The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-11-01
MHY Los ANGELES WINS.

WHY LOS ANGELES WINS.
In the initial number Of The Arrow
head" the attractive magazine pub
lished by the san Pedro railroad, is a
most interesting sketch of the new
water supply being secured for Los
Angeles. AS q good many Salt Lakers
know. the City of the Angels has been
7 embarrassed in its phenomenal growth
by a water supply of questionable quail
ity and not unlimited quantity. 1t has
been hanipered further by the fact that
the ranchers of the San Fernando Val-
ley claimed a good share Of the stream
which fur ished the city with water,
and the problem had grown to be al
most question of municipal life or
death.
Fortunately for Los Angeles It had
for one Of It's citizens a man of great
public spirit who also had the training
of civil engineer. His name is Fred
Eaton, and his services to the city
ought TO be immortalized. He had
studied the problem years ago and
Owens river. The story of his investi-
cations alone makes an interesting
chapter. Failing TO interest the own
ers of the water company which then
Supplied the city. his project was laid
aside but not abandoned.
The water cOmpany's rights expired,
the population of the city grew apace.
and, eventually, Eaton was called to
present his plan again. The upshot
of it was that he was authorized to Sc
cure options on the land for forty miles
on either side OF the Owens river, and
10 include the great Hickey rancho. 24O
miles from Los Angeles, so the entire
water supply necessary could be con-
trolled. This was done secretly and
well. so well that the city secured the
property on good terms. and no one
was the wiser until the voters were
called upon to ratify the purchases and
endorse q water scheme which involves
an outlay of about S23, 000,000
The interest salt Lake has in this
project is obvious. on a basis of COM
parative population, Los Angeles will
have the best water supply in America
and it will pay more for il than most
cities-but no one there objects. Strange
as it may seem. the people and the
newspapers agree that il is good
move, and they are glad II is going to
be carried out. Instead of fighting the
plan, as might be expected. everybo
is boosting it: instead OF encouraging
the owners of water rights to obstruct
the undertaking. everybody is arguing
that what helps Los Angeles helps all
the people in the city or anywhere near
it. Instead of accusing the city Off
Gals and men interested of trying to
job" somebody, they are being ap-
proved for their enterprise and are en-
courhged 10 so ahead with its compile
ton.
In word. all Los Angeles is glad to
pay millions for water supply no bet
ter than Salt Lake is getting for an
eight-year extension of an existing
franchise; the only difference is that
no one kicks in Los Angeles, while
vigorous minority here is fun Of griev-
ances. accuses everybody concerned OF
being corrupt, and Is attempting 10
defeat the undertaking by litigation or
any other means that promises to delay
work or discredit the city and its off,
cials.
The moral is too obvious TO need a
diagram Good public service is ap-
preciated in Los Angeles by the entire
populations; in Salt Lake, just now,
public service is a thing to be under
taken with apprehension and prayer.
Still. and this is worth considering,
Salt Lake is getting bigger and better
all the time and is beginning to realize
the worth of efficiency and honesty in
the municipal service; a large proper
ton of the voters realize the fmpor.
lance and value Of the waterworks I'M
dertaking which Mayor Morris and his
associates have forwarded so success
fully: and there is every indication that
their services will be recognized by the
reelection 10 which they are entitled.
and which wiz insure the fruition Of
their plans for the betterment of the
city and its development into a greater
Salt Lake