OCR Text |
Show 3 ' " "! v lb, ;V ' ';;J i' ' 1 1 , j - f X -tf I - i v - ' , ; m urt? I. V7B WATER PAID Another chapter in the saga of the West Bountiful water system has come to an end this month. Retiring Clerk LaRue P. Hugoe and Mayor Arch Widdison made the final payment on the water bond July 1, 1977. The water picture pic-ture has not always been so bright. ON MAY 15, 1956 the hard-fought hard-fought water bond election for $185,000 had failed. The issue encountered many obstacles from the beginning. Opposi-h, Opposi-h, tion to a new water system it ' had said there was no need for M I a new system, since their artesian wells had provided i sufficient water for them and their ancestors for many years. There was no indicate indica-te tion that they could not con- tinue to provide the water. They had forgotten the 1 drought of the 1930's, when many of the wells went dry. Then citizens had to carry J water in barrels from the wells yet flowing. Water had to be used carefully and J election failed, it appeared that no new system would be i- instituted. ! ON MAY 28, 1957, however, the new water bond election for $296,000 passed. The opposition op-position made dire predictions predic-tions that not even fifty families would ever make the hookups to the city system. In December of 1957 Omer and Lydia Bangerter and Clarence Samuelson were hooked up to the system. Today, twenty years later, there are 500 hookups. A FEW OF the citizens of the city are still using their wells, such as the Ron Ban-gerters Ban-gerters and the Ron Blacks. Citizens on Porters' Lane have been awaiting the coming com-ing of the city culinary water system to their area. Time will show what will come to pass. The present system may not be capable of handling all of the areas which may be annexed to the city. After the 1957 water bond election proved successful, $239,000 worth of bonds were sold. This was a figure lower than the bond issue had provided, but it was necessary neces-sary to provide for any emergencies emer-gencies which might arise during the construction. AS OF JULY 1, 1977 $239,000 had been paid back, as well as $160,560 in interest, making a total of $399,560, paid back by the citizens, on the basis of a 4 mill tax levy. When the pioneers first settled in West Bountiful, they build their homes close to the springs which could provide sufficient water for tho familw nnotc Fnr example, the Walker Packs built on what is the present Byron Ranck property on 4th North; the Mont Holbrooks built on what is the present Clara Turner home on the frontage road; the Israel Barlows built on the present Mamie Holbrook property on 10th North; the Frank Nobles built where the Lamar Noble home is located; and the Jed Smiths on the present Leland Smith home. SHORTLY BEFORE the beginning of the 20th Century, settlers began drilling artesian wells for their culinary and other water use. This was the scene 20 years ago as members of the West Bountiful Town Board watched water flow from the new system. Members were, 1 to r. Robert Telford, Arch Widdison, David McKean, LaRue' P. Hugoe, Clarence Samuelson, J. Hy Peterson, with a worker from Poulsen Construction. Not present, Delbert Noble. X ! '- - f J ' - , , I This week the check was made out paying oft the system. It was signed by LaRue P. Hugoe, and now Mayor Arch Widdison. The fame of the good water coming forth spread far and wide. Even today travelers on 11th West often stop to get a refreshing drink from the flowing wells. As the years progressed, the Melvin Woods and other enterprising citizens formed the West Bountiful Irrigation Co. The line went down 5th South to Woods, Rodgers, and Fergusons, and along 5th West and Highway 91 to the present Eldredge House. CLARENCE Samuelson was the town board president at the time of the water bond passage in 1957. He was replaced by Robert W. Telford Tel-ford in 1958. The 1957 coun-cilmen coun-cilmen were Robert Telford, David McKean, Delbert No- ble. Arch Widdison, and J. Hy -t Peterson. 4 Mrs. LaRue Peterson 4 Hugoe and her late husband 4 have been involved with the 4 payments for the water sys- tern ever since the beginning of the town of West Bountiful. 4 They have served well in many capacities. " FRANK HATCH was the first water master. He served ' in this position, as well as serving as police of the town. Bud Layton and his father Irv. Layton have read the meters ever since. This year Ralph Lees was employed to assist Bud Layton, as his father was retired, am |