The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-08-29
ANOTHER CHAPTER
ON WATER MATTER
More About How the Morris
MaIadministratiOn Trans
acted Business.
STATUS OF AFFAIRS FROM
PROGRESS COMPANY VIEW
Present Administration Runs
Against More Blunders OF
Morris Gang.

Although much has been written and
said with regard to the complications
made and the maladministration OF the
affairs of this city by Mayor Morris
and his Council, there is a chapter or
phase of them with which the people
is still unfamiliar, tliat is, the real
negotiations entered into by the Nor
ris administration with John =. Cahoon
of Murray TO secure tho water rights
owned by that gentleman and ms asso-
ciates AS Mr. Cahoon, together with
Messrs, Knudsen and Bagley and the
Progress company, in which the former
is heavily interested, recently had a
meeting with Mayor Thompson and
members of the present administration
with reference to these water rights,
no decision being reached, representa-
tive of The Tribune, accompanied. by
James w. Cahoon, visited the various
interests involved yesterday and re-
ceived from Mr.. Cahoon an outline of
the position he and his brother, John p,
and the Progress company hold in the
entire transaction.
When Negotiations Opened.
Negotiations between the late Morris
administration and John P. Cahoon
opened during the early part of the
Morris Democratic reign. Mr.. Cahoon
was approached by the city authorities
with regard to price for what is
known as the Gordon water right and
Spring creek. The latter finds its
source in some springs on the bench
land east of Murray and joins Big Cot.
tonwood creek Just above the pumping
station Of the Murray water system,
owned by the Progress company, and at
this point the Gordon water right be-
gins. At the time negotiations began
the latter right belonged to the Gordon
estate, the old, original Gordon having
owned 1t for thirty years and more and
purchased it and the mill from Brigham
Young, who made the original fling on
the water or whatever process was
necessary in those early days. For six
months they had full use of the water,
for the other half period the farmers,
OF course, had first claim for irriga
ton purposes. AT this time Mr., Ca
hoon represented the Gordon estate and
he held power of attorney to act for
the heirs and make the sale if possible.
Basis Of Negotiations.
The price asked was S135,00o, $780,
900 for the Gordon right and s25, 900
Miller mill right, held at point about
a mile further east. The basis of the
deal was that Mr.. Cahoon was TO use
his influence to get the farmers who
used the Big Ditch, running further
north and taken from Big Cottonwood,
to trade their rights in the ditch for
Spring creek water and this he agreed
TO do and did do, and this the farmers
were anxious to do, and III return the
city was to purchase Spring creek and
the Gordon right. And right here is
where the Morrisites threw down this
proposition, giving the double cross to
both parties, and putting the city to-
day In possession of water conduit
and no water right. Instead of giving
furnished them with water from the
West Jordan canal, having purchased
stock In that concern, and then turned
to Mr.. Cahoon and his associates and
offered $4,000 for their rights.
Progress Company Protects Its Rights
But in the meantime some of the
members of the Gordon estate desired
to sell. The Progress company pur-
chased the entire right and the Miller
right in Spring creek, paying therefor
100000, and $4,000, respectively For
this and other purposes the Progress
company reIncorporated for 100000,
and the deal being off with the Morris.
ties they proceeded to protect their
own rights and this is how they did ii.
For some time Mr.. Rnudsen had been
anxious that the Progress company
should become associated with him in
his enterprises. Besides owning his
mill right, together with Mr.. Bagley,
taken from Big Cottonwood, and for
which they now ask $4,000, Mr. Knud.
sen had fled and perfected a right to
use the waters of Big Cottonwood for
pany had a ffty-year franchise from
Murray City TO furnish water. For
many years they had been furnishing
light, and as Mr.. Knudsen was not
prepared to proceed with his power
proposition the Progress company built
canal from Big Cottonwood down to
near the knudsen mill and put in
power plant to generate 200 horse
power. the company putting in the
plant and paying Mr.. Knudsen sum
of money, obtaining in return a half
interest in his right to the use of Biz
Cottonwood. This plant does not inter-
fere with Mr.. Knudsen s mill right, it
being above it, and the interests of
some farmers in the creek above the
the old Miller mill below and on
Spring creek, they put in a plant to
generate an additional 60 horsepower:
and on the site Of the old Gordon mill
another plant was erected to furnish
100 horse e-power, the Gordon water
right being used. These three plants
generate 800 horse power, used TO fur
''S'sS w 4tuiioy SlIy, power TO
Salt Lake County to crush rock for the
roads and pump water for the sprink.
hing of the roads, and also. for Murray
City. All this the Progress company
claims has been done at cost of Sl0O- !
000 Fi'''
Progress Company's Proposition.
The proposition of the Progress com.
pany now is to sell to Salt Lake Citv !
the Gordon right, the Spring Creek |
right and the half interest in tho |
knudsen right to the use of the waters
of Big Cottonwood for power purposes, |
inc luding the power plant. Mr. Cahoon |
stated that no price was stipulated at !
the meeting held a week ago, but that
inc company is prepared to fix a price.
City, he states, can obtain its
water supply from Little Cottonwood:
and the company has in view another
source from which to derive power, but
tins he would not disclose. In the con.
summation OF the deaf stock in the
City canal would be considered as part
payment, and this. they believe. fhev