The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-03-02
RESULTS OF CONVENTION
MEMORIALS ON ARID LANDS
AND WATERSHEDS.


q by the conventions deliberations. il is
! ! generally conceded that much has beer
T. achieved in the way of crystallizing
/ the sentiments of irrigators on ques-
tons which most directly affect their
interests. Three important issues were
- before the body of delegates. These
o. were the occupancy aud control of the
- watershed areas. the best means of dis
e posing of the arid lands, and measures
f calculated to determine the duty Of
q water under varying local conditions
Z and to remedy the defet Is of water dis
trlbution from the public streams.
The convention concluded that fur
, Their restrictions ought to be placed
upon the grazing privileges in the
mountains. that cession of the arid
ldndS 10 the states would afford the
largest measure OF government aid for
thelr exclamation. and that the matter
OF determining the duty of water and
us more satisfactory distribution is
SUBJECT meriting favorable considera-
ton by the next legislature.
Not the least important conclusion
of the convention was to reassemble in
month to perfect the Organization of
the Utah Irriga ton congress.
As many Of the delegates expressed
IT, me seed has been sown to educate
the Utah irrigat0rs TO legislative meas
ures intended for their advantage gen
orally, and If the seed thus sown takes
root, it will then he demonstrated that
the convention was mighty success.
Delegates Were Weary.
Yesterdays morning session was half
an hour late in commencing and even
tEen only about half the delegates were
in attendance. First in order was
notlhcauon from County Clerk James
} that President Angus NJ Cannon of
me south Jordan Canal company had
/. been appointed by the board of com
/ miSSiOners a delegate to fill the vacan-
! cy created by the death of Colonel
/ {. L. Stevenson.
While waiting for the committee on
/ resolutions TO report upon the various
remaining propositions submitted to if
Secretary Lambert suggested that
/ discussion might be profitable on the
! pest methods of forcing the maturity
OF lucern crops when drouth is i'm
inIhenL His own experience had
'augnt MN that 10 DulveTize the soil
on the surface had a tendency to re-
tain The moisture
Answering Mr.. Lambert's query
delegate Wilcken stated that in Mil
Iard county the past of fOx-taiI grass in (
aIai1a fields had been put to good use
IN inning reservoir dams and canal i
banks.
George Austin Of the agricultural de- 1
parJment OF the Lehi sugar factory.
STATED that intense cultivation. deep /
Pio"lng and early and late irrigation
lessen the i'll effects of drouth.
A resolution from the committee on
resolutions was adopted. expressing an
probation 70 the presidency of the
Mormon church for the use of the con-
VenUon hail and the courtesy of an or
gan recital in the tabernacle. and ten
derlns them the privilege of the con-
vention.
On recommendation of the committee
on resolutions. the resolution of Dele
gate Porter Of Morgan county was
adopted favoTing legislation which will
make II possible for all water claim
ants 10 procure from referees appointed
oy the courts certificates of title to
thelr rights, after the taking of testi
ihony IN support Of such claims d
Sheep Grazing Issue Again.
The contest between the farmers and
the sheepmen was renewed by the COM
mittee commenting the adoption of
MISS Works resolution as a substitute
for Delegate Ellison's proposition. The
resolution offered by the woman dele
gate from Washington county com {
mended the action Of the interior de- {
parment IN Withdrawing from entry
ana occupancy the watershed areas
and urging the continuation of this ]
policy. while the Ellison proposition
protested against the establishment of )
any more forest reservations in the :
mountain grazing districts i'm the al {
legged interest of protecting the sources
OF water supply until it be demon j
StTated that such Withdrawals of the {
unrestricted range are necessary. d
Delegate ThOreSen of Cache made the
POM that the subject matter of the Y
Two resolutions had already been acted S
Upon by the convention in declaring i'm c
IaVor o. closing the watersheds q
against occupancy by livestock Pay {
ing his compliments 10 the sheepmen.
Mr. Thoresen remarked that while the v
1ockmaSters are in fhis convention :
they should be irriga tors. leaving to . {
5heep convention the advocacy of the C
Tree grazing privileges in the noun
.ainS
After Alma Eldredge had made
plea Tor the adoption of the substitute 4
resolution, Z. II. Callister, proxy for
James h Anderson OF Salt Lake. char
3cterlzed as Misrepresentation the
statements OF the proponents Of the
sentiment that sheep grazing in the
mountains results in early floods ard
9norm2l scarcity Of water in the mid
lie and latter part of each summer.
Delegate Haivorsen maintained that
ne convention was not sufficiently ad-
lSed from demonstrated knowledge To-
adopt the Work resolution as the con
'istent sentiment Of an assembly OF
rrigators.
a Question Of Self-interest.
lob
ltlon as one OF self-pTeservati ton by
he irriga tors. The encroachments of
ne gTazers upon the watersheds. he =
emarked, have resulted in the driving
p OF the farming lands. and the vital 3
question IS whether the irrigaters shall
ave preserved % them their rights or
eek homes in other states. He hoped
here would be no more temporizing.
ME Concurring in some Of Nr.
1nltn sentiments Judge Johnson Of
anpeJe conJended that the withdrawal -
rom selection and entry Of so many
1Ise tracts OF choice mountain lands
-ould tend 10 render valueless = Isrga
ar OF the land grants for public in
-ltuuons made by the federal govern ~
lent 70 the state. He feared that even y
ne lndlscrlminate temporary establish ~
lent OF forest reservations would
ork more injury than benefit TO the
eople o. t},e state.
Al the pening OF the meeting after - -
ne noon recess Judge Miner of Utah IN
ounty continued the argument. favor fa.
y me adoption of Delegate Works De
Institute resolution Or
A can Tor the previous question shut G,
7 further debate and the substitute ~
solution was adopted by a decisive N
ote ~
The delegates from Washington and M