The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-09-16

Inc arabic lands of the ard region which ONLY
walt LOT water to make them hahitabe for
man. fasslng TO the question OF the support
OF the public schools, tits hardly necessary FOR
me TO remind you that the government under
winch we live has always taken deep interest
in The education OF its people Its course IN this
respect has illumined one OF the brightest pages
OF our national history. II has given away more
lands In support of the public schools than
would equal many empires in extent. The be-
nlgn influence OF this generous grant has been
1eIt by every state admitted to the union since
the passage Of the ordinance OF 1887. Under the
provisions Of this great ordinance ana of later
IN the great tract of territory north and west OF
the Ohio was reserved for the schools OF the
states 10 be thereafter formed out OF
SAID territory. In what are known as the vest
srn states the arbitrary selection OF the lands
oy law did not AFFECT their value, but as to The
states and territories OF the arid region, il has
rendered them practically yalueless because OF
natural conditions which cannot be changed nor
removed. AS statement of the case of Utah
viii serve 70 bring this fact out more clearly.
In this territory the tillable lands are found in
the valleys and form but q small proportion oil
the whole. The majority OF the school sections
are found on the mountain tops and sides and
IN places where thoy cannot be cultivated.
Where they are found in the valleys the title
has mostly passed to settlers. The land office
was not opened in Utah until March, 1869, and
the lands IN the valleys had been larg ely taken
up by the settlers before that time. The few
reserved school sections remaining in the valleys
orc Will Dut LWO Or tnrS6 GxCGpIlOUSs Oh HULL
NAL value, consequently so far as Utah is
concerned, and this Is probably true in greater
or less degree of all OF the states and territories
IN the arid region, the endowment which IL was
intended by the government to be given TO the
public schools is lost Such action, then,
should be taken by the general government as
Will place the states ana territories OF the arid
region on an equality with the other states and
territories that have been able to realize more
fully from the bounty of the government We
oelleve our claim for aid in this respect is just
and our action in presenting it, patriotic
In speaking of the cause of the publics chools
desire to be understood as referring more es-
pecially to Utah. Tho attention OF the states
and territories in the arid region differ mate
rally with respect to tho size of the streams,
the extent ofland which can be irrigated, under
improved methods for saving and using the
water, and the provisions made or attaln8ble
Tor their school systems. Consequently the
relative Importance of the purpose Tor which
the lands may be donated differ materially. and
what might be suitable donation for one state
or territory, may require considerable modid-
cation IN another in order TO adapt II to the
greatest needs and confer the greatest benefits
upon the people. II is for this reason that the
call suggests that the matter be so handled as
TO give each state and territory voice in de-
Gliding TO what purposes such donations shall
be applied.
The call indicates that there may be other
purposes to which q part Of the proceeds do
rived from the sale of the public lands may be
applied. l Will not attempt TO mention them
here nor to present their claims. l will re-
mark, incidentally, however, that in the noun
tain regions the settlements are found in val
legs which are often remote from each other
The highways connecting these settlem entS
often run over mountain tops and are difficult
and costly to construct ard maintain. Some OF
these public roads stretch out for hundreds OF
miles and reach into the adjacent states and
territories. In the early years OF the govern
ment public lands were donated in aid OF such
enterprises. The public spirited and energetic
men who force their way over rugged noun
tain tops and make paths which are used by
those who follow after them. should be as
much entitled TO aid as were the men who built
highways in other sections under more favor
able conditions.
viii also remark, that the question OF pre-
serving the great grazing ranges which now
furnish nutritious food for hundreds Of thou
sands of cattle and sheep, is ono of transcend
emf importance The people of all OF the coun-
try are interested in preserving this important
source OF food supply. Under ths present con-
ditions these lands are rapidly depreciating in
value. II those lands could be sold In tracts
OF limited area, under carefully guarded pro-
visions Of law, their value would be greatly in
creased and they would become, Us they ought
to be now, a source Of rev, nue. TO the states and
territories in which they are situated.
There is another view of the proposition tc
cede the public lands which is worthy OF con
sideration. From all that can learn, accept
ing the reports made TO tbs committee on sta
tistics appointed by the Utah delegation in this
congress, the total area Of land that can be
UDUcT CulJlfdblOu IN Ol6n Will uOG GA
coed ,3o4, UUO acres, or about per cent. Of the
total area of D. 60l 800 acres. About fifty million
acres can never be used except u portion suit
able for grazing purposes only. The total area
of land which can now be watered is Ia round
numbers about seven hundred and twenty thous
and acres, and the settlers upon these cultivated
lands have TO bear the burden of supporting the
territorial government. The fifty million bear
no part of the burden. / am aware that this has
been the experience OF all the states when in &
territorial condition. but there is this important
fact TO be considered that in the case OF the ma
lority of the states, II was only question o.
time when relief would come from the rapid set
Element OF the lands: but in the arid regions
where, II the very nature of things the number
OF settlements viii always be limited the title
to nearly all of the lands will remain in the GOV
eminent unless there be a complete change il
the land laws and policy of the government
The question OF ceding the lands to the states
is not a new one. In 1887 q measure was intro
duced in Congress TO cede the public lands tc
sissippi aud other sections OF the country, the
question of the swamp lands was solved by the
action of Congress in cediug Them to the states
These lands were granted for purposes of recla
that it would entail an unusual expense 70
bring them under cultivation. This is the con
dition Of the arid lands to-day only the prob
lem Is much more difficult, and the expense Sc
much greater that IL y proposition were made
10 have il met by the general govern L ent. the
great body Of Congress, unfamiliar with irriga.
JlOl. would recon- before II.
There are several ways IN which the water
supply can be developed. In many places ar.
tesian wells may be developed; in other places
storage reservoirs built, and in other places The
construction OF large works will bring out upon
tie land water from rivers, such as the Green
and Grand IN Utah and the Snake in Idaho
The area of the land OF unsurpassed fertility
hat could by these means be rendered avail
able. would furnish comfortable and happy
homes for q mighty population. There are few
places more inviting taan the well cultivated
valleys OF the west and the government car
render its people no greater service than to
assist in a material way in reclainling every
acre possible The policy of the government has
been, not to regard the lands source of profit
but as lands held in trust for the common
good. II has pursued the generous policy OF
aiding in the settlement Of The lands and has
regarded the question of revenue to be derived
from the sale as a minor consideration. I be-
neve the message which the people OF the arid
region desire to send to the Congress of the
United States is give US the necessary aid and
we will open rivers in high places and fount
aims in the midst Of the valleys" and make the
west the browning land of our country.
But gentlemen, in my earnestness that some
thing OF good may come from this congress,
have wandered from my purpose. which was
but TO cordially welcome you, in the name OF
all Of the people of Utah, TO extend TO you sucf
hospitalities as We can offer and to EXPRESS I'M
hope that the conclusions You reach NAV nj
tain to a dignity and wisdom which will com
mand the national attention.
The address was frequently applaudeG
and at the close "the freedom of the city,
was extended by Hon. George NJ. Scout
our mayor, In the following fitting words
that were heartily received:
THE MAYORS WELCOME
Members OF the Irrigation Congress:
GENTLEMEN-Our governor has welcomed yo,
in behalf OF the whole territory and in the in
terest Of that great belt of our country, known
as the arid region.
1 am pleased TO add the special welcome O
Salt Lake city, and to assure you our citizens
are grstihed that your convention is held il
their city.
No place in the United States can have ;
deeper interest in your deli berations ana in III,
subjects you will discuss. In the parts of In,
country where toe rainfall is timely and ahund
ant, the people cannot appreciate the control
l,p< Of