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Show 10 ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF WATER DEVELOPMENT " The lake water is not potable, and its elevation above the city is not sufficient to admit of a satisfactory gravity supply to the city. " The cost of its purification and its elevation to afford sufficient pressure will be expensive items in connection with its transportation. Its temperature is too great to make it desirable for culinary purposes. It is, however, most admirably adapted and well situated for irrigating a greater portion of the lands which lie between the city and the lake, and which are now irrigated by the mountain streams that issue from the several adjacent canyons. The water from these mountain streams is cold, clear, pure and perfectly adapted and situated for a city supply. This mountain water is all appropriated and used for irrigation by the farmers. To acquire a right to its use the city must pay for it either by direct purchase from each of the numerous owners or through condemnation proceedings or bv the exchange or substitution of lake water. " To purchase outright would be an endless and impracticable undertaking, both on account of the great number of individuals to be dealt with, and for the reason that after the object had become known prices would advance to impossible figures. " To condemn would be the only practical method of purchase. But either plan involves the purchase also of every farm and improvement affected, for without the water these would be valueless and the land would soon return to its original condition of barrenness. " The degradation of these lands through the withdrawal of the water for their irrigation, would be most unfortunate to say the least. It is a question whether the City's growth would not be retarded rather than advanced through such a course. 14. An early view of Utah Lake. Although unfit for drinking, the waters of Utah Lake form the basis of exchange agreements whereby, to this day, potable canyon water is obtained for Salt Lake City. S. L. C. Eng. Dept. |