Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-02-26

something new developing, thus show
ing II 10 be m some measure an occult
as well ms demonstrated science, That
II Is the handspring of our prosperity
Is almost a truism and as such needs
no calculations while ts value as an
abstract proposition Is illustrated to
some extent by the numerous long bit
ter aud expensive lawsuits regarding
water and water rights II being at last
question whether this or mining III.
cation Is the more extensively and eX-
pensVely engaged In, Certainly Utah
has had herr fun share Of both, and
these are indicative, IN certain sense,
Of the value of both since
people seldom litigate oyt~
things which have little value,
not at all over those having none, and
thus II Is demonstrated that water is
regarded by our citizens az at least
equal In value to the precious metals
QUESTION OF RECLAMATION
THE extent Of the arid land region
Ct the United states is almost inc0n-
telvable and can only be approximate
~ computed and what makes II mat
ter OF special concern to us Is that
west Of the Missouri river, Utah having
her full share, notwithstanding the long
period Of time during which the work
Of reclamation has been going steadily
forward In this connection II Is to be
remembered that reclamation does not
fland stu after being once accomplish
Cd Like In the human family. there
can be no such thing as stagnaton It
Keeps on improving So long as the nee
cssary work upon II Is continued and
When the work ceases the land begins
TO retrograde. IL must also be borne
IA mind that any amount OF work with
cut he accompaniment OF water Is apt
70 be Of no avail, and that element has
thus become the great essential to our
progress.
INADEQUATE LAWS
"To the practical irrlgators assembled
here II requires no argument TO em-
rhasl2e the fact that our irrigation
methods are lame and our laws are
impotent, Water Is Of such substantial
value, especially in dry seasons such as
the one confronting us, that our law
makers have hitherto approached the
subject with the utmost trepidatOn, APP
rarently prelerrlng to bear the Ills we
have than TO ily 70 others they know
not Of, The passage OF adequate laws
10 provide for the proper distribution
OF the waters within the state has
seemed TO be Ike making laws 70 regu-
late the distribution OF the blood that
gives life TO Oul bodies such importance
has attached to the subject IN The past;
yet II we had but taken the human
body as an example and dispensed
the waters with huadredth part the
justice and accuracy which nature has
adopted 10 provide the circulation of
the blood through the natural alleys
and oates OF the body what a marvellous
benefaction L would have been TO rs
all
FEAR OF SUBJECT.
I'VE are not, here. however. 10 crit.
lcise past legislatures. They have had
many subjects 10 deal with and have
generally done the best they could
within the time prescribed for the de-
liberatlons These remarks are only
Intended to Illustrate with what fear
and trembling the subject OF irrigation
has heretofore been considered. even
by men who have been especially
chosen by the people to represent them
in the legislature. Nor has this feel
ing been confined altogether to past
legislatures, II Is not lnireqnently
that the press, in dwelling upon tho
various subjects demanding attention
at the hands OF assembling legislatures.
has seen nj TO sound note Of warm
ing that when IL came TO the subject
Of irrigation the lawmakers ought to
10 SLOW that perhaps inasmuch az the
matter was fraught With such enor-
nous consequences 90 the people, ana
particularly 10 the original approprla-
tors OF water right. e mlyht be better
after all 10 leave conditions pretty
much as they are; to let wei enough
alone. etc. Indeed, 80 high has the
feeling run at times when new laws
have been proposed that Il has not
been uncommon 10 hear such remarks
made by old and otherwise laW-abiC'
ing citizens as that 81 the legislature
should undertake 20 legislate lheir
water rights away they would have
no hesItancy In shoulderlng their mus
kets and taking the law into their own