The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-07-28
NO WATER SHORTAGE.

The special mouthpiece of the dis
credited Morris administration exer-
cised itself yesterday morning about
tho non-completion Of the Big Cotton
wood conduit. That organ had the
foolish assurance to say that if the
work had been permitted TO continue on
tho leaky specifications under which its
construction was begun, "tho conduit
would have been finished the water
would have been running through it,
and instead of II shortage there would
have been an abundant supply for all
comers, -
Now, first of all, there is no water
shortage.
Next, and of more permanent impor-
tance, the conduit constructed under the
old Morris administration specifications
would not have carried water 10 tho
city, even had there been water to turn
into it at the intake, AS to this lat
ter, there has always been a very seri-
Gus doubt, and that doubt has by no
means yet been removed; but suppos-
ing that there had been water to turn
ip az the intake under the leaky speci-
fcations which the Bacon plans provid-
ed, the water could not have reached
this city in any fair proportion to the
amount turned in.
Thanks TO the "unyielding determin-
ation' of the Council, the requirement.
was made that the conduit should be
water tight and should in fact bring to
the city the water that was turned into
1t at the Big Cottonwood end, in case it
should be found practicable TO turn in
any at all.
Last year, at month g earlier date
than the present, the city was brought
under restriction as to its water use
Ihls year there is talk Of a partial
restriction to begin the first of August.
ANY restriction whatever this year
under the American administration. if
necessary at all, Will be made necessary
by the familiar genus of porker known
as the water hog There is as
matter OF fact, abundant water for all
reasonable use in the city, but if peo-
pie always let their taps and their hose
run continually at all hours of the dav
and night, it very likely may be found
necessary to call them down and TO saw
that the water shall be used only at GER
tain times.
AS matter of fact, we believe that
the real cure for the water shortage
In TINS CITY IS to put in meters every
where. allowing every water user the
use OF water free up to a certain
amount daily, and charging them for all
water used over the stated amount.
THIS, we believe, would speedily result
In filing the reservoirs and keeping
the water mains and pipes full at ali
times
However, the conduit will be finished
now, probably within about three
weeks, possibly four, and if there is any
water to turn into it under the Morris
contracts, that water will be turned in
and sucbrrelief as the added supply will
furnish will be at once available.
1t may be doubted, however, if when
a large proportion of the water users
of the city let their taps run all the
time, sufficient supply could ever be
provided 30 that no one could ever COM
plain of a shortage of water. The
pocket argument i'll this case. as in SO
many others, will be found to be the
ultimate controlling argument in the
case. If people are required to pay for
what they use above a common stand.
ard, based on per capita reasonable
requirement, then waste would certainly
and quickly cease.
NO one who remembers the straits