The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-09-20
THE MENACE TO THE CITY.

When the sheepmen drove their flocks
from the winter feeding grounds into
the hills last spring they persuaded the
city commission to allow them to use
the old trail which, as experience has
shown, was certain to contnminate the
water supply Of this city. The result
was that dead sheep were found in the
streams, and tho people Of this city
were immensely disgustod with the
whole procedure. The Tribune opposed
the concession TO tho sheepmcn, con-
sidering the interests of the sheep to
be properly negligible compared with
the health of tho people of Salt
Lake. The people hero are entitled to
pure water, and they have pure water
when the streams arc allowed to flow
impurities. But when sheep carcasses
Rre found in the streams, it is impos-
sible to avoid contamination, and as
experience has shown in years gone by,
the people hero have suffered contagion
Of typhoid traceable to this contamiua.
tiou Of The water.
The health authorities here made EN-.
phatic protest last spring against the
use OF that old trail as certain to con
tamfnato tho water supply Of Salt Lake
City. And yet the commission, by
majority vote, permitted the use of that
trail. it is not easy to sec why they
should have done this, but it is certain
that they did.
Tho Tribune made its protest at the
time against the opening of that old
trail for the sheep herds Its protest
was the voice substantially Of the city
Of Salt Lake, for we had opportunities
from all sides TO make that protest in
behalf of the public; but all was Of no
avail, and the sheepmen were allowed to
use the trail TO the poril of the city's
health
At the same time we pointed out that
the identical reasons which governed
the commission in allowing sheep to 90
up that old trail would be compelling
in allowing them to come down again
over the same old trail; for, if the sheep
go up by permission they have to come
down by permission, since it is certain
that If they were penned up in the hills
they would all perish during the win
ter. This peril of the return of the
many people in this city are Justly
nervous and apprehensive that evil re.
suits will follow The typhoid con-
tagion which comes from the contami.
nation Of the water is usually worse in
the fall than In the spring, because
in the spring there is so much water
that good deal OF the contamination
is flooded away. In the fall there is
less water, and all OF it remains in the
shrunken streams.
1t had been supposed that the com
mission was providing a means whereby
the sheep could be returned to the win
tor feeding ground without coming
down the old trail and contaminating
the water Of the city. We Judge, how
ever, from the following statement
sent to The Tribune by a committee of
the ladies' clubs Of this city, that the
projected relief has not been provided
This letter Is as follows:
Salt Lake City, Sept. 10
EDITOR Iribune:-lt appears from re-
cent publications that the project repard-
Ing new trail for the sheep NAV fail
10 materialize. This Is a matter of
great surprise and sincere regret to MANY
cllizens OF Salt Lake and to the women
especially. because 1t was supposed that
the commissioners had purchased a tract
Of land in the northwestern section of
IN ne city to be used In the passage of
sneep TO % and from summer grazing
grounds. This proposed trail is so To-
Gated that there would be no possibility
OF pollution Of the water supply OF the
The necessity of pure water docs NOT
need any discussion Salt Lake has In
the past suffered epidemlcs OF tynboId
fever. and during the present summer
there have been 30 many cases OF ty-
city that the people of that section have
been alarmed over conditions. II Is be-
lieved that the disease is directly due
TO the contamination OF our water supply
turing OF stock on the streams in Par
ley's canyon. Surely II Is only just that
the people OF Salt Lake demand that the
water supply Of the city shall be prop
erly supervised by their paid officers
the commissioners. 1t Is to be hoped
that the newspaper report is erroneous
ana lnAL lne commissioners VIII take
proper measures to safegua I'd the health
and lives OF the citizens OF Salt Lake.
COMMITTEE.
The Tribune emphaticaIly joins the
ladies in this protest against allowing
sheep TO come down On the old trail |
the waters Will be sure to be
contaminated by such use OF that trail |
There has been ample time since the |
sheep were allowed to 20 up into the
hills last spring TO provide return trail |
that would serve their purpose, and |
that would in no way be menace to |
the city. We consider that the ladies |
are fully justified in making their pro-
test; and they would also be justified |
in taking any further steps that may
be available TO them, either in their |
or individual capacities. that |
would prevent this outrage which |
threatens the health of the people of |
Salt bake. 1t is to be hoped that the |
commission will think better Of the mat !