Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-10-01
IRRIGATION IN
BEEHIVE STATE.
Interesting Review Of Work Done
Here During the Past Fifty
Six Years.
BY STATE ENGINEER D0REMUS.
Tells Of the Difficulties Which Had to
Be Overcome Before Sue
cess Came.

THO following interesting article on
ava p,ogress of irrigation in Utah, Is
,ro NJ the many prepared for the late
session Of the National Irrigation con-
.ress and not read for lack OF time.
:, 20 by that well known authority on
,,r,qatIon, state Engineer A, f. DO"
venus and tells the story of the work
aone IN this state. Mr.. Doremus said
Mr., President, Ladies and Gentle
r,en TO picture the progress OF irrl-
cation in Utah implies a view extending
hack for nearly sixty years and embrace
he the very beginning OF that great
work m the interests of which TINS con-
gross has been convened.
Iooking back through the mists OF
moro than half a century we see busy
throng upon the banks OF the then iar
away Missouri; a band OF daring men
and dauntless women intent upon PEN
Grating the painless wilds or the great
west Halted here, at the outposts OF
civilization only long enough Tor neces,
ssrv preparation, these hardy sons ana
II
S,cfs upon the last vestige of civillza-
Non and plunged into the solitudes OF
an unknown and savage region, Housed
onlv In tented wagons drawn by slug
ysb oxen. these patient pilgrims moved
slov,,y hut sturdlly toward the setting
,"n crosslng the boundary which cep-
arates the fertile lands of the east from
he sterile plains OF the west, out OF the
land NJ proliac soil and plente0us rain
MO the region of sterile sands and
scorching sun; from the fruitful helas
n the east to the barren wastes OF the
west they passed
EARLY DAY DANGERS.
Months of tedious toll, of deprivation
srd danger were endured during the
sonstant iourneylng for a thousand
rnes over the waterless wastes ana
rngoed ranges that lay across their
course ere they paused for needed rest
on the hanks of the city creek, IN TINS
state. Here they beheld a soil when
through centuries of ceaseless sunsnlile
had been bleached almost to the Whiie-
ness of snow and baked to sucn de-
cree of hardness that II was wen hisn
impossible to penetrate IL Win thc
pows that had been brought ATOMS.
s,nnlv nv more than 1000 miles OF des-
sy rf' surrounded by savage foe, their
originally scanty food supply practlc-
sllv exhausted, these resolute souls
turned 10 the soil for succor, and life-
loss AS 1t was they fairly forced 1t TO
yield them sustenance.
AS first step In the work OF SUB
mgaton, ditch was dug to convey the
crystal water of the creek over the
thirsty soil preparatory to plowing II,
and SO irrigation for this region ana
BY our race was born out OF the needs
and hopes of that forlorn but signin-
cant situation.
SYSTEMATIC PLANS,
The success which followed the first
attempt was coon succeeded by plans
for systematic extension of the work,
and as a matter of immediate need a
fort was built into which all moved for
shelter and mutual protection. From
the very first II was agreed that the
land should be owned In small tracts,
and that the owners of the land should
be co-owners Of the bitches that were
to supply the water for irrigation, III
was In accordance with this that the
subsequent subdivision of the land was
planned
The land Immediately about the fort
was laid out as n city, the lots OF which
We're l0x20 rods and contained IA
acres. The land next adjoining the
city was subdivided into iYe-acre lots,
and that next adjoining the five-acre
lots was divided into ten-acre tracts,
and next beyond and adjoining the 10
acre lots came the 20-acre subdivisions
and stIll beyond these the a0-acre farms.
map was made and upon II was
shown all these several sized lots
which were also designated by num-
bfrs, each class forming a series. Each
citizen was entitled to one city lot and
one other lot OF any other class which
ne might elect The particular lot OF
which he was to become possessed was
determined by ballot, each prospective
proprietor drawing from box in which
mad been placed numbered slips to rep
resent all OF the lots in that class.
DISTRIBUTION.
The next step was TO provide water
lol the land so subdyided and dis
ulbuttd' and for this purpose bitches
were lald out to correspond as nearly
pas practicable with the shape of the
Nfuclion. After ascertaining which lots
would be served by any certain ditch
ihe owners Of such lots joined
N the work of making the
dlich. each contributing according
10 'he area OF the lots to be r-
Ilsaled Thus, If the ditch was cal
e9latea to irrigate 200 acres the man
VINO owned 20-acre lot must contrib
u'e tenth Of the work necessary to
max me ditch; and in like manner the
uai VINO owned flve-acre lot must do
wu'A 10 the extent of one-fortleth of
WV "nole' The water rights thus ac-
SSaIleo We're designated and known as
,ollr ana hVe-acre rights, respective
flANly, as the community grew
strength and numbers and attack
lonl the Indians became less liable,
NV 10 me fort was abandoned and the
rseope moved out. each man with his
iiGully' onto the lot which he had pre-
"usE Drawn by ballot, rne fort, how
wv was maintained for time as a
P'N'e 'i refuge In case of need.
PopULoUs AND PROSPEROUS.
from This beginning and In this way
"as grown populous and pros
.vus city on the very spot where irr-
s1"9n ior this region had It's beginning
,n ut'lAs monument OF both the place
Lar, 'ne people. The methods described
-i"'. ueen repeated over and over again
s"'ushont IN state, producing tho
s59.es OF thriving cities and towns with
thsayent farms which now dot the plain
b,@ IS ueiore was wholly barren and for
~, nese all bear witness to the wisdom
has "v pan which the people of Utah
tbe ny oo0H6 osC and which has resulted In
e,t, Oyo'vOo acres Of land now under irri-
auo9 IN this state, being subdIvided
ecr1. aims that average less than 20
oo5 ,aeh while the lrrigating canals
", ul'ches with perhaps n single ex-
:, ION, are owned and managed in a
mdhpIs5ra',Ve way by the people whose
water lands have the use Of the
Turns. "PPVi"'eu 'h"eS ohu