The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-02-28
.IRRIGAT0RS ARE
MOVING SLOWLY
Much Talk May Make Convsn-
tion Last Till Saturday.
BIG FLOOD OF RESOLUTIONS
JUDGE JOHNSON DEFENDS CRIT
ICIsMS OF JUDICIARY.

O0GL oOLAAa0OIA LEE IN ID Nh Il
ICIsMs OF JUDICIARY.
VERY LITTLE was accomplished
yesterday at the state irrigation
convention. Sessions were held
both morning and afternoon, but most
OF the time was taken up with speeches
on the various phases Of the irrigation
problems and hearing resolutions which
were referred to be reported on later.
It was not until late in the afternoon
thar the delegates appreciated the fact
tbat unless something heroic was done
soon the convention would be in ses-
sion several days yet before reaching
any conclusion on the important qUes-
items under discussion.
1t was proposed to take an adjourn
ment until April and 20 refer all mat
tiers to committees 10 report upon them,
but the convention would not agree 20
this Instead, it was voted TO direct
the committee appointed tO formulate
a plan Of organizing an effective state
irrigation association TO report its rec
concentrations this afternoon. In this
way il was believed that more progress
would be gained, but it does not seem
likely that the convention viii conclude
its deliberations until Saturday.
Features of yesterdays proceedings
were the address of State Engineer Do
remus. Judge Johnson's reply 10 the
engineers charge that the courts had
added to the existing confusion over
water rights. and the utterances Of
several farmers repudiating the jur-
lists vindication Of the judiciary
Among the resolutions offered were
some favOring government aid IN con-
1liCting directions for the recIa mation
of the arid lands OF the state, and
others both favOring and condemning
the use of watersheds for sheep and
cattle grazing purposes. A pleasing di-
version of the proceedings was the
organ recital given by Professor Nc
Clellan in the tabernacle during the
noon recess.
Morning Session
IT was 1890 before the convention
got down TO business yesterday morn
ing. After the usual preliminaries had
been passed over, Mr.. Daugherty Of
salt Lake offered a resolution tender
iug the greetings of the Utah conven-
ton to the Interstate Irrigation asso-
y
braSka. in session at Sterling, Colo.
and assuring it and the National Irri-
cation congress the hearty cO-OpeTa-
ton of the irrig2tors OF Utah. Later
the purpose Of The resolution was made
effective.
Another resolution by Delegate Peart
of Rich county proposed that a com
lnltJee Of one delegate from each cOUn-
" be directed TO report the unfav0r-
able conditions existing in the various
counties in relation TO water rights for
the conventions consideration.
William O'Neil of Uintah and B. F.
Luke of Emery offered a resolution de
claring that the paramount issue be-
fore the convention is the necessity OF
taking proper steps toward securing
aid from the general government for
the construction of reservoirs and ca
nails for the reclamation of arid lands
and the general Improvement of the
irrigation systems Of the state.
All the resolutions were referred TO
/ the committee on resolutions without
debate, according to the cOnvention's
rule
A telegram from Senator Rawlins to
the governor was read. expressing his
greetings and good viii TO the conven-
ton and assuring his desire Of CO.
! operation
State Engineers Talk.
After some debate over the manner
of initiating the discussion Of the vari-
Gus topics on the programme 70 be
/ considered, il was decided that State
Engineer DOremus should commence
the discussion without eOnhning him
| self 10 any particular topic. Engineer
/ DOremus commenced his address by
-r1-~
I Utah in irrigation enterprises than in
! anything else, but the influence Of the
/ irrigatOrs is less potent than that Of
any other interest. Too frequently the
I irrigator is regarded as the man with
I the hoe, but he is here and has come
/ to stay
I Referring to the confusion over wa
/ ter titles. the state engineer observed
! that they lack the regularity and form
] Of land titles, which from the records
4 can be clearly defined and conveyed.
/ He hoped for needed legislation on this
4 subject which would put an end 70 the
/ confusion and lessen the litigation over
/ water rights.
! For years there has been no IN
| appropriated water in the thichly set
/ tied part Of the state. yet, said Mr..
/ Doremus, there is nothing TO prevent
/ anyone taking Up irrigable land and at
I tempting to acquire a water right He
suggested that some plan ought 20 be
! Followed like the government observes.
4 When the public land is surveyed and
I taken up by settlers. new areas have
to be opened to settlement
Ineficiency Of the Courts.
Another fruitful source Of conten-
/ tion,' the speaker said. is that too
/ many regard each canal a separa re
system without taking into account the
entire river or creek which supplies
/ the canals. The result is litigation and
/ dlscourag cement. for. unfortunately, the
courts do not, too frequently. settle the
( controversies over rights. The irri-
gators view, which is not cOmprehen-
slve, Is taken and the courts attempt
] 70 divide water property without find
. ing how much there is to apportion
and the rights of each claimant on the
entire river system.
BY piecemeaI the courts have often
attempted TO adjUdicste rights by add
. ing the various measurements togeth-
CT, and in some instances there has
been decreed in this way fifty times
as much water in the irrigation sys-
tenn as the river could supply. In
many instances II is impossible to make
effective the courts DEGREES issued in
| such an indefinite and uncertain man
ner''
Engineer DOremus declared that no
relief could be expected from congress
until these confusing conditions are
done away with nv rna 7F~i % TORS them -