The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-10-01
FOUR YEARS OF THOMPSON PLEDGES
BUT NEVER A DROP OF WATER GAINED

sourceful, overbearing personality
comes into contact with character
like ThOmpSOn's, there is no question
which Will dominate. In the case of
Ezra, the record shows. Easy EZ," he
has been called. One can imagine Dooly
chuckle as he repeated softly to him
self from time to time:
Easy Ell"
Water was scarce. The public clam
ored for more. The platform on which
Thompson had been elected had
pledged the administration to increase
the municipal water supply His first
annual message went to the council
Jan. >, 1900. In this he said:
- Ezra's Promises.
"Our water supply at certain times
of the year is wholly inadequate TO
meet the wants of the inhabitants. The
city is rapidly increasing in population,
and before very long we will number a
hundred thousand people. With an in
creasing population, and extension of
the sprinkling districts from time TO
time, il is itself evident that we must
have a larger supply of water. l think
the time has come for US to act eff
fectually on the situation as il exists.
The longer this subject is postponed.
the lliOlE GApEliSlNG II VIII llildlil plONC
TO Salt Lake City. Various plans have
been suggested from time to time TO
improve the city's water system.
"The plan which | consider the
safest and best for all concerned is
to acquire the water rights of Big
Cottonwood. This might be accom-
plished by an exchange of part of
our present water system with the
owners of said rights, and also by
purchase where it would be neces-
sary.
Il am aware that the present condi-
tiOn of the city's finances does not
warrant extensive improvements. The
latter part of section 4 of article XIV
OF the constitution of Utah permits
a city to incur indebtedness i'll excess
of the debt limit for the purpose of
improving It's water system. Such a
proposition must be submitted at
special election Of the taxpayers of the
municipality for their acceptance or
rejection. If the result of such an cleo
ton would be in the affirmative, bonds
could be issued to fund the indebted
ness"
Need for immediate Action.
This message had been preceded Jan.
1, 1900. by an interview i'm which he
said, az published in The Herald;
The Importance of taking immediate
steps TO secure q larger water Supply
for the city is so great that / deem II
necessary to at once call the council
attention to the situation, :. Every
Il Ia
foolish to temDOriZe with the question
any longer. This city can't grow Win
out more water.
thorough Investigations of the possible
sources of supply and had prepared
report showing how the pledges for more
water could be carried out by eXchang-
ing Utah lake water for a supply from
Big Cottonwood and By building con-
duit to connect with the city water sys-
tenn. Mr.. KELSEY was known as a ca
pable and honest engineer. Dooly prompt
iy began a campaign against MN me
chairman of the board Of public WORKS
had "a scheme which involved principally
the purchase of large amount OF iron
pipe through a favored contractor lie
advocated the issuance by the munlcl-
pality of bonds TO the amount Of S-50.V01
Thompson did as Dooly wanted, and as
a result the administration asked tine peo-
pic of salt Lake City TO vote a SeJ0,eD
bond issue.
How Money Was to Be Spent.
The address Ia the voters. issued July
H. 1900. declared that the money would
be used for tho following purposes:
Water main improvements. .StJ,eD
Thirteenth East street reservoir. $1,000
Purchase of additional water rights
in Pariey's canyon, to give 100000
gallons additional ...--...--.-.-.... 10000
Separate system of mains for street
sprinkling 10 cover part of city
north Of Seventh South street and
east of Second West street (to
save 100000 gallons daily. ....... 1000
Deepening channel and improving
dam at Utah lake ..,.......,..,,.,, $1,000
This made total of $3.50, 600. and a
promise was also made 10 investigate
the possibilities of obtaining water from
artesian wells In Liberty park.
The administration was pledged 10 see