Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-10-01
Result and Value of Making Utah Lake
A ReSeruoir Estimated at $7,45o, 900

or II per cent less surface exposed TO
evaporation. which, at the rate or 81
fect IN depth per annum, would save
49, 500 acre-feet Of water or more than
was used during the whole season OF
1890 on the entire area now under canal
The Jordan river however, is in
capable of conveying q sufficient sup
My even for the land under present
canals. At mean stage Of the lake be-
tween low water and compromise levels,
the river can only discharge $50 acre
feet daily, as against a required daily
gunply of 1000 acre-feet. IL Is there
fore. apparent that TO Increase the dis
charge capacity OF the river is equally
as important as to enlarge the storage
capacity of the lake.
II to the 1900 acres segregated from
the lake Is added the acreage OF marsh
land that borders the lake there WIN
be an area of about % 900 acres OF land
which, # reclaimed from the excess OF
water. will be a most valuable acquisi-
ton TO Utah county, and at the same
time remove the menace which these
marsh lands now are 10 the health OF
the people of that county
Summarized. the situation appears TO
be that the water shed and rainfall are
ample 10 provide a full supply to the
as 600 acres now under canal and for an
additional 10000 acres OF unreclalmed
mid land. that TO store this water In
Utah lake viii require its enlargement
as reservoir; that to utilize the
stored water the carrying ca
racity of the Jordan river must
lie increased. and that addition
al lands must be put under ditch
II also seems desirable that the lake
surface be reduced in area and the
depth of water increased, and that, In
eidentaly. the segregated lake areas
and marsh lands be reclaimed. the ma
terial dredged from the lake to be util-
lied in filling the marshes and segre-
, cations.
The result and value which may be
reasonably expected from the eXecu-
ton of the plan ,here outlined Will APP
pear from the following.
Completing water supply for
$4,000 acres at $40 per acre - 45O,VOO
Providing full water supply for
10000 acres az $50 per acre.. 100000
q. 900 acres reclaimed lake and
marsh at 500 per acre ,..... 2,bOO'OOo
Total ..s -. .st. tsss '.ssss9ttt dVfVNV
In round numbers, the work VIII eff
feet values easily worth seven and a
half millions OF dollars.
In view that this would furnish a
full, for the present deficient. water
supply 10 the 5000 acres already set
tied and provide more than l.40O adj
dltional farms OF so acres each (the
size prescribed IN the irrigation acO
near n center OF population which
would insure their immediate sale and
settlement. thus eliminating the ques-
ton OF colonization--there seems ample
justification for the government to I'M
dertake the work.
Matters OF cost and details are I'M
possible Of determination except from
careful and complete surveys and a
fun consideration Of the entire sltua-
ton. This Is, Of course. not possible az
the present time. but II is certainly
safe 10 predict that the probable cost
will be greatly less thar the value re-
allied from the execution OF a thor
oughly comprehensive plan. And while
the proposition relative 10 rainfall and
the resulting available water supply are
sanctioned by the best authorities
there should be m actual and careful
determination Of these essential mat