Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-03-30

ton when there Is any water to share.
When there ls none, as was the case
much Of the time before the pumping
plant went Into operation. there was
not 900 feet for the companies In the
aggregate. or so feet for the South Jor.
dan folks. But the record %ill show
that our correspondent Is also mistaken
In his figures
The court decreed that In the uggre.
gate the capacity Of the five canals was
S2s feet, not 800 as stated. Yet IN oper-
ating under the decree the first year
ugOD the canals got only a second feet
on June q, and only G second feet in
September, and most OF this, under the
decree really belonged TO the primary
! claims.
AT no time within the history Of the
lake has 300 second feet been developed.
Since the decree went into effect, the
greater amount ever developed has been
400 second feet and this for no length of
time at once, and to do this the lake
has been so exhausted that II 1t con-
tinues to decline, the Jake will soon be
unable TO furnish even 400 second feet
at the suction OF the pumps.
There Is another very important point
TO consider Unless something is done
TO supply the lake, the canals In this
county VIII not be able to obtain even
the quantity OF water that Is claimed
by decree" for II viii not be there to
draw from The sources OF supply to
the lake are being gradually dlmln.
ished' Every year old canals are being
enlarged. new ones are being construct
ed additional acres are being cultivated
and the old acres are demanding more
water throughout Utah and Provo val.
leys, and these are all being supplied
out Of water which should pass through
Utah lake into this valley. So that
II becomes more question OF how
10 protect 400 second feet for the farm
ers' than a scheme for "specuators'
In Salt Lake city.
II the flow into the lake continues 10 |
be checked in the manner described, OF |
'"hat use VIII DO a decree for shares ~ |
water that Is not available? supposing
SUITS are Instituted against the appro-
prlators OF water claimed by canals I'm
this county win it not take much time
ana entail much expense to bring them
10 an issue? The cost Of a thousand
second feet will prove less In the long
run under the government plan than
VIII De the cost Of litigation for enough
10 Keep the pumps running, and such
litigation Is inevitable unless some such
plan as that under discussion is adont.
ed.
Inc question Is asked, "Why shou,d |
'he south Jordan company accent 70
second feet?" The answer Is, from ex.
per's and others who know the facts.
because during 1S2 days Of the season
VI lsod you developed on an average M
more than that quantity Of water. II is
""'rined that South Jordan received 72.7
second feet on an average for 1872 days
last year, but this year that amount
WIZ be cut down to about 81 second feet
win the pumps doing the same work as
they did last year. This will result From,
giving the South Jordan an equal share
win the other canals, and also from
ewing to this city its full share. Last
year the three canals got one
haIt OF the citys supply and ali
OF what VIII go to the North Jordan
TINS year The commissioners figures
snow mat when the situation is proper-
" understood 81 second feet is all that
was developed last year for each Of
the five canals"
Now as to the talk about giving soma
ihing to the government and relIn.
gushing rights to receive half in re-.
turn and the rest Of IT, Do these
people who use such arguments (?)
know what they are talking about?
Doea The government want anything of
them or of utah2 Are they asked IN
give away any rights or assumed
rights Not at all. 1t is Utah that ISL
asking for governmental aid under the
Act OF Congress. This State wants
her snare In the funds to be used for
the reclamation Of arid and semi arid
lands Other States are urging their
claims They will get what they want
IT we do not, and we will be left out
In the dry, Before anything practical
can be done, the people here must be
agreed upon what they want and what
they claim, and nobody Is asked 70
give anything away or rellnqulsh any
rights but to come To unity as to
the best course to pursue for the ac.
QUESTION of more water In a permanent
supply,
The very best minds in the county,
and experts who understand the whole
matter from a TO z, are positive that
1t Is better TO unite on a basis of so sec.
ond feet for each of the companies than
any other figure, II Is thought
that compromise may be effected on
basis Of 60 second feet but even then
the final results viii be less beneficial
to all concerned than il the 80 second
feet agreement shall have been made.
Now what is the use of throwing
out suspicious Of Interior motives. when
the representatives OF the Utah Arid
Land commission have no personal
ends or motives I'm what they are
doing? They are not speaking for the
government In any sense. They are
working for the public and especially In
the interest Of the very men who cast
sluls upon them? It is wrong and
shameful 10 thus mlsrepresent them.
We believe the great body Of the farm
ers In this county appreciate their la
bOrs and understand the position Tint