The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-01-01


creek and partly through the system
of irrigation bitches which ramify the
city.
All the creek water comes from the
canyons and is distributed by gravity,
thus insuring the least possible cost
for carriage and distribution.
The reservoir water originally ran
out of the lake into the Jordan river
and through the canal to the city by
gravity, but during the last three sea-
sons it has been necessary to pump
the water from the lake into the river
channel on account of the water in
the reservoir having receded to point
below the level of the river outlet.
So far as quantity is considered. the
city's present water supply is sufficient
for many years to come. The greater
portion of the water. however, is not
of the quality required for general use
and the need is therefore of more wa
ter of the required quality
People Demand Large Supply.
On account of the dryness of the
liberal use of water in lawn and
street sprinkling, it has been estimated
that a daily supply of 300 gallons per
capita is not an excessive requirement
and should be made the basis for de-
termining the city's needs.
On this basis il is clear that the city's
present supply of potable water 10000
SI4 gallons) is only about half enough
TO properly supply the present popula-
ton, Such condition points out,
more plainly than words can possibly
do. the need for early and united eff
fort to supply this deficiency 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 taxpayers should keep in
mind the facts that. wherever we go
the water supply has already been ap-
propriated by others and cannot be
taken by the city without just com
pensation; that the sum of money
which it is proposed to eXpend for in
creasing the water supply is only $780,
GOO, and that there is no practical way
by which this sum can be materially
Costs Too Much to Buy.
If water IS purchased the price of the
water must include the value Of the
land, and all appurtenances, upon
which the water is now being used. To
take the water from the land implies
its degradation and the practical de-
struction of all improvements that are
upon it.
In case of condemnation the obliga-
ton to provide the price of the water
taken, would not be 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-
struCtiOn of a conduit in which to carry
the acquired water from its source into
the city, and it is absolutely impossi-
BILE TO accomplish both the purchase
and the carriage of the needed water
with the sum of $3.50, 900.
Coming into the valley from the
nearby mountains on the east are the
several streams known az Mill creek,
Big Cottonwood and - Little Cotton
wood respectively. The water from
each of these streams is of well known
purity and is so situated that it can be
brought into the city by gravity
through works which will cost Infinitely
less than those needed to bring in an
equivalent supply from any other posi-
BILE source. But the water from these
streams has already been appropriated
and is used by a large number of in
diVidualS to irTigate a considerable area
of high-priced land that lies adjacent
to the city. This water must therefore
be acquired before it's use by the city
can be made possible.
What Can Be Secured.
From careful and repeated measure
mentS it has been asCeTtained that the
daily supply of water which these
sources afford. in seasons of lowest
flow. is as follows:
Mill creek. .......... 6.631. 21I gallons
Big Cottonwood Il 1888, 5SS gallons
Little Cottonwood 80. 7,S27,s67 gallons
Total daily supply. 81. 342. $50 gallons
1t is proposed to acquire the water
from these sources and so make avail
able for city use during times of lowest
flow. the following daily supply of
potable water:
Present supply ........10, OO4,S74 gallons
Increased supply %, 342, 500 gallons
Total daily supply. AZ, 347, $40 gallons
At the estimated rate of 300 gallons
daily per capita this would provide am
ply for the needs Of at least double our
present population. and SO relieve the
present unfortunate condition as we'll
provide in a reasonable measure for
the future. That il is practicable for
the city to acquire this additional guam
tity Of potable water and construct
conduit for bringing it into the city at
cost. in money, not to exceed the
$3.50. coo, available for water supply
statement of facts:
Two-thirds of the land upon which
this water is now used lies below the
city's canal, and there are no physical
difficulties in the way of irriga ting
these lands with water from the canal
The owners of this land have expressed
a Willingness to use water from the
canal in lieu Of their present supply
from the mountains. and the city has
taken options for the exchange, in this
manner, of one-half the water of Big
Cottonwood creek. Negotiations are
pending by which il is expected that
practically all the waters of Big Cot
tonwocd and Mill creek will be acquired
by exchange and lease. as well as the
waters of Little Cottonwood. as soon
as the necessities of the city shall re-
quiTe.
The Terms of Exchange.
The terms of exchange are practically
the same as those relating TO Parley's
creek. except that. in this instance, the
city is 10 pay bonus OF SO per acre
to the farmers, and give them during
the irrigation season. an additional
quantity Of % per cent, more canal
water than II receives of mountain wa
ter. These are the best terms that can
now be made. and they do not seem
unjust when the difference in value be-
tween the mountain waters and the wa
tiers from Utah lake is considered.
II is proposed to acquire such por-
tons of the waters of these mountain
streams as are used on lands above the
city canal by lease. for a long term Of
years and assurances have been given
that such leases can be obtained at a
very low rental
1t is proposed in the options to
In and Sa1frs 70 ost1r