The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-05-11

~ the prevention OF danger 10 tht
~ public health through pollution
Of the state water supplies
and contending that the driving OF
large herds Of sheep over the Big
mountain trail in Emigration canyon
would result in the contamination of
one of Salt Lakes principal sources
Of water supply, the state board of
health yesterday passed a resolution
TO secure from the attorney general
an opinion as to the powers of the
board. with a view of enjolning sheep
men from the use of the trail
Recently, 4 resolution was passed by
the city commission prohibiting sheep
from going over the Big mountain trail
and limiting shecpmen TO the use OF
the Little mountain trail. One route
| leads into Morgan county and the 9th
| er into Summit county, Both branch
out from Emigration trail at a point
several miles up the canyon.
Following the city commission s ac-
tion. shecpmen protested, and the COM
missiouers, with the exception Of w.
II. Korns. voted to rcscind the meas
ure, granting sheepmen the right to
use the Big mountain trail until June
l5, Then Dr. r. 3. Beatty, secretary
Of the state health board, filed a pro-
test, asking that the board be given
a hearing and setting forth that the
use of the Big Mountain trail would
make impure one Of the city's chief
water sources. The communication was
| filed and the request ignored, except
! by Mr. Korns. who, as commissioner
Of tho waterworks department, sided
with the health board.
Statement Is Issued.
To explain their position, Commits.
sioncrs Morris, keyscr and Lawrence
Thursday issued a public statement.
Mayor Park has taken no hand in the
matter owing to his continued i'll
ness,
Yesterday. Commissioner Korns and
DR.. Beatty conferred at length on the
matter. in ontiuncti with members
of the health board. The point upon
which the health board bases it's stand
is that the Big mountain trail in
cludes the banks of Mountain Dell
TO three miles. The Mountain Dell
stream is part of Big Mountain creek
which is one of the largest tributaries
of Parley;s creek, from which Salt Lake
draws its principal water supply for
use by residents.
DR.. Beatty and those back Of him
contend vigorously that the trailing of
sheep IN largo numbers along the banks
of the Mountain Dell stream and
through its waters would inevitably
and excessively contaminstep one of
the city's chief water sources of sup
ply and endanger the public health
They declare that the state board of
health has the power TO enjoin any pro.
cedurc that would result in a nuisance
| or danger to public health, and that
| lnasmuch as the authority of the city
commission to prevent the threatened
danger mas been questioned. the board
will bring all its power and resources
to bear to protect the public
View of G. B. Stewart.
G. B. Stewart. secretary Of the Utah
| Woolgrower association, declared that
the Big Mountain trail was the only
one over which the sheep could 90. He
! said that the whole trouble had been
caused by cottagers near Big Mountain
creek, and that sheepmen were not
being given consideration commeu-
surate with the value of the industry to
the state.
The health board members meet this
assertion by saying there is another
| trall and evon a third over which the
sheep could pass, and declare that sheep.
men are trying selfishly to save them.
selves an insignificant distance in
trailing at tao expense of the public
health.
The resolution passed yesterday by
the board sets forth the points as re.
lated in the foregoing and declares the
unanimous intention of the board to
exercise such powers as are conferred
| upon 1T by law TO prevent the trailing
OF sheep along the stream in the man,
ner proposed. 1t also refers the mat.
ter to the attorney general for his ouip.
| ION as to the powers of the board in
the premises, and announces the in.
tention Of the board TO secure a re.
stralning order il necessary.