The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-03-01
THE VISIT TO THE CONDUIT.

That was an instructive visit which
was paid TO the conduit on Tuesday by
the Mayor. members Of the Council. and
others interested I'm the work II DEM
| onstrated first Of all. that the conduit
Is badly placed It's location is highly
disadvantageous, both as TO the intake
and the line followed. First OF all, It is
much too high up. The water which is
unquostionably owned by the city can
not get into II unless II is pumped
Then. in pursuance of deal with the
chief hierarch, who is president Of the
street railway and electric light mo-
nopoly, it conveys the water down to
the settling tank for release. because
that was what the hierarch's monopoly
wanted done The high location of the
conduit was In pursuance Of the agree
ment with the people that there should
be large power developed at the mouth
Of Parley's canyon, where the conduit
discharges. at a high level. In the drop
TO the reservoir there which power
could be utilized for municipal power
and lighting. But as the city was be-
traycd by its unfaithful servants. those
officials who had expressly promised
the development of this power. after
wards agreeing with the monopoly that
the city should not use that power dur
ing the nifty years life of the monopoly
franchise. the necessity OF the high line
for the conduit wholly disappears. A
far better, straighter. and more salts
factory line for the conduit could easily
be found. and should have been adopt
ed on the smoother bench down below.
Mr.. Doremus (who was nominally the
consulting engineer. but who was not
consulted) expressly says that he
would not have recommended the loca-
tion Of the line where 1t is. And besides
that radical fault, In some degree be-
cause of 1t. the conduit is placed on
perilous cliffs, and in places is so
crooked as to foster leakage and waste
OF water
The conduit leaks. This is no doubt
because of the absence OF cement plas-
tering. To say that cement plastering
would not prevent leakage is to go In
the face OF experience. The joint build
Ing basement is In leaky ground. some
of the large school buildings are on
foundations where springs bubbled up
Yet In every case the cement founda-
tions keep the bases perfectly dry. If
cement Will keep the water out, when
such tremendous pressure as the weight
of a huge building rests upon the ce.
ment, then II certainly would hold wa
ter in. where the pressure Is insignia
cant 1t may be. as suggested, that
the silt from the water Will close the
leaks. If the Council is satisfied of this,
we'll and good; but unquestonably the
way TO be safe is TO give the inside OF
the conduit a good finish of cement.
The conduit Is crooked beyond need
All are satisfied OF this and of the need
In its present shape, the conduit, un-
plastered, crooked, and perilously |
perched. could not be depended upon
TO deliver the water turned into 1t. |
without serious loss, loss that the city |
cannot afford; 1t can far better pay |
the amount necessary to make the con-
dut safe and tight.
The walls OF the conduit are admit
tedly too thin and weak in some places. |
Wherever this is clearly SO, they
should be strengthened; and the
strengthening by masonry Is preferable
TO bracing with rods. If safety does
not require this thickening to be done
the whole length, then It should be con-