The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-12-20
UTAH MUST WORK
OR ALL Is LOST
Plans Discussed For Securing
Irrigation Funds.
TO SAVE WATER OF UTAH LAKE
MEETING HELD LAST EVENING
AT COMMERCIAL CLUB ROOMS.

meeting OF the members OF the
Commercial club was held last evening
TO discuss the irrigation question and
to devise means to secure for Utah the
benefits of government assistance in
storing the waters of Utah lake for ir-
rigation purposes. Secretary Fisher
Harris called the meeting to order, and
@. G. Lambert presided. In taking the
chair, Mr.. Lambert called attention 10
the Importance of the subject and the
Importance of having every business
man in the community familiarize him
self with the question. He said, IN
part:
1T is no longer popular to be ig
norant on the question. It is a refiec-
ton on our citizens to say that they
are not interested nor informed on the
subject. IN fact, it is surprising to see
the interest manifested by people who
are not interested in agriculture
There are several reasons why the
business men should be interested in
the question. This is the original home
of irrigation. This is the place where
the initial attempts at irrigation were
made. The world is watching us and
waiting for US to set the example and
to continue and perfect a system Of ir-
rigatiOn that may be copied. We are
not the only ones interested in the sub
ject Most of us have read of the I'M
mense irrigating bitches of Egypt
which are expected 10 transform that
country. The same things may be &C
complished here and the same trans
formations may be made to take place.
IF such a great man as Gladstone
could afford to refuse an English peer
age and interest himself in the welfare
of the people, there is no reason why
we cannot afford to interest ourselves
in this question. The Commercial club
is prompted by public spirit 10 interest
itself in the welfare of the people, and
TO agitate this matter, and L hope the
members viii do the same until a gen.
eral sentiment in favor of the PROPOSE
ton is aroused.
we ought to interest ourselves in
this question because the next session
of the national irrigation congress Is
TO be held at ogden. We ought to in
terest ourselves because of the position
held in that congress by our esteemed
fellow citizen. Colonel +. T. Holmes,
and to show our apprecia ton of the
enthusiasm and devotion he has shown
in the work I trust we all feel like
supporting him"
Paper By Colonel Holmes.
Mr.. Lambert then called attention to
a paper which Colonel Holmes, who
was unable TO be present. had submit
ted. Secretary Harris read the COM
municatiOn, from which the following
excerpts are taken:
Few of us realize the far-reaching
and increasing Importance of the Utah
take storage plan under governmental
assistance, and while there is no doubt
whatever that it will be worked out
satisfactorily in the end. the people
who are so vitality interested should be
made sufficiently familiar with its
practical benefits to understand that
the measure must be carried through
But the greatest danger now is that
the government may for some reason
fail to approve the project. which II
certainly VIII DO If we do not succeed
In presenting the matter in the man
ner required by the interior depart
ment
Indeed. with all the difficulties re-
moved they may prefer the Bear lax,
proposition, which would affect three
states whose joint interests would alb
sorb the fund to which these state:
Utah lake proposition would probably
not be taken up, at least not for years
Meanwhile this section is likely to ret
rograde agriculturally to have les
land under cultivation than formerly
Under such circumstances the futur
growth of the city would be seriOusl.
checked. Thus il is clearly seen tina
made the government plan. To secur
this the differences existing between
the parties in interest must be adjust
ed and that soon. a other states ar
perfecting plans that viii use up tn
fund for years to come.
Utah County Benefits.
Utah county would be especially
benefited, as there the money would b
expended. the lands bordering on tn
lake reclaimed and instead of tn
marshy front there would be a boule
ward with trees and deep water fror
the very bank. New pleasure resort
would be opened that would in a meas
IRE take the place of salt lake shOul
that place lose its charm because of it
continued decline. 1t is no stretch o
the imagination to predict, should thi
great work be contaminated. that with
in ten to twenty years double tn
number of counties would be- under cul
tivation. If there were no future growt
caused by the building of railroads an
development in The way of manufacture
ing plants. its value from the stand
point Of the sugar beet industry woul
warrant the undertaking."
Franklin s. Richards, Engineer A.
Doremus and other members reviewe
the importance of the subject and
promise was secured from Mr.. D0remu
for a more exhaustive review of tn
Utah lake possibilities. a meeting wi
he called during the session of the leg
islature and the members will be IN
vited to the meeting. Mr.. Doremus il
Illustrated some of his remarks las
evening BY means of a chart, whic
showed the irrigation system in tn
form of an inverted tree, the source
IF supply performing the same func
lion as the roots of the tree.
-e~$
CAM rDAurIcn0 WIII