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Show What Will a Dry Lake Mean to Utah County? By Geo. F. Shelley. In my article in last week's Citizen, the writer call-ed attention at-tention to the draining of Utah Lake which has been taking place from year to year ever since the installation of the pumps by Salt Lake City and County, so that when an emergency year came, such as we had last year, there was but little water left in the lake. Then pumps were installed at Pelican Point from which place practically all the water of the lake can be drained off. In past years apparently all the concern the Salt Lake people had was to keep their canals full irrespective of the effect ef-fect it was having on Utah Lake and Utah County. A number of years ago, the writer was returning from the east, on board a D. & R. G. train. As the cars emerged from Spanish Fork Canyon, the sun was just coming up over the horizon, hori-zon, and Utah Valley was a picture fit for a king to behold. Many tourists were on the train and they were enchanted with the beautiful picture. It was March and tbe valley was taking on its carpet of green, and there in tbe center, like a great diamond dia-mond glistening in the sun, was our magnificent Utah Lake. The tourists in their rapture exclaimed "What a beautiful place in which to live." This brings us to the question ' ' Is Utah Lake of any value to the people of Utah County, and shall we permit it to pass out of existence?" The writer has a letter before him received from a member mem-ber of the State Tax Commission in answer to the query "What in your opinion would be the effect of the drying up of Utah Lake on the value of property in Utah County ? ' ' And while, for obvious reasons the gentleman does not attempt to give in figures the depreciation of values, he ends his letter with this statement : "As to the scenic beauties of Utah Lake, the fish and game, and the pleasure resort privileges, would all be greatly effected in case the lake should remain dry for any length of time, and to reflect this into its value as against the Utah County lands, we would be unable to give a very definite conclusion." In the opinion of the writer, property values in Utah County in case of a dry lake, (which is enivitable if the present free pumping continues) would be effected to the time of many hundred thousand of dollars ; and if Salt Lake pumps Utah Lake dry, every property owner in Utah County should have a just claim against them for damages. Good and pleasant living conditions are what enhances property values, and the wiping out of Utah Lake will make living liv-ing conditions in Utah County much less desirable. Besides the effect the drying up of Utah Lake will have on property values, there is no question but that the atmosphere and climate of Utah County will be effected. The evaporation from Utah Lake adds humidity to the air, softening the effect of the hot sun summer days, and contributing con-tributing to the falling of the dew at night. Those who have experienced life on the desert will appreciate this. At the lake side this is more apparent than farther away, but Utah Lake has been felt all over Utah County. Formerly in the summer time when we had a south wind from the Lake, it was really refreshing. re-freshing. Now when a south wind comes up, we see a cloud of sand-and dust eminating from the partially dry bed of the lake. The Climate of Utah County cannot help but be effected. As stated before by adding moisture to the air, the lake has had a cooling effect in summer time, and in winter the great amount of heat that is thrown off by the lake before the water is converted convert-ed into ice, cannot help but have a modifying effect on the cold temperature. Besides, the presence of rivers and lakes naturally induces rainfall, and there is no question but that our rainfall will be less with a dry lake. The writer might continue on almost indefinitely with many more reasons why we should save Utah Lake. We might call attention to the thousands of dollars in fish and game that has been taken from the lake, and to the fine recreational facilities facili-ties that the lake has afforded, but space will not permit. The question is "What are we going to do about it?" Are we going to sit idly by and allow our birthright to be taken away from us? Or, are we going to see what can be done about it? Every resident resi-dent of Utah County should take up the slogan "SAVE UTAH LAKE." Next week the writer will endeavor to suggest ways and means by which this may be accomplished. |