Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-02-16
AN IMPORTANT MEASURE.

A bin is to be considered in the Leg
'islature on Tuesday that has been
somewhat misunderstood. II was IN
tfoduced In the House by Mr. Austin,
Of Utah county. II Is 10 regulate the
use Of arteslan wells, and to prevent
the waste Of subterranoan waters IN
this State. II defines an arteslan well
ns ANY artificial well the waters Of
which, II properly cased. win flow con-
tinuously over the natural surface Of
the ground adjacent 10 such well, at
any season Of the year"
The measure provides that the waters
Of such wells shall be used only for
Lencaclal purposes in lawful manner;
ana that when not in such use the wells
shall be closed. This II Is claimed
with apparently good reason, viii pre-.
vent the waste OF subterranean waters,
the dlmlnutlon Of the flow, and the
flooding Of lands that are spoiled BY the
waste. BY closing them in the winter
season these evils viii be greatly RENE
died, and 1t Is claimed that thereby the
flow when they are opened VIII be In
creased,
II needed at any time the wells may
he kept open. A beneficial use means
for irrigation. domestic purposes. fish
nonds. fountains and the like. Thes
are to be closed when not in use. Bps
The provision does not apply to waters
flowing from mining shafts, or to any
arteslan wen IN which the maximum
flow Of water does not exceed two gal"
lens per minute
Provisions similar to these have been
adopted IN some Of the States with
great benefit. They also prevail In the
Hawaiian islands, as may be seen from
the following extract from letter q
Mr.. Austin from Mr., Gardner of l.ehi'
II has been my good fortune to live
in the Hawaiian Islands for several
years, and was there during the in
cipiency OF the artesian well system OF
that country. Il appears from the
peculiar formation Of that country that
the underground water VIII only rise
q certain distance above sea level, and
when required for higher ground
pumps are installed TO lift It the re-
quired height AZ first not knowing
the damage that would later occur they
were left running continuously
the whole year round and
the water ran TO waste as
1t does here now during the winter
season, but after some experiment 1t
was asoertained that the underground
lake or supply had been lessened TO
that extent that II would not raise to
rs normal height by six inches, and
steps were taken by the government to
remedy this condition, and law was
Immediately passed TO close all wells,
excepting az such times as the water
was actually needed which method
brought the water system back 20 It's
normal level II Is universally known
that the artesiaR wells system Of the
Hawaiian Islands Is the greatest In the
world. Wells are driven IN that coun-
try with six 10 fourteen inch pipe, and
IN u great many lnhldH'tN lN' ifhAiui
irrlgating streams win flow from one
we'll These things have come under
my personal observation, therefore |
think u great deal Of good can come to
ihe State through our flowing web sys-
tenn II put under control Of the State
officials 10 see TO It and they are prop
erly handled and not run continuously
as nj present-particularly will this be
20 10 Utah county
j. II. GARDNER.
fupt The Lehl Sugar Factory, Utah
II we had space to spare we could
add letters from other persons familiar
with the subject, strongly endorsing
the Austin bin, We hope II win receive
full consideration from the Legislature
and that It will become a law, as It e
a much needed regulation and
we believe viii aid materially IN
the settlement Of the water question.