Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-10-01
Result and Value of Making Utah Lake
A ReserUoK Estimated at s., $50, 900

or II per cent less surface exposed TO
evaporation. which, at the rate Of g.
Feet IN depth per annum, would save
1915 acre-feet OF water, or more than
was used during the whole season of
1870 on the entire area now under canal.
The Jordan river however, Is In
capable Of conveying sufficient sup
ply 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
rupply of 200 acre-feet II Is there
fore, apparent that TO increase the dis
charge capacity OF the river is equally
IS important as 10 enlarge the storage
capacity of the lake,
il to the 1900 acres segregated from
the lake Is added the acreage OF marsh
land that borders the lake, there will
be an area OF about $1,000 acres Of land
which, II reclaimed from the excess OF
water, will be a most valuable acquisl-
lion to Utah county. and at the same
time remove the menace which these
marsh lands now are to the health Of
the people OF that county.
Summarized. the situation appears TO
ample TO provide a fun supply 20 the
As 900 acres now under canal and for an
additional 10000 acres Of unreclaimed
arid land. that TO store this water In
Utah lake Will require its enlargement
as a reservoir that TO utilize the
stored water the carrying ca
lacity 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
cidentally, the segregated lake areas
aud marsh lands be reclaimed, the ma
terlal dredged from the lake TO be utll-
ICED In filling the marshes and segre'
cations
The result and value which may be
reasonably expected from the eNecu-
ton OF the plan ,here outlined viii APP
pear from the following:
Completing water supply for
5000 acres at $40 per acre Is 100000
Providing full water supply for
10000 acres at $50 per acre.. 100000
25. 900 acres reclaimed lake and
marsh at 500 per acre ....., 2,50O0OO
Total .., 80. zee. -. "...Sh4oV'VVV
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 400 adj
dltional farms OF SO acres each (the
size prescribed IN the irrigation acD
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 situa-
tion. This Is. Of course, not possible NJ
the present time. but II Is certainly
safe TO predict that the probable cost
will be greatly less than 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 an actual and careful
determination OF these essential mat