The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-01-13


ceded that Utah is the pioneer user of
water for irrigation in the United States
Let us so legislate that our laws on this
subject Will keep pace with our reputa-
ton.
FOREST PRESERVATION
Our native forests have never yet re-
cesvec the attention and care their mn
po-tance demands. The intimate relation
between extensive forests in the mount
ain canyons and plateaus and bounteous
supply Of water for irrigation in the val
ley below. has been demonstrated so often
and VITA such emphasis that the TACT
SHOULD be current in every part of the
state while the amount of native tim
Der has become so limited that its prepar-
alton for market has ceased TO be legit-
innate and recognized industry These are
facts which should awaken a concern
Ior the condition, preservation and pro-
duction of timber in the state. Recognize
in-. YOU must the close dependence
the water supply for farming and other
essential industries of the state has upon
the existence Of mountain forests your
attention should be directed first, perhaps,
TO what seems 1T present an imperative
nrec2utiOn. = timber reservation in the
Ulntah mountains. above the head waters
OF the four largest rivers of the state.
tie Bear. the Weber. the Provo and the
DucheSCe- Should the Jintah reSerNa-
tor be thrown omen TO settlement with
out any restrictive provisions against the
lavish and wanton destruction of the for
eStS IN those mountains, the prosperous
l4--s,S ana villages that border ut least
three of these main rivers Of the state
must suffer and perhaps go into decay.
Is these mountains. with their extern
stVe bodies OF timber. lie chiefly within
the domain of lands belonging to the gen.
eral government. the first and most feas-
ible. and il may be the only step that can
now be taken to secure the preservation
OF this timber, is that the legislature
memorable congress TO survey and set
aside this region as a timber reservation.
or at least such portion OF the mountain
lands in this region lying above 5000 feet
above sea level Much of the denuded
tracts of mountain land in other parts
of the state is rapidly being covered with
a new growth of trees, which already.
TO considerable extent, shades the
ground and preserves its porous charac-
ter, and which will. in a few years, II
left unmOleSted. largely restore the Fene-
fits of the original forests This cOndl-
ton exists about the sources of nearly all
the canyons Many of these young and
thrifty trees, especially in side canyons in
proximity TO the cities and villages. are
cut down and sold in the market. not
abl. about the winter holidays. as
christmas trees. purpose for which
some substitute could be made that would
be less inimical to the substantial inter
eStS of the community now and here
after. This matter | would suggest as
deserving your attention Among the
most distinctive agencies in forest Spolla-
ton is the fire f1end. 1t is believed Its
potency for evil can be greatly lessened
by proper legislation. Forest legislation
=, a state like ours should not only be
directed to the preservation of forests and
timber. but to the planting or trees and
the covering of much of or most or the
valley lands now lying unused with Tor
est growths. This. il is believed. can he
done with an economical use of waste
water without much expense and with
ultimate profit To encourage efforts 10
this end. exemption or partial exemption
from taxation would probably be an i'm
mediate incentive to secure such an I'M
pOrtant conSummation-
TRANSPORTATION.
Tho constitution of our state (article
T. section ID provides that the legislat-
ure shall pass laws establishing reason
able maximum rates of charges for the
transportation of passengers and freight,
for correcting abuses and preventing dis
elimination and eXtortiOn in rates of
freight and passenger tariffs by the dif1er-
ent railroads and other common carriers
in the state, and shall enforce such laws
by ADEQUATE penalties" Article l. section
IS. of the constitution provides that the
provisions of this constitution are manda-
to-y and prohibitOry unless by express
words they are declared to be other
wise" 1t is therefore unqueStiOndbly the
imperative duty of the legislature TO pass
laws on this important subject, and the
code commission. realizing this. has pre-
pared a provision. though the matter or
fixing the amount of the rates has not
been attempted. II is not my view that
any measures be adopted that will so at
tack transportation revenues as 10 cause
losses in operation or investment. or that
will initiate against the construction OF
new railroads now in contemplation;
rather let the subject he approached in
spirit of moderation and with the set
purpose of first determining if any abuses
or unjust Determinations exist. and if it
be found that they do. of so framing the
law as to correct the evils and to Sc
cure the rights of both the corporations
and the public.
OREGON SHORT LINE
I have referred elsewhere in this mes
sage to the fact that reOrganiZdt ton of
the Oregon Short Line Railway company
is in process. 1t is extremely desirable
from every standpoint that the company
have its main offices and headquarters
located in Utah, and to this end il is rep
resented to me that the laws governing
railroad corporations require some Hmph-
fication. permitting such corporations TO
own and operate lines of railroad outside
the state. recommend that this enlarge
ment of the general powers of railroad
CORPORATIONS be extended by the enact
ment of such proper legislation on the
subject as you may deem for the best
interests of the state
BOARD OF HEALTH.
Incorporated in the code to be submit
ted to you will be Il proposed law. pro-
viding for state board of health
charged with general supervision of the
interests of health and life of the people
OF the state. collection of vital statistics
and supervising Il system of registration
OF births marriages and deaths. l be-
lieve this to be a necessary and advisable
measure. and with proper economic limit
atioas as to expenditures. recommend
that such board be established.
FISH AND GAME.
The fish and game of the state are
rapidly being slaughtered. This distress
ing fact is not so much from the lack OF
proper legislation as from failure to en-
force the laws already had In my Opin-
be specifically charged with the duty of
detecting and prosecuting violations of
this law. and such a strong public senti-
ment created against the pcacher and the
giant powder fiend that each will come
to be regarded as sneak thief and a vii
lain. Many excellent and timely sugges-
tons on this subject Will be found in the
annual report of the state fish and game
warden. l am satisfied that if you Will
provide the SineWS, he VIII carry on such
a vigorous warfare against fish and game
marauders that they will be glad 10 sur
render. The warden has spent much time
and labor in attending to this important
public interest, and I commend his rec
FORT DOUGLAS.
Fort Douglas was established in 1862
and has continuously TO date been occu-
pied by United States troops II is of
financial benefit TO the state, and desir-
able from every standpoint. to have these
troops quartered here. The post has been
improved from time to time so that. with
its environments. it has become an at
traction Of the state which the citizens
recognize as their military city and are
imoslled to regard with the same pride
and affection that thew do the corporate