The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-10-03

corning the paramount feature of domes-
| tic and social lie would be
inestimable. 1t would draw under
the exclusive cognizance of one legisla-
ture and one judiciary all questions af-
| fecting the conditions of marriage and d.
vorce, with the manner and effect OF prov
ing each. More, it would draw under the
same cognizance, in general sense, the
distinction between homogeneous and
I.polygamous institutions, as imparting
either Individual and national progress,
or Individual and national apathy.
The amendment would lnure as an
Authoritative notice to immigrants from
every land that the United States are self
dedicated forever to the virtues of mon
ogamy; and, not least, the amendment
becoming o lesson in the common and
higher schools of the states, would form
and train the minds and morals OF future
generations in harmony with it's spirit
and reason.
Mining is one of the most important in
dustries OF Utah-nay, of the whole inter
mountain region. Until recently it was
admittedly the principal factor of pro-
gress and improvement in the territory.
Certainly it has been the chief incentive
TO nom Mormon immigration to the terri
tory. 1t has served to stimulate the
building of cities, towns, railroads, fac
tories and agricultural production. 1t
gave remunerative employment to thous-
ands OF laborers; but all this is now
changed. The mines are closed, their
output of gold and silver, of copper, of
lead and iron, is arrested, while as con-
sequence multitudes of laborers are left
stranded in idleness and desperation.
The condition of the mining region is
indeed deplorable. The commission
speaks OF the fact, but does not under
take to trace its controverted source.
IRRIGATION.
An urgent need of Utah is q scientific
and comprehensive scheme of irrigation.
Every waste of water needs to be avoided.
AS far as may be found practicable ard
advantageous, the waters OF the rivers,
lakes and mountain torrents should be
made tributary to capacious and durable
reservoirs for regulated distribution for
all useful purposes.
PUBLIC LANDS.
Such scheme appeals to the favor of
Congress upon economic grounds. Upon
such grounds the commission ventures
respectfully to recommend the cession of
the unappropriated and unreserved public
lands in Utah under compact guaran-
teeing the faithful application of the pro-
ceeds of their sale, of the interest thereon,
in aid of irrigation.
Such a scheme applied to the inter-
mountain region would render greater
area of it profitably productive than now
exists in the six New England states.
Moreover, followed by an influx of emil
grants IN predominating numbers from
the old states, the Mormon i'm
broglio would soon be finally resolved.
In fact, the shortest and surest way to
put an end to that evil lies in such
scheme.
The advantage of irrigation has been
conclusively demonstrated. Rainless
Egypt is a striking example. There
narrow strip of territory, bisected by the
Nile. containing less than 5000, 600 acres.
and annually irrigated by the overflow of
that river, even now in Egypt's decay
and despair, affords the sustenance of its
4, 900, 600 occupants and cultivators, and
an annual tax tribute of millions to
Egypt's foreign creditors. Thus the
portion of land occupied is as one acre
and fraction of an acre to each occu-
pant. The fact seems incredible, yet it is
well attested.