The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-09-14
THE WATER FILINGS.

We have heretofore considered favor
ably the broad proposition TO utilize
the headwaters Of tho Weber and Provo
rivers in big land reclamation
ley and portions of Salt Lake Val
Hey. This project was laid before a
meeting in the Commercial club rooms
on Tuesday, and was unanimously APP
proved, The project would open up
TO tillage great deal of land that is
now idle, and make it largely produc-
tive and profitable The laud is good
both in Cedar Valley and in the
Salt Lake Valley. and in both cases it
is convenient TO market, and the
products raised would bring good
prices It was natural, therefore, as
well as commendable, for the meeting
TO approve the project, as it would add
much to the productive land of the
State
We have heretofore mentioned in
connection with this matter, and with
the general subject of the conservation
of water, the desirability of Salt Lake
City taking steps to fortify its water
supply by impounding the waste waters
Of the springs in the three main can
yons, City Creek, Parley's Canyon,
and Big Cottonwood. We take this oc.
casion to urge again upon the city the
critical nature Of the water situation,
in view of the largely increased and
constantly increasing demand for wa
ter by reason of the added population
and the manufacturing that is growing,
and that we desire 10 have built up
here, which calls for a large use of
water The situation is critical also in
another phase, which is that if the city
does not bestir itself and file upon this
surplus water and take steps to uti-
lize it, the first thing it knows some
person or corporation will make the
filing and the city will be shut out.
This view Of the case may not have oc-
CURED TO the city officials, but 1t is
one that calls imperatively for imme-
date and decisive action.
The filing on the waters at the heads
of Weber and Provo rivers. with the
necessary impounding Of tho flood wa
ters which this filing implies, draws
attention IN practical and emphatic
form TO the Importance of salt Lake
City saving the canyon waters i'll the
melting season. Salt Lake City should
have ample reservoirs up City Creek,
up Emigration Canyon. up Farley s. up
Mill Creek, up Big Cottonwood, and
up Little Cottonwood. where the flood
waters can be stored and drawn upon
later In the season at need In Little
al the terminal of the
huge moraine "A few miles up the
canyon, there is an ample opportunity
to put in big dam and store large
quantities Of water. Up Big Cotton
wood there are many lakes whose ca
pacity could be added to for storage
and there are many opportunities for
storage reservoirs besides. Up Mill
Creek the opportunity may not be so
good, but still reservoir sites can be
found. Up Parlcy's Canyon nothing
could possibly be better or more perfect
and easily available than the point Sc
lected by former Engineer Frank Kel-
sev AT the Harding flat. Up Emigra
tion Canyon the opportunities for
reservoirs are good, and up City Creek
at least three reservoirs could he put
in to advantage, the lower one at
Pleasant Valley, which could be graded
down and the earth used to reinforce
the dam, and reservoir of very large
could be provided, We all
wildly how the floods of two
years ago last spring threatened damage
10 the city by reason of the wash
in City Creek Canyon, A good deal of
expense had to he undergone at that
time to protect the city. There was
enough water at that time ran 10 waste
TO have filed almost any kind of "A
reservoir; and every year immense
quantities Of water run to waste from
the canyons named, All this water
could and should be impoundcd and
held for the city's use later in the
season,
Again we urge that the city should
take steps Immediately to secure this
flood water beyond all question: and
the preparation to put in the dams to
store the water should not be DELAYED
beyond next season at the farthest.
STATE Roam pTJTT nrNrr