Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-05-28
BOIH LAND AND WATER.
Completion of the New Reservoir in Willard
County.


To the Editor:
special attention is now being given
III TINS state to the subject of coloni-
zaton. Numbers of the peopIe ore
anxious to find localities where .bev
can build up the country. procure
MONIES and lay foundations for future
prosperity and comfort. Such oppor-
tunities are now, or soon will be. af-
iorded In portion of Willard county.
l5i miles south OF this city. The locali-
ty is eight miles northwest of Oasis.
station on the oregon Short Line
railroad, and IL short distance from
Descret. a number of years since
a company was formed in this city for
the purpose. of procuring and Develop
ing an extensive tract of land in that
region. The leading obstacle hereto
iore to the progress of this laudabe
project has been the lack eff n perma-
nent and adequate supply of water for
irrigation. This difficulty has at last
been overcome, and the way is now
open for the establishment OF several
promising settlements in a part of the
state, which has abundant facilities
awaiting the application of the ener-
giles of thrifty home seekers.
The undertaking has been and is
operated by the Deseret and Salt
Lake Agricultural and Manufacturing
Canal company. By an equitable ar
rangement with the Deseret Irrigation
company as to water rights the former
has utilized a splendid reservoir site.
For this purpose a large dam has
been constructed under the supervision
OF the state engineer, as required by
law. An appropriate spill for the
waste water has also been built, to-
gether with n suitable headgate and
other appurtenances. The necessary
main canals have been in existence
for number of years.
1t Is unnecessary to give an elabor-
ate description of this reservoir. All
that the ordinary reader desires to
know is Its capacity and strength.
When filed 1t contains 10000 acre feet
or water-suflicient to cover 10 GOO
acres of land one foot deep. Hereto
fore there has been no difficulty in
relation to early irrigation water
which, as rule, has been plentiful.
The reserved amount will be more
than ample to assure the crops when
they need irrigation to mature them.
If 1t should he found necessary to
add TO the supply at any time in the
future, this can be done by simply
raising the leYee four feet. which viii
5000 acre feet. This might seem in
credible at first glance. but the large
ness OF the addition would be produced
by the increase of water surface in
throwing the river back n further dis
lance OF four miles. This important
structure has been examined by
of men experienced in tho
are to the effect that It is there to
stay.
The land in that part of the state
has the advantage Of being level. There
Is probably no part Of this region where
the soil IL deeper--it being from twenty
to thirty feet. 1t is light and sandy IN
places, while in others 1t 10 OF a clayey
1t has some alkali, but
this mineral is not troublesome unless
excessive Irrigation or flooding IL re-
sorted to. 1t lies deep In the soil and |
does not come to the surface except |
through carelessncss of the farmer. |
The old settlers know exactly how to |
guard against difficulty from this cause. |
The uncultivatcd land is covered with |
a heavy growth of gTeascwood tho |
roots of which are 50 short and the I
soil 30 light that It can he readily |
cleared by what called raillng-drag- !
cling a length Of railroad iron over It |
~ team. A large tract can he cleared |
~ this process in one day. This is an
advantage to a new settler who de-
iires to obtain quick return, to give
lin n start He can clear the land in
he spring, SOW IL in grain without
flowing and obtain fair crop in the !
all. He can then give # better
preparation for the crop of the follow
eason. The average crop Of wheat to
he acre is 30 bushels, and other kinds
4 grain in proportion.
The grensewood growth Is remarkable |
or size, and when ~ Is allowed to de-
elop on watered land It is prodigious,
his brushwooi Is by no means to be
espiscd. because It serves n very use
nj purpose. 1t makes excellent pas
urage. Horned stock which feed on IL
Xcluslvcly thrive and look Slick" and
ttractive. while the cows who have
his provender give as good milk ms
ny tactical production to be found on
he globe, and the butter. of course, Is
( the same superior quality.
1t frequently occurs that locators on
ground are reduced to straits
or temporary dwellings To live I'm until
hey get fairly started on the way to
Dugouts are favorlte re-
purse. These are easily obtalnable in
MS new field for initlatory private en-
arprise, and can be fairly protected
gainst the weather by brush roofs
overed with soil mixed with straw.