The silver star., 1898-03-24
UTAH CANAL SCHEMES.
Agricultural Interests Promise to Succeed
tho Silver Mining Industry ~ an I'm
petus to Prosperity.

terest him in the situation Of Utah.
The study is the more interesting be-
cause II Illustrates transition state
the change of investment and develop
ment interests from silver mining to
irrigation and agriculture.
In contrast with the disasters that
have come TO the silver mining camps
is the great activity in irrigation and
colonizing enterprises and in the gold
fields. There has never been a period
in the history of the STATE when such
large investments in Industrial and
land undertakings were assured; the
percentage of delinquent taxes just re-
ported were never smaller, and credits
are rated on a better basis than at any
time since 1898.
Foremost among the new ventures
are the beet-sugar factories. Their
promotion has been stimulated largely
by the success of the factory at Lehi.
forty miles from Salt Lake City. The
Lehi people have demonstrated the
adaptability of Utah's soil and the val
lie of the irrigation system for the su-
gar beet and have operated at pro
fit for seven years Encouraged by
their experience the people of Ogden
have raised funds and let contracts for
the immediate erection of n sugar
plant that will cost close to S50O.OOO.
Negotiations also have been closed
with Chicago and New York capitalists
who have contracted to build $780,
600 factory for the Mount Nebo Irriga-
ton Company. seventy-five miles south
west of Salt Lake City. Both of these
plants are to be finished in time for the
manufacture of sugar next fall. Be
sides the new capital required for
these two plants. their operation means
much TO the agricultural communities
in their vicinity. Each factory will re-
quire annually the beet product of
about 5000 acres of land. The Lebi
reports show an average annual profit
to the farmer of S14.15 an acre for a
period of five years. On this basis.
which is regarded as conservative. the
two plants should furnish profitable de-
velopment of 10000 acres of land hith-
erto uncultivated, with an additional
income to the farmers of the state
amounting TO at least S150.O00 annual
ly.
Still another illustration of the states
financial condition is to be found in
the readiness with which eastern capi-
tai is taking hold Of irrigation projects.
Until last year il was difficult to handle
large reservoir enterprises for the re-
clamation of arid lands because there
WIS no way by which owners of water
rights could be secured control OF the
land TO be irrigated except by absolute
purchase of the land. Now that the
Carey act has been accepted by the
state. however. 1,0OO,0O0 acres is avail
able for selection by the state. which
may contract for the reclamation of the
lands. making the annual water rentals
a perepetual lien on the land.
BY authority of the Carey act and the
coordinate state law. Philadelphia and
London capitalists have contracted
with Utah, agreeing to construct res
ervoir storage and Irrigation system for
the irrigation Of 2lGO0O acres of descent
land in Juan and Millard counties. The
system will require the construction of
main canals ten feet deep. thirty fee;
wide mt the bottom and fifty feet wide
at the top. with distributing laterals
aggregating a total length OF 7J0 miles.
To supply water for these canals in the
summer season three large reservoirs
will be needed. In these will be stored
The winter flow of the Sewer river. a
large stream having its source near
the Arizona boundary and discharging
in the desert Of Millard county. where
IL disappears.
This enterprise is notable In more
things than in size. II Will open up n
large area Of land at prices that will
invite immigration For years the
amount Of land In Utah that could be
reached with water has been compara-
lively small. High prices have been
the rule because OF the pressure of
population on the irrigable land along
the streams. II is not unusual for land
days ride from The railroad to bring
SO TO S1OO an acre. with n good water
right. though land close by. without
water. Is not worth the cost OF an alb
stract Of title. This scarcity OF irriga-
BILE tracts has been due to the lack OF
capital for the construction OF reser-
yoifs. The Mormon people early set
tied on most OF the land that could be
irrigated from natural sources and so
acquired water rights that could not
be infringcd upon by later settlers
With the Introduction Of reservoir sys-
tens this pressure for homesieads will
be met and extensive regions opened 10
settlers on a basis Of mutual profit TO
the colonist and the owner OF water.
As an example Of this fact the Mil
lard county lands controlled by the
state will he sold Mt 81 an acre. one
fourth payable In cash and the balance
vi tuTee y'hTr Wlinoul lIlteTeSt. Inc
/ water company contracts to furnish n
permanent water right Mt Si5 an acre
on twenty-years time. with an annual
charge for maintenance and repair Of
cnnnls amounting TO $50 an acre for
the first five years. $I.25 for the next
five years. md 81 n year thereafter.
/ The total acreage to he reclaimed In
! this tract. It IL estimated. will furnish
homes for 5000 families, figuring on
the Utah average OF twenty-seven
ncres to the family.
| Besides this grent reservoir system,
eight others have been surveyed I'm
Ttnh and six have begun the constric.
tion Of dnms. all Of which will he com.
pleted In time for spring irrigation.
While sOme OF these systems are COM
pnratively smnll. they will add nearly
10000 acres TO the irrigated lands Of
the state There remains for develop.
ment the enormous desert region Of
UIntah and Uncompahgre reservations
soon to be opened TO settlement, and
amply provided with water for reser.