Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-01-24


nThe work upon the Utah Lake pro"
nosltion need not necessarily stop from
tha action of the North Jordan lrriga-
lion company In turning down the mer-
ger nroposition, as the matter may be
taken up along some other line, by sim
ply leaving that company out OF the
benefits that would have been derived
out of the consolidation as proposed,and
the three other companies going In with
The plan of perfecting some other
scheme. II there was some person
who would or could act as the agent
with whom the government could deal
and whom the people would trust, the
whole matter might thus be settled.
But the subject is now one that the
Legislature should act upon, 1t should
appropriate funds for the perfection OF
such a plan, as lawyers must be em-
ployed and other expenses incurred.
The Commercial club took the matter
mn because there was no established
bureau 10 commence the work, and 1t
was hoped the proposition could have
been submitted to the Interior depart
ment by this time. The work so far
accomplished has not been altogether
LOST and can be carried forward along
such lines as will be acceptable to the
people and Of the greatest benefit to the
state"
EXPLAINS FURTHER.
Explaining further his position, Col.
Holmes called attention 10 his re-
marks at Yesterdays meeting, at which
time he said,
you may wonder why / am interest
ed in this local matter or these water
problems in any form. Well then,
am always interested in such problems
as affect the public welfare and by rea-
son Of my official position in irrigation
matters, am bound to do whatever is
in my power to bring about a sausfac-
torw solution Of this question.
New conditions have arisen since the
passage Of the act known as the Ma
| tiona Irrigation law, new duties and
new responsibilities, and which as good
citizens we may not shirk, neither the
| highest In the land nor the humblest
| citizen may evade what Is ones plain
| duty in the matter, and II is incon-
| celvable how one can think to do other
! than agree 10 any plan that will give to
| this section the great benefits to accrue
under the operation of this law.
Here then, Is the situation. A de-
cided positive scarcity of water every
| year, some years more than others. II Is
| trie, but under existing conditions, the
| North Jordan Canal company can new
| err expect more thon l05 second feet
with water in Utah Lake at comprom-
| ise level. and less than that amount
| when water is lower Under the new
| conditions you can never have less than
| 10 second feet, the capacity of your
| canal, and might by simply charging
| your canal secure for your land that
| may be without water, an abundant
| supply. This fact alone should decide
! your action as your land must be far
| more valuable with this certainty OF
water supply and both land and wa
ter might easily be worth double what
| II is now.
without this improvement, your
! lands depreciate In value, and In some
| Instances, become absolutely unsaleable,
| whereas. with the other plan they will
| largely increase in value as their pro-
! ductive capacity increases.
This Is the first great proposition
proposed for the government to take up
| in this state and they intimate how we
must go to work and do It. and I'VE pro-
coed along certain lines and are then
blocked. There are other difficulties be-
sidea these which VIII have TO be taken
UP when we come TO them. but the
whole work stops when this obstacle Is
out of the way.
Now. II this proposition is let go
and attention is turned elsewhere, this
| will not be again taken up In a long
time, probably not In the lifetime Of
most Of us, and for this reason The
sum available Is now large, and Utahs
interest should amount 70 at least $780,
00c. by the time the work Is under way
from the continued sales Of public lands
In this state, probably one million dol
lars would become available by the
time II could be iudlciously expended,
Of course, this sum would do great
deal OF good to other sections II II Is
expended In other parts OF the state
but II Is plain that coming In as Il must
In annual payments extending over a
period OF 10 years. that at no time vii
there be any large sum available fol
this great work, probably not In q
years viii there be sufficient money or
hand again TO commence this work or
the scale necessary, and now under
contemplation, therefore, the present
opportunity should not be allowed 4
pass which will surely be the case 4
this detail IL not now attended TO-" Fol
lowing Is a letter Just at hand from III,
interior department;
LETTER FROM PROF. NEWELL.
washington, d. c.. Jan. H. 1909
Mr.. Il. F. Holmes, Salt Lake City
Utah,--Dear Sir--l am In receipt o.
yours OF the 18th inst, In regard TO tn
efforts made to unite the various cana
companies interested intthe waters o
the Utah Lake,
In taking up an irrigation project o
this kind, where numerous vested In
terests are IN existence when the worl
OF the reclamation begins, II IL essen
tigl that ell rights and claims to tn
water shall be definitely settled befor,
any work OF reclamation can be begun
by the government The department o.
the Interior, so far as we are aware
viii not undertake TO handle any wa
ter conservation project so long as tn
claims 10 Il are likely 20 be involved II
: litigation The reclamation servic'
would not take up matter involving
Z such questions and II seems 10 me quit
certain that the secretary OF the in
terror would refuse 10 approve any pro
iect Of reclamation which involves
} doubt as to the disposition OF the wa
{ ters TO be stored II " were submitted q
him. accordingly. the first requisite tina
must be fulfilled before we will under
take the Investigations. leading up t
the construction OF the work needed 70
any particular project is the harmonic
: ing OF all existing interests.
I "a number Of projects under consld
GRAFTON. In the various states Is so grea
that no project which involves pos
: sible conflict would be now taken ~
The reclamation ssrsicc -c-iros 20 con
slider all feasible enterprises for whic
there are funds available. but one i'm
portant element OF the feasibility