Salt Lake Telegram | 1922-08-05 | Page 6 | Time for Action

for the matter Is not likely to end with the stub- born refusal to act wliichjust now seems to dominate the commission. Eventually the demand de-mand for action may be a little more pronounced than that which has already been pressed on the commission. . " " " . -- I ' Time for Action I , j COME years to the people of Salt Lake and Utah were very much concerned when the wild ducks In this vicinity became Infected with disease. The sportsmen of. the state were naturally natur-ally aroused and public clamor resulted in the brinrjnk; of federal experts here to study the problem. It was "established, at that time, that the disease wts stated by the city sewaj,"whfeh ran into the Jordan river, contaminating the marshes and natural haunts of the ducks. A flume was built to carry the sewage Into Great Salt lake, so that -within a few years the disease entirely disappeared, A year ago the flume gave way and no efforts were made by the city commission to repair the damage, with the result that the sewage has since been disposed dis-posed of In the old manner, going into the river instead of the lake. The ducks again are showing show-ing symptoms of the disease which caused such widespread destruction a few years go. Notwithstanding Not-withstanding the fact that the attention of the commission has been called to the condtfion, the city ignores the problem. I At a time when the city commission is spend-Ing spend-Ing money without regard to revenue, it does not seem that it cannot afford the small expenditure necessary to do this work. We are urging the city commission to exercise the strictest economy, to cut out all unnecessary expenditures, but there is a line between economy and foolish hazards. If the city were required to fight damage suits Wch might arise from the present situation, it would Jose more than it would save in refusing to do the work, Irrespective of the outcome of the suit This does not take Into consideration the loss which accrues to the sportsmen of the state and the owners-of property where the city refuse Is flooding the" banks of the Jordan river. We do not know just what it may take to stir the commission to action in this matter. It has ignored the letters of the sate fish and game department and seems to have no initiative initia-tive of its own. Sooner or later, however. It must realize that it was elected to serve the public.