Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-01-15
BUREAU or STATISTICS.

whether we raise q million bushels No
potatoes or five million, whether our
mining, agricultural and manufacturing
interests are growing or ave nc s'Hnl-
still. ] cannot emphasize TOO strongly
the need OF supplying official ana ace
curate statistics not only 'lr the iDf.r-
nation Of those DESTROYS 10 learn cone
corning our state but for our own sat.
lsfaction and convenience therefore
suggest the creation OF q State bureau
OF statistics and O proper appropriation
10 make its work efficient ana authentic
IRRIGATION,
In my last message 10 the Legislature
said II earnestly recommend that
the State engineers suggestions as 20
needed legislation on the subject Of iTi-
cation be given careful. attention lt this
session. No subject that w.lI be brought
before you Is of greater importance.
No vital interest of the State has gone
so long uncarei Tor By the lawmakers.
The time has come for Utah, air aly
distinguished as the pioneer user "
Xater for irrigation In this country 20
devise a law on the subject that Wlll be
commensurate with her reputation The
State engineer will hold himself 10
readiness for conferences with your
committees, and his knowledge and cX-
perience will be found invaluable %
them. A law that would lessen the evils
and vexations OF litigation over water
rights In this State and that would de-
fine the titles without infringing vested
rights and provide Tor the just distribute
ton of the waters would certainly De
benefaction 20 the people. Let us unlle
10 frame such a law. This recon-
mendation seemed to meet with an I'M
mediate and hearty response by the last
LEGISLATURE and during the session a
number OF conferences were held by the
committees OF both houses and the
state engineer. looking 20 the formula
ton 81 an adequate Irrigation law. but
for some reason despite the almost uni
verssl sentiment In favor of IL, the law
failed of passage. ! earnestly hope mat
at this session the proper committees
will devote themselves steadiaslly u
the accomplishment u this duty, as
am convinced that in no way could they
better serve the interests OF the people
Of the State.
The State engineer in his biennial re-
port points out In detail the omissions
and errors IN the present law ana has
taken the pains to draft g b..l which is
copied after the law on that subj act oi
the state Of Wyoming, which has been
in operation for about ten years WIN
the most satisfactory results, 10y he
adoption OF such a Jaw the following
changes would be- secured In our pres
ent irrigation methods.
/. The office OF the State engineer
would be- made the office ~ record ot al
claims 20 water and the ID" N'lil
compel all owners OF existing lsl-s &c
record their claims.
2 An county records Of all claims C
appropriations Of water would d. uans'
ferred 10 the office OF the siat. engineer
who would file and CLASSIFY the same.
o. All persons or corporations He-I'
ing TO appropriate water Npuia ue i-'
quired 20 secure permit for me san,
before beginning the construction OF
any ditch or canal,
A. The state would he divided INTO
four water divisions. provision le'ns
made for the appointment Of one super,
intendent for each division Who WouIc
report To the State engineer, Di|isioi
superintendents would have authority
TO make such regulations as WiN secure
the proper distribution Ut the water ie'
serving the right ot appeal from 'H'
regulations of the sup.rlnianleH's 20
the State engineer ...-.-
.. the state ehb,11',' '''- .,t',..l !
superintendent "9u.I u' , 1870, m,
board OF control ., '- -J...rs - M
rights 10 an the pup'.. "''l, ,rrsll
state, reserNluE lHt .'7r' ~ ~.
from the decisions OF 'iie ''-''
troll 10 the courts. ., .t.. ,,.
8. The state h-.heeI ".".D .v-,,,.
| thOriZed and directed l' MAKE gu" ,l..it
nation OF any stream l' 's t--i,,ls
Gated, such examination ", 49,.
measurements of dls,l.i-e ol 80. .' I"s
surveys % canals or ',l.Ne, W., vr,..5s
water theretrom ne-sNI.I'. .'''9 80
irrigated by the SAID ''ni,t y' .,.'- -..',
ana the securing oI .N' '.'.I d., tbs
ton that would be OF 'ssl''""'' 90
| adjudication. .,,.t.- az,
T. The board of contoi "ol,g ~
water r,U' ' divleio, into water districts said
water districts % be So arranged ms 20
secure the best protection 90 me c.aliu,
ants Of water. and the most econlmlctI
supervlsion on the part ~ the state
For each water district thus created
,boro ,ro,Id bo amounted one water
commissioper whose duty 30 would De
20 Si,.iso ,be water In the natural
stroo,n ' or ems az his district among
~. .',.,,,i 5i..t.s t4tirr water there.
sr ,V accordirr =, Inc prior rights OF