Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-11-28
THE WATER QUESTION,


one Of the most important questions
al present before the citizens Of salI
Lake CITY n that pertaining to the
increase Of the water supply Water
is the great problem IN the arid regions
il ia vital TO an interests. without wa
ter. the richest soil remains a desert
the wealth In the mountains is unde'
veloped. the most pleasant OF valleys
Is only a death valley.
The plan now before the CITY Council
and Tor the realization Of which me
people will be asked TO provide the
necessary means. by authorizing the Is
suance Of bonds eontemplaies, as mas
been stated before ln these columns the
exchange Of water rights with the
owners Of such rights In the Cotton
wood creeks and Mil creek-an ar
rangement whereby the citys water
supply viii be much more than doubled
The sum OF is5O.0OO, IL is estimated viii
he needed 10 secure the exchange, build
condults aud SO on, bat the advantages
secured By the trade VIII be almost ln-
estlmabe to the city. More water
means a more rapid growth OF popula-
ton. and ,he investment Of outside cap
ltal on larger scale. II means In
creased value TO property and greater
facilities for the establishment Of ln-
duatrlal enterprises The amount asked
Cor is small price 20 pay for these adj
yantages, particularly when the in-
crease In the rate Of taxation ON that
account viii be 80 small if any as To
need no consideration at all
The suggestion has been made that
the proposition should be fully inyesti-
gated. before the bond question is voted
on. And we agree that this Is desra-
bic. The citizens should know exactly
what their votes are asked for so that
they can vote ntclIigcntiy. And a good
proposition never loses anything hy "a
close Investigation But in this
connection 1t should be pointed out that
unnecessary delay must be avoided as
policy Of indecsion might possibly
ieopardlze the entire plan. 20 aeek iu-
Information about such am impor-
tant transaction Is businemlike, but 70
plead ignorance as to the nature ot H.
merely for the purpose Of securing in
definite postponement and obtaining
time 10 raise distractions Is lnImical
70 the interests Of the city
one Of the most serious objections TO
the plan. so far made If this that the
rights acquired do not appear 10 be abb
soluie. The farmers reserve the right
10 take back the Cottonwood water n
the city fails to fulnll rs contract This
is really no ground for objection Il
should be remembered that the ar
rangement contemplates the mutual
benefit OF both parties TO the bargain.
II is not a trade by which the
city hopes 10 get the advantage OF the
farmers. No reason can, therefore. be
imagined 'ghy the farmers should de-
sire 10 annul the contract except the
one mentioned the failure Of the city
10 deliver the water promised for irri-
CATION purposes But in such am inn
probable contingency, the city ought
certainly 10 return 10 the farmers their
original water rights, until he contract
could again be fulfilled, rather than
permit the fields 90 the valley TO be
parchcd, the crops destroyed, and the
orchards dried up For that would DE
a calamity TO the city too.
But such a contingency cannot arise.
n not as a result of long drought on
other causes over which man has NO |
control Barring such unforeseen ca
lanlties. there Is no reason why the
farmers should not be ass anxious ms the
citizens Of the city for the permanency |
of the contemplated arrangements for
Il "a to their benefit too. Were the /
bargain ouesded there might be- some
danger In the part Of The agreement OBJ !
iected TO. Butas It Is, the objection has
no force.