The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-08-22
Prof. Meade Addresses Farm
erS' Congress Oh Irrigation.
POINTS TO THE
RESULTS IN UTAH
Discusses Need of Systematic
Work By Government.

dlLcnOdnCe promises 10 be the largest
since the congress was. organized. The
High school auditorium, in which the
congress met, was crowded with dele
gates and spectators when r. G.. F.
Candage of Broolline, Mass, the acting
president, called the gathering to or
der.
One of the features of the first day
was the address at the evening session
by Professor ElWOod Meade of the
United States department of agricul-
tUre, stationed at Cheyenne, WyO.
Professor Meade's subject was 'Irriga-
ton Investigation" He spoke of the
work in Utah and took up the question
of public control of irrigation. He said,
in part:
GAS the result of less than half
century of effort and experience, irri-
cation has changed arid, desolate
plains, producing nothing but cactus
stunted grass, into orchards and gar
dens, created cities like Salt Lake and
Los Angeles. and dotted with rural
homes many valleys where once the
livestock industry was supreme. From
being an experiment there is not now
an arid state or territory in which the
products of the irrigated farms do not
rival in value those of the mines or
factories. Looking at these achieve
ments, the question may well be asked
whether or not there is any need of
state or national aid 10 promote the
success of this industry. If people, to
whom at the outset the whole subject
was strange and new, have succeeded
so well, cannot the complete utilization
of western land and western rivers be
left to Unaided private effort?
SuSfeDoe Ts Naadad
ct is the opinion of those best in
formed that the present haphazard de-
Velopment cannot continue The area
now irrigated is larger than the state
Of New York. every acre of which has
been watered from one to six times
each year. The canals and laterals
which distribute this water are many
thousands of miles in length and re-
duire in their management during the
growing season an army of men to
protect and regulate headgates. patrol
their banks and adjust the measuring
boxers and users. The success or fail
ure of these canals is a matter of local
interest. Much of the money expended
in their construction came from the
east.
Demand Is Heavy.
Already the claims to water amount
supply. Every transaction which has
thus far had to do with their disposal
has been marked by a lavish prodigali-
ty. bitches have diverted more water
than was used. their owners have
claimed more than they could divert,
and the courts have given the claim
ants titles to more than the bitches
could carry, and often many times what
the highest floods would supply. In the
absence of definite Information of the
quantity needed to irrigate an acre of
land, or of the volume which streams
viii furnish. the ignorance or greed of
the speculative Appropriation has its Op-
pOrtunity.
Question Should Be Studied.
I'VE can most surely end this state
of things by showing how much wa
ter is needed and when it is used. To
do this on a large scale is expensive.
To have the results accepted as
guide 20 legislation and as a basis for
the important transactions. they must
be made by men of capacity and ex-
perience and cover wide range of
country and conditions, and they must
be absolutely free from local or selfish
influence All these mark the study
as one which the general government
can carry on more effectively than any
OLnef agency.
Public Land a Public Trust.
1.-THE public, east and west, has an
other interest in this investigation
There are many million acres of irriSa-
bic land yet to be reclaimed. This land
is public trust and the opportunity of
future home seekers. In order to know
how much can be safely offered 10 set
tiers we must know how much water
L l.
an acre Of land requires. The govern
ment should provide this information
as a guide to honest enterprises and
protection from INSCRIPTIONS ones.
Sooner or later a knowledge Of the duty
of water becomes Il necessity in every
irrigated district. Il is required to set
tie disputes over water right contracts
and provide for their intelligent recon
struction. It is needed by law makers
I'm the framing of laws for the estab-
lishment of water rights and by the
courts in rendering decisions.
Cooperation Is Needed.
'The issue as to whether western
rivers are to remain public trust or
become personal property is being
Wagcd with a vigor commensurate with
the value Of the property. The result
viii determine whether irrigated agri-
culture VIII become corporate or CO.
operative. Personal ownership creates
an opportunity. for monOpOlies more
absolute and oppressive than any now
existing. Those who do not object to
the free grants of perpetual franchise
in cities VIII approve Of the free and
perpetual surrender Of the water of
streams. It is my belief that both are
alike unwise.
Now Is Time to Decide.
1.-THE time to settle which Of these
two policies should prevail is during
the early wears of our development. in !
the pregnant years when institutions
are forming. and before mistakes or !
abuses have become fixed by time or
custom. There are two agencies which |
should be enlisted in this work. The !
national government should study the |
irrigation systems of the different |
states and OF other countries. as the !
of Canada and Australia |
are now doing. This the office of ex- |
periment stations mas begun. Some of |
the most eQuable and experienced stu |
dents of irrigation are now making. I'M !
der its direction. a careful investiga |
ton Of the irrigation systems Of Utah |
and California. Their reports, when /
will show in concrete form |
what sort Of water ownership now pre- |
walls and the merits and defects Of the !
systems now in use. 1t is the inten
ton to extend these studies to other /
states in order that legislatures may |
profit by the experience Of neighboring
Should Be Studied in School.
This, however, is not enough. The
problems of today viii not be the same
tomorrow. With growing ard increas-
ng scarcity there will be a constant
evolution in water laws. The next
generation of irrigators should be edu-
.ated To deal with them. a course of |