The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-10-15
Presents His Reasons.

Why are you in favor of carrying out
the present plan for increasing the city's
water supply from Mill Creek and the
Big and Little COttOnwOods rather than
by procuring water through purchase or
condemnation
[ favor il for several reasons, among
which are the following:
Oa) These streams are the nearest and
most natural sources OF supply for SAT-
Lake City.
o. The water is of superior quality and
sufficient IN quantity TO meet the pres
cnt needs and also TO provide i'm a rea-
sOnable measure for the future.
tcl The sources are practically free
/ from communicating causes and are SO
situated that they can be kept free for
all time
Cd The plan of bringing in this water
has been under consideration during the
past twenty-five years. and during that
! time all its advantages and disadVan-
tdges have been fully discussed and are
generally and fully understood.
te) The plan has been formally ap-
proved by the city council the mayor
and the taxpayers; the money for It's
extension has been provided; contracts
nave been let and the work Is already
well under way
% The disposition of these preliml-
narieS and the actual starting of tire
work are insurance that relief from th-
disadvantages due TO the present uef-
cheney m the water supply viii be al
f0rded and in less time and, In al. prob
ability, more effectually than through
any alternative plan which might now
be prepared and which might require a
year or more TO properly develop.
go While honest differences of opll-
lon may exist regarding some of the de-
tails of the plan. such as route. curva-
ture, grades character of conduit. etc.
no one will contend that the plan is Ict
practical or. if carried out viii fail 10
fully serve the contemplated purpose. and
at a cost within the city's ability -
Cause of the Trouble.
"a The only real difficulties lie iu the
fact that the waters OF these streams
have been previously appf0pria ted ~
parties from whom the city must Oh
tain the right Of use. But this is true
OF all other streams IN the state, Win
the possible exception Of Green river,
the remOteHesS Of which preCudCs IT'S
consideration as a source of water sup
ply for the present at least
i) The questions growing out of vested
rights are - more perplcNlu6 on the
Alill creek and the CottOnWoOds imam on
other adequate sources Of water supply
that might be made available, and no
greater outlay is likely TO ne required
in the purchase of mill and other rights
here than on other possible sources
d I am not opposed 10 the purchase
of rights 10 The use Of water from the
streams named. But j am IN LaNor OF
improving the opportunity here afforded
of paying the principal part OF lnr
purchase price In lake water instead OF
in money in view that the amount OF
money available for water supply pur-
poses is only SS5e0tJ.
(k1 i favor condemnation IN cases where
there is a disposition to deal unfairly
with the city. But L see no need Tor
general condemnation proceedings in We"
OF the assurance given by those VINO
have that part of the plan in charge
that more than half the rights sought
have already been secured through mu-
tuai agreements that are satisfactory auu
inst TO both parties. and that pfacucdIi!
all of the rigbtS needed by the city can
be secured in a similar manner.
Cd Unless some fatal defect can be
pointed out IN tue present plan; IL sboet"
not, in my opinion, be abandoned, bu-
should he crowded 10 completion IN time
to obViate a recurrence of the recent
scarcity in the city's water supply
Purchase Of Canal Stock.
Why do you endorse the purchase by
the city of 0ue-fifth of the stock OF the
East Jordan Canal company;
1t is generally understood that there
is need for laud the plan In question
contemplated "a material increase IN the
city's supply of water from IIan lake
1t has been the hope Of many citizens
that this could be accomplished IN con
nectiOn with the work contemplated by
the United States reclamation service. But
this work has been postponed lhdell-
nitelv, while the city ) needs are grow
ing continually greater and seem TO re
qure immediate Independent action. ANY
independent work by the city at the TAX
or on the river when would produce
q quantity of water equivalent to Ihat
represented ny the purchased canal stock
would undoubtedly cost several times the
price paid for the stock. In view Of TINS,
/ compelled TO regard the action as
advantageous to the city. And now
favor the purchase of such additional
shares of the same stock as Will with
that already secured furnish the fuu
quantity of lake water required, without
resOrting to other means.
Liberty Park Wells.
What are your views as to the flow
ing wells IN and around Liberty park
being a good source Of permanent water
supply for the city
| do not regard these wells as q ue-
sirable source from which 10 supply the
present deficiency, because the flow is
entirely inadequate for that purpose. Be
sides the cost of its utilization IN thv
pipe system will be several times greater
than for the same quantity of water
procured under the plan IN question. /
favor a concentration of effort and mon
ey on the plan that has been author
lied: il is capable of aftordipg ample
relief and at less cost per million gal
Ions of water produced. At some future
time the well water may be used prom
ably in local pipe system 10 supply q
limited district in the immediate neigh
bOrhoOd IN the meantime, the water
can be effectively used. as It has beeii
in the past. for irrigation in the parh
and for sprinkling the driveWays ana
adjacent streets.