secret.
The meeting was an executive one,
held behind closed doors. with the
president, ]. w. Houston. i'm the chair.
After the adoption of the preamble
and resolution a committee composed
Of Thomas Homer w. j. Halloran and
l.. :. Darling was selected to prepare
an address to ;he mayor. city council
and citizens of Salt Lake City explain
ing why the association has decided TO
sntagOnize the water project Copies
OF the document they will prepare viii
be furnished 10 the press for publica-
ton.
Every phase Of the water and sewer
questions were discussed during the
meeting which lasted four hours Early
in the proceedings A. Richter presented
q resolution approving the council
water plan. and urged its adoption o.
+. Peterson and J. X. Shaw also spoke
in favor OF the council plan and OF the
Richter resolution. Then Thomas Ho-
mer made a long speech against the
council plan and in opposition TO the
resolution. After several others had
talked in harmony with the views ex-
j ressed by Mr.. Homer, MIR. Richter
withdrew his resolution.
Opinion by Attorneys.
Then the resolution above given was
submitted, accompanied by an opinion
q. z ~ H.