OCR Text |
Show in upon the users of water of the streams flowing into the Great Salt Lake, and upon the cities discharging their sewage into said lake, and upon the owners of land adjacent to said lake to be investigated by three disinterested engineers, one of whom shall be from the State Agricultural College, and one from the University of Utah, and shall have become satisfied therefrom or from such other investigation as he may determine to make that said project will not have any detrimental effect upon said cities, water users, or owners of land, and shall have approved the report or reports of said in- vestigation.• Now the Governor could not possibly have reached any definite and certain conclusions in regard to these matters and it was not proper in any event that they should have been thrust upon him. Certainly the project involves interference with present municipal sewage disposal operations; probably it involves to some small extent the encroachment upon private rights. It may have some influence upon the rights of water users from the water sources involved but what of it? Either by condemnation or by private contract or by concession the cities affected will be compensated. If they feel that the benefit to them is sufficient then they will waive such rights as they may have and assume the responsibility of solving the problem themselves or they will demand compensation. So also as to individuals affected. These matters always and of course must be considered but they are of no importance. They are matters of the same general nature as are involved in almost all public projects. We decide to build a highway or a railroad or a canal. Rights- of- way must be acquired, ravines filled, cuts made; endless detail is involved, but these matters do not properly initially engage attention- comparatively they are of trifling importance. So it is as to those the effect of which the bill referred to devolved upon the Governor. They are important if he has to decide in advance in regard to the mechanics of the thing- if he must decide for example how the sewage disposal operations of Salt Lake City or Layton are going to be affected and how the difficulty is to be met. But things of that and similar nature do not in my opinion come within the function of the chief executive of the State. The answer plainly is that either compensation or adjustment must be made. As to Salt Lake City, I am inclined to believe that it would have taken the view that the matter- the successful conclusion of the enterprise was of such public interest and importance that it would assume the responsibility of solving the matter itself. As to the water users who might be affected. The problem is more theoretical than practical for after all the water in the watersheds of which Great Salt Lake is the bottom finds itself and will find itself into that lake. As it is Salt Lake City has filed on all the surplus waters of the Jordan and Weber rivers. Salt Lake City can and with certain reservations not material to the success of the project I have no doubt it will surrender its right so acquired to the organization which finally assumes this undertaking. What remains? Why as the matter stands some one, I hope those tears present will decide by what means the end shall be reached. The Governor - 31 - |