The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-04-12
DAMS IN BIG COTTONWOOD.

DAMS IN BIG COTTONWOOD'
1t is stated that plans have been
completed in the City Engineer g otfice
for the construction of dams at the
outlet of Lake Phoebe at the head oil
Big Cottonwood canyon, and the I'M
pounding Of the waters of that iaKe,
and also that plans are complete Tor
raising the waters of Lake Mary, up
the same canyon. and impoundlng tne
same. There is no question of the pro-
prietev and indeed Of the need, OF
these improvements. Ultimately we
have no doubt that Big Cottonwood
will afford opportunities for many res
ervoirs sufficient in fact TO supply
ample water for city Of a million pco-
pie or more in this place. The flood
waters OF Big Cottonwood. If thorough
| " utilized, would serve almost to make
lake of this whole valley. This sup
ply is the greatest we have in the nat
ural flow of this valley. (the Jordan
elimipated.) and it is a very great
supply.. The need of putting in the
| Iimprovements at the lakes named is
| imperative also so as to fully perfect
the title of the city to the lakes and
the waters therein. So the work is
desirable and necessary. II is to be
noted, also, that the benefit OF i'm
pounding the water in these lakes will
be obtained at cost that is merely
nominal, and this adds to the approval
with which the public will receive the
news OF these improvements.
At the same time, we beg leave to
point out to the commission that while
this work is necessary and to be COM
mended thoroughly. it does not meet
the requirement as set forth by the
fire insurance board of this city
Water impounded so far up Big Cot
tonwood would take long time to
reach the city, when il is turned
down the canyon. What the insurance
men stipulate for is an Immediate
emergency supply close to the city, so
that the water could be brought into
use Immediately in case of fire. Res
ervolrs up Big Cottonwood canyon and
the utilization of Lakes Phoebe and
Mary are undoubtedly desirable;
eventually they will become absolutely
necessary; but in. the meantime there
must be an Immediate emergency sup
ply that can be brought TO the city |
with the least delay. It would prob
ably take the waters from Lakes |
Phoebe and Mary two hours to reach |
the city, and perhaps even more, after !
al.
reservoir on high enough ground to the |
eastward of the city or on the north |
bench, to give sufficient head, and |
which can be released and brought into |
service in case Of need.
The work of maxine reservoirs of
the two lakes named is a necessary
work that should be Immediately done
in order To protect the city's interest
in those lakes as reservoirs. But an
supply convenient to the city |
on one Of the high benches is a re-
quirement of the fire insurance men,
without which we cannot expect to get
a reduction in insurance rates 1t
would pay the city to put in this near.
by reservoir in order to get that re.
duction, and the required water re.
source should he provided. Then, for
The near future, the big reservoir up
Parlcy's canyon should be put in, and
hat would give reinforcement Of our
water supply that Will be ample for
years TO come
We do not look with favor on the i'm
mediate putting in of reservoirs up City |
Creek canyon. because these reservoirs
would be vecy costly per gallon as com
pared with the cost Of impounding an
immense supply of water up Parley's
canyon. The dams up City Creek could
be made perfectly secure by modern
hydraulic engineering science. but, as
we have stated heretofore, the perco.
Iatlon is SO great there through the
loose soil and gravel that the rcsev.
Volrs would have 10 be lined with ce-
ment IN order to retain the water that
might be turned into them; and so as
an economic proposition the impound.
ing of water up City Creek canyon
should be left until other resources
have been exhausted.
We are glad to see that the city com.
mission is pushing the water supply
question. and trust that the matter
viii he got into good practical shape
before 1t Is too late In the season to
get on with the work