Show THE ROUTE lob FOB THE CANAL tue THE minutes of the meeting of the city council show that a petition was presented to that body from a number of residents of big cottonwood and mill creek wards asking I 1 the council to reconsider its action adopting 0 the upper route for the jordan and salt lake city canal at the same time a remonstrance was also presented from residents of the same wards represented as owners of a water ditch known as the lower canal the petition and remonstrance were both referred to the committee on improvements which wag waa specially enlarge ed by the addition of two exper experienc experience lenc ed members we think this subject worthy of grave and careful consideration the city council will no doubt examine into the matter thoroughly and take such a course as will be proper kroper proper and for the best beat interest of the public with a due regard for all vested rights that may have llave accrued and not stick by a resolution ro nor for the simple reason that it has been once onee adopted if on further deliberation it is discovered that the lower route is the most advisable we have no doubt that the council will be perfectly willing to reconsider and comedown come down to the better way at any rate we feel assured that no rash or stubborn policy will wili govern the council on a matter of such vast importance we understand that the great ad vantage van tage claimed for the upper survey is that by that route the canal will water some thirty more city blocks than it would if brought brou glit gilt b by y the lower route this would be a very strong recommendation in its favor it those blocks would really gain anything by it but we understand that all the lots therein are already watered from another source so that the capacity of the canal would only be taxed that much more by its elevation above their line this is not new ground to be benefited by the canal it is already supplied with water and would doubtless have more on the completion of the canal if the latter was wal taken by the lower route as there would be more to spare than there is now for the upper districts against the upper route we are informed is the ugly fact that just south sou til of mill creek it would have to come around a hill where the so soil is of such a nature that it would have tobe piled and for a considerable distance which would entail great expense this would be ab absolutely feces ary for the safety of hou houes houses es and farms below this disadvantage t it app appears rs to us far more than ott ets the the questionable advantage of watering the thirty blocks already provided for especially when it is remembered that all the canal will carry will be needed below against the lower route the following objections are oft offered ered it will cross the lines of the water and gas mains it will involve litigation with the claimants of the lower canal who have used it for eight years as an irrigating ditch to the first objection we have to say that it appears to us but a mall small t one it i not absolutely necessary that either the water or gas mains shall be exactly straight and the engineer can certainly find lind some simple method of securing practical ways for the pipes at the points where the canal would cross them to the tile second one we suggest that the claims of certain parties paries to the lower canal are of rather doubtful validity and in any cae can no doubt be settled amicably berolo berbie the route is finally determined in the tile year 1867 a company wa wat 1 organized called the tiie deseret irrigation and navigation canal company which was created a body cor borate in law and which built the canal now called the lower canal or the church canal and acquired rights in relation thereto which are still valid in law and injustice the right of way was purchased for a considerable part of the route and stock was taken in the thu company by many of our leading citizens it is stated that when by reason of the building of the railroad some of the purposes for which the canal was constructed were abandoned the people in the mill creek and cotton conwood wood region were permitted to use the tile canal for an irrigating ditch with the understanding that when needed it was to revert to the use of the company giving them the privilege if they have used it for seven or eight years and imagine that by that use they have acquired legal ownership of the canal we think they will find that they are mistaken and if we are rightly ind int informed ormed as to the facts there IQ i little doubt that they have no moral or just right to it for how can they claim ownership in property the use of which they have only had by summie sufferance rance nance however there may be circumstances connected with this questin about which we are not informed and in the tile event of persons havin having acquired any night right legal or mom moral in that portion of the canal under consideration equitable arrangements could doubt doubtless ler leq s be made to the satisfaction of all parties concerned no one should be deprived of any actual right private p property ro nhi zhi r must not be taken for p public use without fair com eom compensation pensa t ion lon if the old canal can be utilized to the saving of expense and of property which has cost many of 0 our ur citizens considerable outlay economy and regard for fair dealing would suggest that the lower route should be adopted we do not seek to influence I 1 the committee in its conclusions lut but we suggest these points for consideration desiring only that what is best shall be done all the circumstances being duly weighed and all vested rights being fairly considered |