The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-12-27
FAVORABLE TO
UTAH LAKE PLAN
Government Engineers So Re-
ported by F. S. Richards.
FINAL ACTION LIKELY SOON
EVERYTHING SAID TO BE FA-
VoRABLE TO PROJECT.
FINAL ACTION LIKELY SOON

= rankin 6. RICHARDS, on his
return from Washington, d. c.,
brings the assurance that the Utah
lake proposition is to be worked out by
the national government; that the
scheme is feasible in the opinion Of the
irrigation experts. and that Salt Lake
City and the valley are to be euorm-
cusly benefited as the result of the
work to be done. Speaking on this sub,
Ject Mr.. Richards said:
80 far as the government Is con-
cerned things are looking well for our
irrigation project. Professor f. H..
Newell has not abaJed any Of his in
Jerest in the matter. Finding that he
would. be unable TO call at salt Lake
City on his way east. l managed to
make the trip from Ogden with him.
This afforded Us an excellent opportun-
i;y 10 discuss the different phases Cf
the subject and enabled us to go into
details. the consideration of which
would have been impossible at Wash
mgton, because of other engagements.
for he is very busy man.
Would Greatly Reduce Loss.
The question of the permanency and
efficiency Of Utah lake was discussed at
considerable length. Mr.. Newell said
that, by deepening the lake and con-
tracing its surface area, the present
loss by evaporation would be reduced
about One-half, and the inflow from
subterranean sources increased. The
significance Of this statement Will be
apparent when it is remembered that
the present annual loss by evaporation
IS about four times as great as the en-
tire quantity that has heretofore been
used from the lake each year. The
availa biiity of the lake would. there
fore, be increased about threefOld by
reducing the evaporation one-half. This
IS certainly very encouraging, and
should tend TO 2liIW the fears of those
who claim that the lake is drying up
Another important feature Of The re-
clamatiOn work in Utah is the location
Of a reservoir site or the Weber river,
capable of storing over 500. 600 acres feet
of water, 10 be used In irrigating arid
4 lands IN salt Lake valley. / had the
pleasure of discussing this matter with
MIR. Newell and his consulting engin-
GERS, and found them quite enthusiastic
over il.
Praises Local Work Done
Mr.. Newell was very compliment
airy and encouraging in his reference
~ AlAN NbA II tADliE AlLOhSn TIE ara ldII4
reclama ton fund commission He said
we were going forward on the right
lines. and should continue the good
work unul the water users are fully or
ganized and ready to deal with the
government. When this is done and
/ the necessary contracts entered into
construction work viii he commenced
and pushed TO completion as fast rs
possible, so that the money which is
| now lying idle in the treasury viii De
utilized and put 10 work for the ac-
cOmplishment of that which was de-
signed by the national irrigation Law"
Mr.. Richards would not discuss the
Smoot case in any of its phases. nor
would he express any opinion CT the
state Of opinion in the east on the sub
ject as he found it. He reached home
late Saturday night in time 10 spend
Christmas with his family.