The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-05-12
STATE ORGANIZATION.
NEW IRRIGATION SOCIETY FORMED
AT YESTERDAYS MEETING.
The Governor Chosen as President,
With MILFORD Woodruff, Arthur
l.. Thomas and L. w. Shurt1iR
Observation-Disclosures Brief Adj
dresses Made.

A meeting was held at the chamber
of commerce yesterday morning for the
purpose of organizing the Utah Irri'
cation association.
Chairman L. w. Shurtliff, of the r.
rigation commission, called the meet.
ing to order, and Colonel Stevenson
acted as secretary Among others pres
ent were Captain T. c. Bailey, G. E.
Mainland, G. w. Penrose, George O.
Cannon, Angus NJ. Cannon, r. w
Young, Joseph Stanford, of Ogden,
Bishop Stevens, of Ogden, George
Lambert, R. c. a. Kletting and r. T.
PettingiIl.
Colonel Stevenson outlined the steps
that had been taken looking to the
state organization and read the call for
the meeting. 1t was intended, through
the state association, to obtain such
data as would be valuab and Of ben
eft to the public.
By request Of Chairman Shurtliff,
Hon. George Q. Cannon then spoke at
some length on the necessity of such
an organization as the one proposed.
The subject of irrigation was one of
vital Importance to this region, and
while the people IF Utah were recog-
niZed as the pioneers in irrigation,
they were being outstripped by some
of the eastern states, such as Kansas,
in scientific progress. In many re-
spects we still lead, as for instance, in
the fact that the agriculturalists, as
rule, still owned the water, instead of
it's being held by companies having
heavy issues Of bonds. The great diff
Guilty was, however, that the people
were not thoroughly organized, and
it was important that immediate steps
be taken in this matter and that the
people should be educated to economic
and control the water. The speaker
was greatly interested in this subject,
and had felt that if he had the time
he could apply himself very probably
to organizing the people. In connection
with this organization he thought other
objects could be accomplished, such as
getting rid of the codling moth. There
should be no necessity of importing
anything in the fruit or vegetable line.
r. T. Pettingill paid glowing trib-
ute to Utah's vast resources and urged
organization.
Hon. c. W. Penrose was asked to
give his views and replied by saying
that he did not wish to talk, but
thought it would be better to go to
work and organize so that the water
now going to waste can be controlled.
He showed the necessity of energetic
men at the head of the organization
and a thorough and efficient system,
extending to every part of the terri
tory. The old methods had worked
very we'll in their time, but with the
changes that statehood would bring
scientific and improved methods would
be needed so that all the water may be
utilized and every acre of land posi- !
bic shall be titled.
The commission submitted as tenn
oorary suggestion that the governor be
made ex-officio president, with MILFORD !
Woodruff, a. L Thomas and l.. w. |
Shurtliff as vice-presidents, and the /
territorial organization, as now con-
;tituted, was made the temporary eX-
ecutive committee with power to I
'orm committees on finance and consti-
ution and bylaws.
Mr.. Wantland urged that meetings be
leld throughout the territory in Or
Ter to educate the people on irrigation
matters He outlined the difficulties
confronting the new state in the regu-
alton of the land grants.
It was explained that the purpose
# the organization was not to inter-
ere in any way with existing rights,
,ut OF disseminate information of an
character in order that
,eople may be better informed as to
he preservation of their rights and
he better use of the water.
The meeting adjourned subject to
all.