The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-09-09
IRRIGATION DANGERS.

Editor The Herald-we hear much
nowadays about the danger of the iand
OF the country being monopolized Do
the people of Utah realize thai there is
great danger that the great sources OF
water supply upon which the agricultural
future OF Utah so largely depends will
Iail INTO the hands OF corporations whose
sole interest will be 10 exturt from the
landholder the last cent which he can
pay and continue TO cultivate his land
Ihat very likely it viii be for the next
legislature 10 determine the man VINO i'm
proves land not now in cultivation shall
De the vasSal of irrigation companies or
d freeman paying moderate taxes for the
use OF water? II the increase and deveI-
opment Of the water supply of Utah is to
De allowed 10 go into the hands OF Dri-
Sate corporations, whose sole object win
De 10 enrich their stockholders not only
VIII the growth of the state be retarded
put the tendency towards the concenrra-
iion OF the wealth of the country i'm few
n iise VIII be greatly intensified. To IL
iissIrate by home example: Utah lake
II dyked and raised from i've 10 s5x fsef
ABOVE ITS present level as il probahiv
S SSuld De at a cost of from $4,000 to $500
Wy, would abundantly water every foot
OF land In salt Lake. Davis, Tooele and
Otan counties that il could be made 70
r i' oy gravity. In addition, by using
wdtsr power 10 pump into reservoirs in
SAT- Lake and Tooele Counties in tha
hlgn water of winter and spring tens of
thousands OF acres that otherwise must
Always remain waste land could he trans
formed into fertile farms. Win sncS .
reservoir. the lake would water ali fhe
lower lying lands in Salt Lake and Davis
G C,cNtI with warm water. while the cold
wafer from the mountain streams over
ana above the amount necessary for
nousenold purposes, could be utilized to
lrrgate the higher benches. The 40. 90
or more acres lying a desolate waste be-
tween this city and Great Salt lake nv
the abundant use of water and under
draining with tile, and by draining its
marshes into the lake could be largely
IFr n i've.
INTO FERTILE land of farms, orchards and
garuenS, supporting a teeming pOpula-
uon. dotted with healthy. pleasant homes
Intersected and made accessible by lines
OF highways and streets shaded with
trees, the super-abundant alkali being
washed into the lake through tile drains
II would become one of the finest agri-
cultural and horticultural parts of Utah.
Inc main country roads throughout the
county would become well Shaded and
could be sprinkled and life. even in sea-
sollS IKE the present summer, could be
mace much pleasanter and the health of
the country greatly improved.
1ne question for us to consider land It
may De OF vital Importance to the well
rare OF Utah that we consider IL now. is
now shall such results be brought about?
inere seem TO be about three methods
,c rlrst.Io let matters drift; let private
corporations acquire vested rights in the
sources OF water supply little by little
pleced out from time to time by legisla-
tion quietly secured by the methods usu-
W OApoAdllOLS 10 secure
needed legislation, until they control the
waters; then as the land comes into cult
Eatfon tax ii. after the method of Jaw
could for fixing tariffs for railroad |
1reights. all it will bear-S1, 81. 50 or 81
Per acre annually for water rights If il |
should be found that in a given section |
the farmers, by getting the land in or
chards, small fruits or gardening. were /
making large profits, and their lands were |
rising in value, then increase the water /
rates.
Tho saoond ,,a+bo5 ,,-o,,15 -. =. -. /
careful, well-considered legislation for the /
foundation of quasi public corporations |
for irrigation, giving them sufficient |
powers of condemna ton of water and |
other rights to enable them to accom- |
plish the purposes of their formation. |
Limiting their profits on stock to a max