from a line that extended from the corner where Julian Powell lives to the plant. Distribution of pipe along the bank of the sewer trench in which they were placed end to end and cemented together by crews of workers, was sub-contracted by two Anerson Brothers of Kanesville, who did the work with teams which required use of running gears of low, heavy wagons to haul two, three ton lengths of pipe distances ranging from one to six miles. But when installments had reached to a reasonable distance of the manufacturing plant, pipes were rolled to their destination by means of a contrivance which consisted of two wheels, similar to those used on the old-style hay rake. The wheels were fitted, one end of the pipe and held securely together by an axial on which the wheels turned, and a number of steel rods that extended the length of the pipe from one wheel to the other. A Device consisting of, two steel arms that clamped on ends of the axial that protruded from the outside of each wheel converged to an apex, similar in shape to a wishbone, to which a team was hitched. When power was applied, the arrangement allowed the pipe to roll instead of drag. Conditions that existed in Ogden years before and those that developed several years after a sewer system was installed there, were far from being conducive to the health of city residents and those living in close proximity to Weber River. Disposition of sewage in the river immediately below Ogden, not giving thought to effects its possible accumulation could have on health conditions in the unforeseeable future, commenced at a time when Ogden's population was comparatively small and normal yearly flow of the river was much greater in volume than after the stream diminished in size. As increased diversion of water for irrigation purposes in the upper valleys reduced the volume and velocity of flow which allowed accumulation of city waste in stagnant pools in the river channel to become a serious health hazard which continued to get worse instead of better. By 1918, this unwholesome situation developed to proportions that made it incumbent on city authorities, Mayor Frank Francis Sr. and counsilmen, to take action that had long been postponed to correct a serious condition. The present outfall sewer main that emptied into Weber River in the lower part of Slaterville for thirty-six years, was the culmination of several surveys that were made to determine the best and most feasible means of solving Ogden's sewage disposal problem. Survey for installation of pipe, followed the road from the east end to a short distance below the center of our settlement where it deviated to the south and did some property damage in crossing land belonging to Fredrick Foy, John Wheeler, and Joseph Chadwick, for which the owners, after some litigation, were compensated. From the outset, some in our community opposed the outflow main passing through our settlement to convey and empty refuse of Ogden in the river to contaminate the stream and jeopardize the health of residents of this locality. Those who voiced opposition to the project were one or two living next to the street along which the outflow pipe was to be installed, were some twenty-five years later permitted to connect sewer facilities of their own homes to the large underground pipe, an unequalled service that otherwise would not have been available had one of the other outfall routes been selected. -126- During the period of thirty-six years from 1922 to 1958 Weber River in the lower part of Slaterville served as a cesspool for Ogden City, flushed only once a year during spring, which the rest was very light. Reduction in precipitation during those years and increased demand for more water to meet needs of a growing city population, increase in the number of business and industrial institutions, which almost doubled in a decade, these, together with the increased need for more irrigation water reduced the river flow to only water that sprang up in the river bed. In the spring of 1952, however, there was an exceptional run off due to the sudden change of temperature from cold to warm which melted rapidly a deep coat of snow, that covered mountains and upper valleys during late February and for part of March, filling streams and rivers to overflowing capacities, causing floods reminiscent of those early days in this valley. The west half of our settlement was almost totally covered with water; and some farms that had not been under water for almost a century were completely submerged that year. Slater family riding through Cattle caught by flood waters flood waters (1952) The flow of the Weber River during years since 1952 when it went on the roaring rampage doing excessive damage to farm roads and bridges, has become so reduced in size during summer, fall, and winter months that its flow has been hardly sufficient to replenish pools in its channel. This unfavorable situation created conditions which health authorities declared imperiled the health of families living in the vicinity of the river, and more particularily of those living a few miles below where water was pumped from stagnant, contaminated pools into ditches for irrigation purposes. Faced with a dilemma with but one avenue of escape, the city accepted the challenge and established a sewage disposal plant east of the Warren Canal bordering Pioneer Road, about the center of the west half of Slaterville. (See Fig. 10-5). From all reports the plant has been giving satisfactory service since its establishment in 1958. This was the last of a series of changes made over a period of three-quarters of a century, to solve at different stages of Ogden's history, the vexing problem of disposal. -127-