The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-02-06
THE c1TY's WATER SUPPLY.


That the water supply Of this city
should not only keep pace with the in.
creasing population and demand for
water. but ahead OF that demand, is a
certainty. We cannot afford to have
a scarcity OF water, nor TO discourage
the growth OF the city by saying that
we will not provide plenty for all pur-
poses. The water question is con-
stant ono in Salt Lake. and pc
culiarity of IL is that whenever new
start is proposed to add 20 the water
supply or TO better the distributing
system. an entirely new start is al
ways proposed, without any regard to
what has gone before or the favorable
results of investigation and money e1-
penditure.
As an Illustration of this, we may
note the selection by City Engineer
Frank Kelsey Of splendid location
for a great reservoir up parley's can
yon, where the minimum, OF expendi-
ture would impound the maximum sup
ply Of water. A good deal Of faith
sition, and favorable result was
reached. Bedrock for the dam was
easily located, and the abutting ridges
come so near together as to make the
length OF the dam the minimum; but
as soon as the absolute feasibility Of
that project was established, some other
proposition came in and it was
abandoned.
There has been from the first. as
we may note in passing. tendency in
the canyons for settlers to go in and
establish rights Of location, homesteads
and the like which the city afterwards
has had TO buy up. When Mr.. Pendle
ton was land and water agent Of the
city he kept sharp lookout against
infringements of that kind; but there
has not been enough done by way
OF keeping out encroachments since his
time, and the city, from time to time,
has been obliged TO buy out rights that
ought never to have been allowed to
become real claims.
The statement made with regard to
the shifting OF ground or various
propositions has prevailed in the dis
tributing system Of the city just as it
has in the matter OF water supply,
The result is that we have an abso-
lutely mixed situation in the water
distribution, where some parts of the
city have pipes larger than the needs
Of that part require, and in other
places the distributing system is not
adequate to the demands The gen
eral mains also are in some parts of
the city too small. while in others
they are ample. 1t would be TO the
advantage Of the city, although it
would cost great deal of money, to
put in q comprehensive and well-ad-
iusted system Of mains and distribut-
ing pipes, but the cost might be so
great as TO appall the city government
and the taxpayers The irregular sys-
tenn that we have is growth, and not
well planned distributing system.
Just now thero Is movement on
hand, which we trust will gain
strength and prevail for adding con-
siderably to the water supply Of the
city The particular direction from
which this added supply viii be drawn
is at present uncertain, but we ven
ture again TO commend to the con-
sideration OF all concerned, the Par
ley's canyon dam and reservoir as be
ing. first of all. absolutely safe, and,
second as affording complete and
practical solution Of our water ques-
tion for many years TO come; for there
can be stored in this Parley's canyon
reservoir as proposed, an immense
volume Of water with absolute safety,
Auxiliary reservoirs on tho benches
would also be useful, with conduits
connecting them with tho water sys-
tenn in various parts of the city. One
on the bench south Of the present
Parley's canyon reservoir would be
serviceable for all the southeastern
part OF the city and the Sugar
House annex. Reservoirs to store the
surplus water Of City Creek should also
be provided, this as much in order 10
prevent foods as to add 10 the reserve
water supply Of the city.
All this will cost money, and the
$4,000 900 bond issue proposed would
be none too large to cover the expendi.
turo: but We are inclined to think that
this amount of money would do every
thing necessary except the rectifcation
and unifcntion Of the distributing sup
ply for the city.
We note that the State Engineer has
given the city ample time to per
feet Its claims upon the lakes which
IL bought as 4 water reserve a few