The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-01-18
BEGIN WORK ON
IRRIGATION LAW
Legislators Prepare to Take Up
the Subject.
SUGGESTIONS BY 0OREMUS
WYOMING STATUTES MAY BE
USED AS A BASIS.
SUGGESTIONS BY 0OREMUS

A comprehensive irrigation bill. de-
signed to systematic present laws and
to add regulations covering the gem
eraI subject in this state. will be in
troduced as early during the present
session of the legislature as possible.
Action in the matter has been hele
back until the appointment Of the COM
mittees on irrigation in both house and
senate. Now that these committees
have been appointed, the matter will
be taken up vigorously.
A special need for legislation exists
because upon il depends to a large ex-
tent the granting of federal aid to de-
Velop the irrigation systems of the
state and to improve and conserve the
water supply. The government officials
have announced that nothing can be
done until the Utah situation is clari-
fed by a broad irrigation law. The
sentiment in both house and senate is
in favor Of the passage of such a law,
but there is in sight long period of
wrestling over details
Representative George Austin of Lehi.
chairman of the house committee on
irrigation, said yesterday that he pro-
posed to take up the subject at once
He will probably call meeting of the
committee tomorrow TO take the initial
steps.
Wants to Get Ideas.
AS soon as 1 can do So he said,
Il shall ha e a talk with the state
engineer to get his ideas on the sub
ject, and shall consult with other ex-
perts with a view to getting a bill
framed which will cover the question
properly and thoroughly. l realize the
Importance Of getting the matter 10
early in the session, as 1t is a big and
serious problem, and il will take
some time to solve it satisfactorily"
The irrigation committee of the
house is composed of Chairman Austin,
and Representatives d. r. Roberts of
Cache. John c. Child of Weber, Heber
"A. Smith of Salt Lake. James Ander-
son of Morgan. David McKinnOn Of
Rich, A. r. Hawley OF Sewer, J. E
johnson of Emery and Lorenzo Peter
son of Sanpete county.
The senate committee is composed of
Senator David Mckay of Weber coun-
", chairman; Senators Willis johnson
OF Piute, G. 2. Larsen of Sanoete H
S. Larsen of Box Elder, ]. G. NJ Barnes
of Davis. Harden Bennion of Uintah
and J. r. Murdoch of Wasatch county.
All are in favor of prompt action on
this important question.
Basis For Legislation.
The prospects are that the bill in
troduced two years ago by Repre-
SNiANdNANN j. I1o4IuSEen OF BOX Elder
county will serve as a basis for the
legislation of the present session There
is small chance of its being adopted
in its original form, however. The
Holmgren bill was modelled after the
Wyoming statute on irrigation. which
was drawn by Professor Elwood Mead
of the federal agricultural department
In brief, IL provides for a state board
of control the state engineer being one
of the members. This board has juris-
diction over all the irrigation systems
in the state, and has judicial powers
in settling disputes. There are nu-
merous other provisions along these
lines
State Engineer A. f. Doremus is of
the opinion that the Wyoming law.
while a good one. would have to be
changed In many particulars to fit the
conditions in this state
Doremus Is Willing.
Il do not endorse any particular pro-
posed irrigation law" said Mr.. Dore-
nus when asked for his views on the
subject yesterday. Il have no pet
measure and viii have none am
perfectly ready to give any assistance
in framing an irrigation bill which
lies in my power, but l have no meas
ure Of my own to present. IN my an
nual report I have presented the stu
alton, pointing out some of the defects
in the existing system which must be
remedted. There must be some way
provided to define existing rights. pro
vide for the adjudication of disputes
conserve the water and provide for
its control Until this is done there
is scant hope of obtaining federal aid.
THE situation in Utah is peculiar.
and 1 believe the Wyoming law. if
adopted in general, would have to be
changed considerably to be adapted to
the conditions here. In Utah there are
more existing rights to be protected.
The past must be taken into consid-
Grafton as well as the future I esti-
mate that about half the available
water in Utah has been appropri-
ated
Rights of Each Person.
There must be some method, per-
haps by a state board of control. to
define the rights of each person who
has appropriated water. and then the
state can take charge of the distrfbu-
ton of the balance and supervise
everything. do not believe. however.
that it is wise to give the state board