Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-06-08
A COLONIZATION BUBBLE.

Some two years ago an Irrigation
scheme ON n grand scale was launched
In California with great promises aud
vast protensions. The scat VI opera.
tons was Honey Lake, aud the organ.
iEation through whose manipulation
the place was to be converted from
wilderness into metropolis
was chflstenoi the Honey Lake
Valley Land and Water com.
pany. We now learn that unless
the promoters can raise the modest
little sum Of $4,000 nj once, tho
scheme must inevitably fall through
and drop "out OF sighW literally. Il
has been going that way for some time
aud tho money that was paid In by
utudulous Investors nom time to time
seems to have been about tho only
cohesive quality there was Init
The history OF the rise snd decline
Of the scheme IL interesting ami may
prove useful. IL is briefly as follows;
In June, 1891, the company was In.
cOrporated In SanFfanoisco with full
board OF officers. Immediately ai,or
the Incorporation papers wore iiled the
company iasued prospectus explain.
Ing It's intentions aud purposes, In
doing which they introduced their
scheme to the general public In the fol.
lowing synopsis:
We AFRO building water system to
bring large tract OF choice land IN
Honey Lake valley under irrigation de-
golopinenL This land still belongs 10 tho
goyernmont-wo want 10 sell tho water,
therefore we wish you 10 take up tho
land. You can acquire title ffon tho
government under the desert act, which
docs not require residence, or under
tho homestead act. We can give YOU
employment At good wages, Tor yourself
aud your teams also, n you want TO pay
for wntor rights Ia labor. The land N
very Ane, perfectly Lowell, with rich hoil,
Gno climate, good markets aud abundant
water and wood supply. A railroad
crussOl tho valley. When YOU have so-
/ cured title, N you wan, to sell, we will got
you n handsome profit ON your invest
mont
An elaborate report OF n "oareful
survey" was made and presented by
widespread distribution, but 1t now
appears that at least three times 40
much money was needed for the con-
struction Of canals, dams, etc., as tbs
report made 1t appear hence the
present and all former troubles. Men
who could not pay money were
induced to work for theig shares.
Streets were surveyed and sign posts
stack up right In the sagebrush which
told the wanderers that here was
"Univeulty avenue" there the
"Houey Lake opera house." here
"Lassen avenue, and there the "First
EplscopAlian church."
The san Francisco Chronicle says
that while the merry boomers con.
tiuuod thus 10 carry out their plans,
ami IN dOine so caught many hsh In
thsiT nets, they actually commenced
work ON their big dam about a year
ago. They were getting along all
right by having most Of their labor
performed 10y men who only wanted
their board and were willing 10 take
the promise OF lot adjoining the
Honey Lake city hail as payment for
their work. There was also quite an
illllz OF people with money, vino paid
down their $3.50 per aero VI fret aud
second payments IN cash, 20 "a to be-
sure TO have no further demands made
on them in the future. They felt per.
ieoily sure on that score, because the
prospectus assured them Il a perpetual
ami clear ownership Of "a water right,
with q pient ful supply. But last lall
u great nJll carried most all the i'm.
provemeuls which mad been made en-.
,itely away aud thus great blow in
the way Of loss aud discOuIagement
was INFLICTED upon the enterprise. As
It is not at glI likely tho needed $780,
900 can be raised now, the poor people
VINO have east their fortune with the
company are as usual the chief n not
the only losyrs, The ol.opomtlve and
mutuai.help plan Of carrying on such
enterprises, which has prevailed with
the people OF Usah, has not yet been
improved upon.
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