The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-02-27
IRRIGATORS AND RAIN
REACH CITY TOGETHER
0nening Sessions of State Convention Called by
Governor Wells Are Held in Assembly Hall.
Representatives Of All interests Meet to Discuss the Water Ques
ton as Applicable to Utah.

} the weather. ltdl HSu 1loI eiiC 'te'N~
/ creation convention was to begin
g.. sessions in Salt Lake yesterday
.a.rreou. He ordered a celebration,
,.ni.b took the form of irrigating Salt
ske valley and the surrounding coun-
,,-r with vengeance. The tioodgates
49, tho skies were opened wide and snow
and hail we're mixed now and then for
rho sake of variety.
,rr. irrfeators seemed tc like it. They
.,,,,gnt of the snow that was falling
a.. tho mountains 10 accumulate there
and ~ frickIe out later, gather IN vol
enc and flow down TO quench the
M. of vegetation in the valleys.
rhsraforp. me 345 delegates were in
GOOD humor though damp, when they
9,,berad i'm the Assembly hall. They
Ed moi AT the call Of Governor Wells
=. 5iecuss the condition and needs Of
;-~iration throughout the state, to
consider the advisabiity Of thor
.,-gb ana active state organization and
,o fsLa such action in the interests of
irrigatiou as might be deemed expedi-
ent
n was i'm every sense a representa-
,,,.o Gathering. There were present
fsrms~s and cattle and sheepmen, who
yD5, rstaUd the practical side Of all
irrigation questions; engineers and
lqVVa-r who are alive to the scientific
and Ieg.L needs of problems pertaining
IN the storage and distribution OF wa
fer and protecting water rights; rep
resentatives Of nearly every canal and
Municipality w hiCh have a community
of rfEhts I'm common with individuals;
iu9pes who have sat in judgment IN
MANY important cases involving water
rights and members Of legislative as
sambies. VINO have enacted many laws
calculated to relieve some Of the dis
tress resulting from changing Condi-
lions
While little was accomplished yes
tsrday afternoon and last night be
vond getting the convention into work
ing rider and listening to some appro-
Pirate addresses, an enthusiastic inter-
rs was ir evidence among all of the
various delegates. It is true that for
the most part all IF the various inter-
It's represented are in harmony. yet
81 is conceded that there may be
division Of sentiment when it comes to
disc:ssing ,he propriety of closing the
watershed lands to the'y grazing Of
sheep and cattle. There may also be
some divided opinion on one OF two
other Of the topics for discussion. but
these viii pale into insignificance be-
fore the brush between typical irri-
gators and the livestock men.
Some lively scenes are expected TO
he in the convention today and to-
morrow. for IL is not believed that the
deliberations will be concluded until
Friday But out of il all it is believed
that great good viii be accomplished
I'm the direction of solving some of the
very important irrigation and water
supply problems which now are so
much interesting all Of the people Of
Utah
Governor Opens Convention.
The convention was called to order
shortly after o'clock by Governor
Wells. who invited Samuel Francis Of
Morgan county 10 offer invocation.
After prayer had been offered, Gov
ernor Wells read his address 10 the
convention. The address was listened
20 with close attention ana YVES lib
orally spplauded throughout and at
the close The governor said:
corning which we have come ,1gether
have doubtless appealed to you as they
have 20 me. as being in the very fore
front of the questions relating to our
temporal welfare We have learned
by precept and experience that in the
midst of council there is safety. and in
this case all Of us hope there will re-
suit from our councils not only ~afety,
lvrfl
conditions which all viii agree are
most undesirable. Not only is it eX-
1edient and proper that We confer with
each Other - 10 what can he accom-
pdShed by mutual endeavOr and the
appliance Of internal cooperative
agencies. but also is il advisable that
We arrange fof the presentation to the
state and national I4w making powers
" a showing of the situation. with a
request for such aid and encourage
ment as may properly be given.
Say. Laws Are Inadequate.
To the practical irrigators assem-
''d here it requires no argument to
emphasize the fact that our irriSa ton
methods are lame and our laws are i'm
potent
l'se past legislatures. They have had
many subjects to deal with and have
7tlerauy Doe the best they could
within the time prescribed for their
.1ioerauons. These remarks are only
Intended TO illustrate with what fears
aul trembling the subject of irriga-
gol mas heretofore been considered. So
-.sn has the feeling run at times whes
'S not been uncommon to hear such
AaFhs made by old and otherwise
abiding citizens as that if the leg
azure should undertake to legislate
Water rights away they would
,e no neSitaucy in shouldering their
>Ae'S and taking the law into their
f hands. II may as well he con-
.lS-a That while all OF us have sensed
necessity of doing something to i'm
'AIS1nc conditions. mono Of us
known exactly the thing To do.
s. result has been confusion. law
~ trouble and expense. In many
-..eal2eS. 7 regret to say. the rule OF
,.4-l mas been that the men at the
80. or the stream have helped them
49, and let the fellows below taxa
NJ :, Was LETT. Though in many parts
ne state irrigation districts have
de- formed and the water has been
sst;.s.ouJed with care and consequent
pos--s'aelor 70 water users, the fore
a. conditions. speaking generally
not exaggerated.
IN me 1t is not Incumbent upon me
IN sseSt a remedy for the evils here
So 0l ieeoly described. and the thou
NJ ana one other Ills which you IRE
~ lamiiiar than /. it is my earnest
roi-. 'nat this convention may at Ieast
fo,,i., way out OF some OF our dit
speaks Of Reservoir System.
curing your deliberations. also.
toN will fine n o0-yo.1fo,,t 80