The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-01-29
HOW To FRAME
IRRIGATION LAW
Legislators Listen to Addresses
by Experts.
TOLD OF PRESSING NEEDS
A. F. DoRFMUs AND NJ. w. TAY-
LoR EXPLAIN DIFFICULTIES.

meeting of the senate and house COM
mittees on irrigation. held in the house
committee room. Over a score OF. sem
ators and representatives attended the
session and listened to addresses by
State Engineer A F. Doremus and
Moses ". Taylor, president of the new
Weber River Reservoir & Irrigation
company. The addresses outlined the
pressing needs which have grown in
Utah out of the lack of laws defining
water rights, and while the advice
.confiicted somewhat as to the nature
OF remedies suggested, the discussion
opened up the whole subject before
the members in its various aspects.
appointment OF a committee of three
representatives and two senators to
frame an irrigation law was the i'm
mediate outcome of the gathering.
representatives Austin. Roberts and
J. h. Johnson were selected by the
house committee for the work. The
senate committees selections will be
announced today so the committee can
get to work at once.
Keynote OF Expressions.
Define water rights was the key
note of State Engineer Doremus ad-
vice to the legislators.
Protect the watershed" was the in
junction upon which President TayIor
laid emphasis.
Engineer Doremus said: "Other
pressing needs must stand aside un-
til the foundation interest Of the state
is given the legislation necessary to
foster its development. Irrigation has
been neglected by the lawmakers I'M
til the situation is not only serious, it
is critical. OF the 81, O00, 900 acres of
land in the state, not more than 4 per
cent, and some say not more than
per cent, is under irrigation This
small area supports the entire burden
of state government. Less than half
the water of the state is used for ir-
rigation. The remainder. all of which
could be used. goes to waste. Impor-
tant as are the industries of mining
and StOckraising, they dwindle into
insignificance as compared with irri-
cation in vital Importance to the peo-
pie of Utah.
Dissension obstruets Progress.
''Dissension concerning rights to
water obstructs progress. The right
of the settler to the water is recog-
nized, but the extent of that right is
disputed. The just and fair distribu-
ton of water in Utah is more impor-
tant than the distribution of land.
IF water rights were acquired in the
same orderly way as are land titles
the chief difficulty would not confront
us. As it is, there is a limit upon the
amount of land a citizen may acquire
from the government, but there is no
limit upon the quantity of water he
may use. The confusion with respect
to water rights is so widespread that
it is impossible with few exceptions,
for any man to describe what belongs
to him. The scramble for water is of
the same character as the scramble of
children for free candy thrown out of a
wagon.
Community Controls the Ideal.
IF a purchaser of land could know
whether any water right
we're available he would not make the
mistake of settling himself and his
amily where, after years of ntiga-
ion, he would find no right was avail
lble for him. The government has
abdicated its control of
water rights, so it remains for the
state to assert itself and take the wa
er under its control and define these
lights. Community control of each
Instinct waterway is the ideal.
Power plants should not be allowed
lights superior to irrigation rights, so
hat storage is made impossible. Con-
truction Of reservoirs is always the
implied ultimate purpose when an ir-
igation system IS established, and the
rectiOn of a water power plant in a
waterway should not be allowed to for
Yer block the carrying out of this ir-
igation purpose. The water is worth
en- times for irrigation what it is for
lower, and the state should have such |
egislation as will make the irrigation |
light prior.
Like Tnverted Tree
IAN irrigation system is like an in
erted tree. 1t draws its sustenanee /
rom the branches above and uses it |
[ the roots below. The branch of a /
rec might be Topped off without harm
ng the tree, as the growth would be 4
iverted among the other branches. No !
ne, however, would think of harming |
ne root. The reverse is true of an ir-
igation system.
A ditch. corresponding to root.
nay be closed up or cut off, without 1
the system. but the moment (
ne watershed, corresponding with the
ranches. is tempered with. the entire
ystem is hurt. LAUNDERING. grazing. 7
nything that affects a watershed ad-
ersely should be restricted, for the
'rigatiOn system is of vastly greater
Importance than any other interest.
he water is the virtue and the es-
ence which vitalizes the foundation
lduStry Of the state. The farmer
Mould be made to feel as sure in his
alter right as is the merchant or the
anker in his possession of nerchan-
Use or money"
Protect the Watershed.
Mr.. Taylor said: Each watershed
Mould be controlled by one commits
on. Don't enact legislation that only
lawyer or an engineer can under
and, but make laws every farmer
an read. Don't tamper with water
ghts until you are educated up to
lie point that you know what you are
Ding, and until the public sentiment
as been SIMILARLY developed and edu-
ited.
The troubles the state engineer has
'ferred TO as existing owing to lack
definition of water rights are bad
Tough without their being made worse
y crude or bungling Iegislat ton. You
IN define acre feet and second feet
terms that will apply to the diff
ring conditions of all parts Of the
ate, and If you try to YOU will kill
lie goose that lays the golden egg.
eglslation for protection of the wa
rsneds from invasion and destruc-
on, and laws fostering the constrlc-
on OF reservoirs SO the water NAV be
'nserved, are what is needed now.
Of water rights must come
time, but the attempt should not
made too soon.''
Mr.. Taylor invited the committee to
SIT the Weber river so as to learn
nat was being projected there.
INFORMATION ASKED FOR.
City Recorder Nystrom has received a
Ter !