The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-05-17

Salt Lakes most valuable asset is
water.
From the clear. sparkling mountain
streams fed by the SNOW in the canyons
and gulches of the Wasatch this water
is derived.
Its purity is unexcelled, and even in
the hot months of summer its users can
enjoy the GOODNESS of the mountain
creeks.
Historically, the evolution of the wa
ter supply system of Salt Lake is most
interesting.
When the Mormons first settled the
barren valley of the Great Salt lake
they found several mountain creeks go.
ing to waste in the desert.
First they utilized the water of City
creek, which they flowed through the
business center TO the site of the New
house buildings. and thence west across
Pioneer square into the Jordan river.
Each Had His Garden.
Each man had a little garden of his
own and diverted the water which he
needed through crude bitches onto his
land for irrigation and culinary pur-
poses. But the city soon grew TO such
an extent that finally the municipality
secured control of these water rights
and superintendent the distribution. The
same canals were used, but the city
saw that they were kept cleaned and
also made the division as equitable as
possible.
The first pipe line was laid from the
creek down Main street TO Third South
street, and it was about this time that
the creek was diverted from its course
through the business center TO the
North Temple street canal
The people who owned water rights
and used the water of the creek for ir-
rigation purposes were indignant at
this diversion of the water by the city
and entered an emphatic protest.
No Trouble Resulted.
Those living further to the south and
not having had before the advantage
OF city water were, however, overjeyed
and no serious trouble resulted.
The pipe lines were gradually ex-
tended through the settled portion, and
those who had previously used the
bitches were supplied from this source,
as well as others This kept up until
the city actually controlled the entire
flow of the creek.
About 1873 City creek water became
insufficient TO furnish the people of the
city with the water they desired. At
that time the people in what is known
as the Pleasant View district secured
their water for irrigation purposes from
Emigration creek. This was appropri-
ated in the same manner as was City
creek, and the canals extended into the
city. In time the canals were substi-
tuted by pipe lines the same as in the
case of City creek
Must Exchange Water.
1t was in 1879 that the city first be-
gan to realize that in order 10 obtain
the full benefit of the mountain streams
surrounding it, some way must be de-
Vised to furnish irrigation water TO
those who held water rights in the va
rious creeks in exchange for their
rights 10 the pure creek waters
Utah lake, which lies twenty-five
miles south of the city, was considered
the only solution of the problem. Pre-
viOus to this the Jordan river from The
Narrows 10 III Great Salt lake had
been harnessed by the farmers TO make
d garden out OF the desert upon which
they settled.
Utah Lake Rights Secured.
The city. by dint OF hard labor on the
part of its council. secured rights to -
per cent OF the flow from Utah lake
and Immediately started canal st Jor-
dan NarToWs. This canal is known to-
day as the Jordan & Salt Lake City
canal, and runs from the point named
parallel to the foothills OF the Wasatch
and about three miles distant until il
enters the city at Twelfth South and
Ninth East street. Thence it continues
its course along Ninth East, and finally
empties into City creek on North Tenn
pie street opposite the temple grounds.
An agreement was made by the city
with the water rights owners In Emil
grafton and City creeks to take this
water in exchange for the mountain
water, as the lake water was far bet