The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-01-20
CITY SOAKED FOR
KNUDSEN RIGHTS
r,wners Secure Top Figure in
SO-Called Compromise
for $4,000.
TAX ROLL VALUE $4,000
uIYoR MORRIS REFUSED TO
SETTLE FOR $4,000.

uas the american party city admin
,.,,ation purchased a gold brick for $780,
"a IN the shape of the Knudsen water
rights?
npring the heated city campaign OF 1905,
4. Gas charged that the Morris adminis-
,.,,,on had wofully neglected the city's
,,terests and in buying the farmers
.'sbts TO the waters Of Big Cottonwood
ersek had overlooked an insurmountable
.h.tacle TO the delivery OF the water
:, The power rights for a FIGURING mill
oyned by Knudsen. The value of the
I-oudsen rights was estimated at from
roOOO TO 100000, which. it was asserted.
,be citv would have to pay before one
Srop OF water from Big Cottonwood
could be turned into the city's conduit
Tho Knudsen matter was made an issue
IN the campaign and changes rung upon
N for all IL was worth. Mayor Morris
and his advisers insisted that the Knud-
sen rights were worth no such sum as
claimed BY the American party organs
and quietly. at the proper time. instituted
suit 10 condemn them. This suit was in
berited by the American party admins
tration. but never pressed to trial. Now
,,ore than n wear after the institution OF
Inc suit. the American administration
makes an alleged compromise with knud-
son for $4,000, which is heralded as a
croat victory OF diplomacy for the adj
ministration and the saving of vast
sum 20 the city
Could Have Been Bought Cheaper.
As a matter Of fact. the Knudsen claim
could have been compromised during the
administration Of Mayor Morris for $25.-
400. while Mayor Morris offered 10 settle
for $4,000. against the advice of the legal
department. which held that the Knudsen
rights could be secured for a less sum
through the means Of the pending suit
Mayor Morris also offered Knudsen $4,000
for his water rights and TO provide him
with electric power to run his mill This
was refused. Knudsen holding out for just
such a sum as has been obtained as a
compromise from the American admins
tration
Knudsen claimed that the city would
have 20 buy his mill and forty acres of
ground. along with his water rights. but
ne seems TO have changed his mind in
this regard AS a matter Of fact. the
tax rolls show that all his property is
assessed for less than $4,000. and this
would have been brought out in the evil
dcnce on the trial Of the condemnation
suit
II was the belief OF the legal department
Of the Norris administration that these
facts. showing Knudsens policy as
against the needs of the people OF Salt
Lake, rich and poor alike. for the water
in question. would have brought a fav-
orable verdict from any fair-minded
jury.
Only Thing Accomplished.
The present discussion OF the Knudsan
matter calls to mind the fact that its
settlement is the only thing thus far ac-
complshed by the American administra-
ton towards increasing the city's water
supply. The purchase Of the water i'm
the Tanner ditch. negotiations for which
on terms favorable to the city were In
progress during the Norris administration
has been entirely neglected and the on,
lions allowed 20 lapse. This would have
secured for the city one-fourth of the
flow Of Big Cottonwood. making seventy
five per cent I'm all controlled by the city.
Negotiations for securing sixty per cent
OF the flow Of Mill creek. which would
have added materially to the city's supply
OF water, have also been allowed to lapse.
The accomplishments Of a year by
the American administration I'm the mat
ter OF increasing the citys water supply
are hardly enough TO make a cakle over
remarked former city official in dis
cussing tie matter.
We have moved to 142 Main street
salt Lake Photo Supply Co