The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-07-12
AGEE WAN is
[ d KNOW
MUCH
WHY is THE CITY BUYING LAND
IN THE CANYON.
Has the Litigation Over Taylor Can
you Water Rights Been Oropped7
History OF the Case.

To the Ogden Standard: oh,
serve that the City Council is consid-
erinS the adyisabillty of buying some
land and water rights owned by Mr..
j. 3, Lewis, In Cold Water canyon.
NOW that the city mas bought the
water works system it is highly I'M
Dortant that an abundant supply of
good water shall be obtained, and the
purchase OF the land and water
rights mentioned may be advisable.
In this connection. however, | call at
tention TO the fact that it was gener-
ally understood at the time the Ques-
ION OF bonding the city to buy the wat
er works, was submitted to the peo-
pie, that the city would obtain all the
water rights which the Ogden Water
Works company owned including all
rights held by il in Taylor's conyon
The waters of this canyon are of the
best quality. and owing to the fact
that little or no stock ranges in this
canyon, there is no danger of its be-
coming polluted. The right to these
waters had been in litigation between
the Ogden Watch Works company
and the Union Pacific Railroad com.
pany for something like two years be-
fore the city bought the water system
and there could have been no object
in paying S5.00000 for the GIL land,
unless the city Intended to continue
this litigation and maintain It's right
TO these waters. 1t is now rumored.
however, that the city will probably
abandon the suit and surrender all
It's rights in this canyon, and enter
into contract TO furnish a certain
quantity of water to the railroad com
pany for 81 10000 or S5.00000 per
year. This is only about half what
the railroad company paid the Ogden
Water Works Company In other
words. while there has been no re-
duction in rates to the public, IT is
proposed 10 reduce the rate to the
railroad company about one-half.
Practically the entire expense OF this
litigation has already been incurred
Nearly all the evidence has been TAX
en- and but little remains TO be done
except to present and argue the mat
ter to the court. L have heard all the
testimony and am familiar with all
the evidence. and In my opinion the
Waterworks company had the case
practically Won, and IT, as We have
been told, the city has succeeded to
its rights and those rights are proper
ly looked after and protected. the city
viii be found entitled to the use OF
the greater portion of the waters oil
Taylors canyon. which would be one
Of the most valuable rights obtained
by the city 1t appears from the deeds
from Patton and Shaver TO the rail-
road company that they sold and con-
yeyed all the waters OF the canyon
at low water stage and hence the
city would be entitled TO at least any
excess of the quantity flowing at low
water stage. which Is very consider
able Even now n large quantity of
the best of water is flowing down
Twentyiourth street and going 30
waste As I understand. Mr. Richards
has been employed by the city TO as
sist the city attorney in the pending
litigation and in the protection of the
rights of the city. and | have no doubt
that if given a free hand he Will win
n valuable victory for the people Of
the city. | have no interest whatever
in the matter, except as a citizen de-
string TO see the rights of the city and
its people protected, but it seems to
me that the city has interests In
these canyon waters that will prove
to be of great value and that these
interests should be fully and prompt
ly protected, Respectfully. (Signed)
A. w. Agee.
Ogden. Utah. Jnly II. 1909"