The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-05-24
HANDLING THE WATERS.

Parley's Canyon, remind ono irresist-
IDLY of the effort made in the past to
give some attention to impounding the
water Of these streams for use later in
the season. As it is now the water
from City Creek ls not merely running
to waste, il is a positive menace, and
costs the city considerable money to re-
strain the overflow and prevent dam
age. Somewhat the same thing. but
to less pronounced extent, is seen in
the rush of waters from Parlcy's Cam
yon. Now, all this could be prevented !;
the threatened damage from overflow
could be averted; and the water, in
place of being a nuisance aad a threat
of destruction, could be made of the
highest utility, later on, TO the people
of this city,
Ii will be remembered that few
years ago q project took definite form
in the City Council to put in up Par
ley's Canyon, near the old Hardy place,
a reservoir that would impound water
enough 10 supply the city for a hun
dred days. That hundrcd-day supply
"OuIu ll'i' uo VN'i buN ulphEubS
portion Of the summer and early fall,
and would be an incalculably valuable
resource to the city's water supply.
The Same is true of City Creek Can
yon There arc abundant places up
City Creek where retaining dams could
be put in to impound the water to good
effect. Every days discharge of City
Creek right now would be ample to
fully supply the city for two days
during the scarcity of summer. There
Is a short distance up City Creek Can
yon a fine open place which could be
made very commodious, and just this
side of it the bed rock crops out and
would afford a firm foundation for a
dam. A retaining dam could be put in
here that would be as solid as the ever
lasting hills; and the water impounded
thereby could never be n threat to the
safety of life and property further
down the canyon or in the city. The
advantages and opportunities Of City
Creek in this respect have been fully
inquired into and reported upon, and
the data are all fled in the CONNER
cial club, Under the auspices of Colonel
Holmes, working with committee of
fifty appointed some eight years ago to
investigate the water supply of the city,
the opportunities afforded by City Creek
for reservoir purposes were fairly set
forth and declared to be perfectly feas-
ible; so that it would pay doubly to
put in these reservoirs; first, TO avert
trouble whenever there is high water
and control the flow of the stream;
and, second, the impounding of water
necessary to that purpose would be Of
great advantage to the city later in
the season
1t is true that for the present the
added water supply from Big Cotton
wood Canyon will be ample for all pur-
poses. But this is going TO be a great
city, and we believe that every oppor-
tunity should he improved to retain
the water advantages that are at hand
If the city is not prepared TO put in
these reservoirs, some company will
presently ask the privilege of doing so,
and viii impound the water for private
corporate use. At the present, the
city is in the lead and stands supreme
in its claim Of prior right; it only
needs occupancy to clinch the munici-
pal claim in these respects. We believe
in doing such work as is necessary to
hold the city's supremacy and primacy
in this matter, and think that work
should be begun the present season.
Sufficient preliminary work was done
up Farley Canyon TO establish the
fact that the dam is feasible The bed
rock is easily reached and the abutting
ridges on either side come almost to-
gether, making everything very favor
able for the purpose of putting in the
retaining dam. The same is true in
City Creek Canyon. We believe that
systematic plan to put in the retaining
dam spoken of in Parley's Canyon and
one or more in City Creek Canyon
should he worked out, and preparations
begun for the reservoirs that could
easily be established in those CANYONS.
Salt Lake City is likely to need, within
impounded in these canyons IL is
swiftly growing metropolis, and Will
soon need four times the water that is
needed now The preliminary steps ia
impound the water of City Creek and
Parley's should therefore be taken now,
and the city's prior rights thoroughly
established and maintained