The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-08-30
IRRIGATION CONGRESS,
THE COLORADO COMMISSION DE-
CIDES UPON A PLATFORM.
Meeting of the Utah Irrigation Com
mission and Delegates Held at OS-
den Yesterday-A Report Decided
Upon.

Already the Colorado members of
the Irrigation commission have agreed
upon and prepared for presentation to
the Irrigation Congress a platform of
principles. The sentiments expressed
are as follows:
First-That none of the public lands
shall be acquired except under the
homestead law.
| Second-It would be to the interest of
| the arid west for the government to
withhold all public lands from settle
ment until water is procured for the
same.
Third-The land should not be mo-
nopolized for speculative purposes. All
unearned lands now held by railroads
and other corporations should be re-
claimed by the government and held
for actual settlers only.
Fourth-Congress should make appro-
priations for determining availability of
underground, artesian and storm wa
tiers for irrigation purposes.
F'ifth-The forest reservations remain
ing in the hands of the general govern
ment should be protected and watched
by detail of federal troops.
Sixth-In the opinion of the commits
sion the Carey provision for 1,000,O00
acres of arid land is of little applica-
ton to Colorado.
In relation to the state:
FirSt-That a law should be passed
so as to allow any particular water dis
trict as established in Colorado to act
together irrespective of county lines on
matters pertaining to irrigation inter-
eSts of such district.
standardization should be made
for the accurate measurements and
record of all water taken into bitches
and of that delivered from laterals.
Third-InaSmuch as the office of
state engineer requires a man of ex-
perience and technical training, that
officer should be recommended by
some competent body of engineers. The
body should be non-political, and the
length of the term of service should
be increased.
Fourth-The superintendent of irri-
cation and water commissioners should
be considered non-political.
Fifth-In future adjudications of wa
ter rights provision should be made
for the representation of the state by
the proper officer.
Sixth-Proper law officers should rep
resent the state or the state engineer
or water commissioners in suits where
the state or officer is a party.
The Utah Irrigation Commission met
at Ogden yesterday with a number of
delegates, and the form of the report
to be made to the Denver congress was
discussed and decided upon. Many re-
plies have been received from leading
men in all parts of the territory.
Among those present at the Ogden
meeting were L. w. Shurtliff and e. A.
Dix. of Ogden; from Logan, Professor
Fortier; Provo, Mayor Holbrook; Lehi,
Mayor Eslinger; Park City. Thomas
Kearns; Salt Lake city, George @.
Cannon, Colonel Stevenson, c. w. AL
drich and c.. E. Wantland.
The experiences of MeSsrs. Cannon
practical difficulties and conditions in
different parts of the territory were of
great value.
The report of the commission will
give valuable statistics concerning the
land in the Territory and will quote
from the able article of Governor
Thomas concerning the arid lands. 1t
will also discuss the question of con-
trolling interstate water rights.
Concerning legislation for the vari-
Gus states, the report will recommend
that owing to the different conditions
existing in different communities the
local regulations should be left to. the
legislatures Of the various states
1t is safe to say that the Utah report
will be a. splendid one. The great in
terest now being exhibited in the work
is very encouraging to the commission
and it Is now sure that at least twenty
will be in the delegation.
Reports from Denver indicate that
the attendance at the convention will
be very large