The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-08-25
Reclamation of Immense Tract In
Northeastern Utah.
SIXTY THOUSAND ACRES
APPLICATION FOR WATER FROM
THE RESERVATION.
Chief photographer Newell Will
Make Measurement and Survey
of the Uintah Streams--Believed
There Is Abundance of Water to
Irrigate Outside Lands.

There is a project on foot that has for
its object the reclamation of great
tract of arid land, some 10000 acres,
now practically worthless, that IS 10
Gated east of Deep Greek, and aoJoih-
ing the eastern boundary of the JIM
tab Indian reservation. The land IS
situated near Ashley, and the sIedIlts
outside of the reservation 90 not d.
ford a sufficient supply OF water 10 =
rigate this tract in addition 10 inc
lands of the settlers, which are ALREADY
irrigated from them. IN order 10 opIaln
the necessary water from the olut1h
river and 70 take il from point III
SIDE the reservation, an application has
been made to the interior department:
Under the provisions of an act OF
CON eress nushed through during the
last session by Senator RaWllns' liie
secretary of the interior is authorized
ia grant a right of way through the
ITintah Indian lands for lrrlgatlnS
bitches and TO allow water 70 De TAKEN
from streams within the reservation
boundaries, when he considers II ue-
sirabIe and when in his opinion there
is sufficient water without curtailliiS
the amount necessary for the supply
of the Indians. In accordance with TINS
act. Senator Rawlins recently asked the
interior department TO allow water Tor
jrrigating purposes from the Ulntah
river at a point several miles above the
White Rocks agency, and Wlthln the
reservation. The request was made at
the solicitation of the law firm OF
Pierce, CritchloW & Barrette. VINO rep
resent ]. F. Meese in the matter
Survey Ordered.
It resulted in an order of the depart
ment for a survey measurement OF the
waters of the rivers flowing through
the ITintah reservation, and +. II. New
oil chief photographed of the geological
survey. who was engaged on business
for the department, being ordered TO
ITtah TO obtain the result Mr.. Newell
reached the city Wednesday evening,
and will proceed to the field of his IN
vestigations either today or tomorrow,
and proceed with his work.
Il am directed to make thorough
survey of the water supply and to OBJ
tain accurate measurements of the
flow of water in the Uintah and the
Duchesne rivers" said he Il shall
prepare maps showing the various
streams flowing into these two rivers,
end full information and data regard
ing the amount of water supply, so tnat
the interior department can determine
whether any water can be spared for
use outside of the reservation. or
course, the needs of the Indians Will
first be considered, and if ii is ascer-
tanned that their rights will not be IN
fringed by the diversion of portion OF
he flow to lands outside of the reser-
yation, the department VIII probably
grant permission. allowing the con-
struction OF ditch and authorizing
right of way for the same through the
reservation. l do not know who 1t is
that wants to take the water, except
that it is parties residing east OF the
boundaries of the reserve, who claim
that no more land can be reclaimed UNI
less such permission is granted. AS to
whether there is sufficient flow of water
to permit of the granting of their re-
quest without detriment, 1 cannot very
well say until after l have taken my
measurements and reported to Wash
ington. but of course, through my
general knowledge of the water supply,
] have a pretty Well defined opinion.
Abundance of Water.
Frank Pierce of Pierce, Critchlow &
Barrette. who is attorney for j. F.
Meese of Fort Duchesne, who desires
TO obtain the water from the reSerVa-
ton, said last evening: we have
asked permission of the interior de-
partment to take the water from a
point five or six miles above the agency
and carry it by ditch through the reser-
walton TO the lands in question. The
length of the ditch would probably be
eight or ten miles. 1t is probable that
if permission to take the water is given
that others will want to use it, and it is
likely that a ditch company will be or
ganized and supply the water to all
who desire to use it. 1 am satisfied
that there is plenty of water in the
streams of the reservation to permit of
vast tracts of adjoining lands TO be
reclaimed and turned into rich agricul-
turaI lands, without detriment TO the
lands within its hnuniarieS''