The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-09-17
I'll PASO HAS GOOD LEAD
IN fight FOR CONGRESS
CONTINUED from Page Two.)

uraI streams traversing the arid regions
OF the country have arisen between
those claiming such waters by approDri-
alton for irrigation and those claimin g
the same as riparian owners under -
rules Of the common law Of England
and
Whereas. The recognition and tNforce-
meut Of the common law right of RI
parian ownership (as a higher legal right
thereto than that acquired by appropria-
tom VIII ettectually destroy and vir-
Z tually obliterate the agriculture and
with it all other branches of business
dependent upon It in the arid or semi
arid regions Of this country. in fostering
destroyed,
Therefore this convention does hereby
memorabilia the congress Of the United
states 20 enact such laws in that behalf
as viii authOritatively declaLs and de-
1lne the extent OF the legal rights of
riparian owners, and that the same Un-
der the common law Of England. as
adopted i'm this country. are implicitly
qualiiied by the necessities and phys
zeal conditions Of any state or territory
under the common law of England. are
inappiicable TO the conditions and ne
cessities. Of the arid OF semi-arid re-
gions OF the United States.
On Forest Reserves.
The important question of forest re-
serves and preservation of watersheds
occupies an important place in the
lutions on the matter having been in
troduced as follows:
BY Land and Water Commissioner J. +.
Macknight of Salt Lake City:
Whereas. The government has set apart
as forest reserve every alternate sec
ton of land being within the watershed
districts Of Salt Lake City and county,
and
Whereas. Salt Lake City has purchased
the sections Of land alternating with said
sections set apart by the government, and
has made ample provision for the care
ana prOlecuOn OF said watersheds, and
whereas, An inadequate supply of wa
Ter Tor all purposes has made the pro-
lection and preservation Of these water
sheds an urgent necessity; be II therefore
Resolved. That the honorable secretary
OF the interior be urgently requested to
IIlahf some forestry experiments in this
Iocalltyt conducive TO "a further develop
ment and preservation Of said watersheds
, and the protection of the water supply.
by Senator SmoOt of Utah.
Whereas. The inhabitants Of Utah and
other intermountain regions are depend
cnt upon the mountain streams for their
water supply. both for domestic and aE-
tlgutturai purposes, and said streams are
led by the melting SHOWS which fall i'm
me canyons and upon the mountains. and
w nereds. To is essential to the prosper
ATTY as well as the health Of said regions.
luat their sources of water supply should
De protected and made secure, and
w hereas, such protection and security
can only be AFFORDED by enforcing proper
rules and regulations to preserve the wa
Iersheds forming said streams from dep
Ieudtons by animals. as well as those
resulting I'm the destruction of the timber
and underbrEsh, and
whereas, Under the. present system said
watersheds are rapidly passing into the
nands OF private ownership and are being
aenuded OF the timber and underbrush
thereon, and are being used for private
purposes. ana I'm such manner as to
AFFECT the purity OF the water. as well as
10 constantly decrease the quantity and
Whereas. the best interests of am the
people ID rfrrrffa
or the public domain. which form the
watersheds of mountain streams. could be-
Oi.ei; Eegulated and governed by the
uluulc pahtleS and tho people Of the set
t titdneIlls resident upon said streams.
Resolved That the congress Of the Init
Cd states he memorial lied by this con
Eress 10 enact such legislation as will
segregate from the public domain such
dLeds OF territory as constitute the water
sheds OF streams which suppIv the mn
inequalities. towns and settlements of
Ssld lntermountain region with the water
USED Tor domestic and irrigation pur-
poses, and confer upon. and vest i'm said
municipalities and the states ana terri
.33rles within said intermouutain region
Ile power and authority 10 establish
such reasonable and proper reguIafions
~ VIII et1ectually protect said water
~ sIiq secure 10 the people the high
Nv w .. Greer of Utah
htreas. me farmers OF this inter
mountain country purchased their land
and '''Sn 0'''SS''
hereas. such land lies contisuouS to
mountain streams. which being diverted
ihrough canals and bitches onto said land
IN order 90 produce crops. and without
"nlrh u be would be valueIess and
whereas, The value of land reneraII,-
speaking, is proportionate to the quantity
or water used on said lands and
Whereas. The taxes on our fqrD,ipsy
lands. fields and gardens have increased
WINE our water supply has constantly di-
Therefore. We are i'm favor of govern
lnent action bv law for the redeemincr of
Athe water sheds through TefOresting. bv
stringent law that will forever prohibit
lhelr OVerstoCking. by reserving the
watersheds TO the use Of those who settle
upon their streams and depend upOn
them for a living
Bv L NJ. Holt of California:
Resolved. That, IN the opinion Of this
congress. the congress OF the United
states should Immediately rcDeal the
llen land provision OF the forest reserva-
ton act and TO further enact a law
whereby private lands within forest reser-
Natons should be acquired bv purchase
or condemnation
Bv Congressman ShafrOth Of Colorado:
Resolved. Ihat 10 is the sense of this
congress that Tie laws relating to forest
reservations De so amended as to permit
the location and entry of coal lands
therein.