The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-06-20
MUST
BEGIN THE WORK
Position Of the Reclamation
Service Briefly Outlined.
OPERATIONS OF ENGINEERS
IRRIGATION DISTRICTS APPEAL
ING FOR AID.
Especial 10 The HeraId.l


Washington, June 19-The opera
tions Of the engineers OF the reclama-
ton Service since the passage OF the
irrigation act have excited widespread
interest throughout the country. Ia
many sections OF the west irrigation
mas been developed to a point where
the requirements OF the land exceed
the normal water supply and the set
tiers are organizing with a view OF
securing the aid of the government ia
the construction of immense storage
works TO conserve the food waters
now going to waste. The assistance
OF the government is asked as the
cost OF the work is beyond the means
Of the land owners. In all such cases
the policy of the reclamation service
has been 10 make it clearly understood
that this assistance can be secured
only through the influence of a healthy
and sustained public opinion expressed
in Il direct communication TO the Sec
Rotary OF the interior from the peo-
pie. In brief, The direct beneticiaries-
the actual land Owners-must take the
initiative and organize along lines
similar so those followed by the set
tiers of salt River valley
1t should be understood that the ir-
rigaLiOn projects which naturally app
peal most to the engineers are those
which are free from the VeEing qGes-
tiOns Of private ownership OF land ana
water. Large enterprises which con-
template the reclamation Of vast areas
of desert land, yet a part OF the public
domain. present no obstacles aside from
those OF a purely physical or engineer
ing character, while the construction
of works i'm settled communities is sure
TO involve personal features often
more trying than anything found ia the
actual work OF construction.
just now there are several irrigation
districts making appeals TO the gov
eTnmeu- for assistance in order that
many thousands of acres of crops may
be saved from partial or total loss each
year by reason Of q scanty water sup
ply. Ia one OF these districts. the
famous valley Of the DncOmpahgre,
the ifriCatOrs and ditch owners nave
perfected AN organization and VIII
shortly present a formal demand for
federal aid I'm the construction OF the
Gunuis0n tunnel.
In Montana, Idaho, South Dakota,
OREGON. and other states, similar
organizations are forming mass meet
ings are being held, officers elected,
and details considered. The rule OF
the reclamation service ia all such
eases is one of absolute non-lnterIef-
ence. Upon request assistance IS gwen
i'm outlining the proper form OF organt-
cation REQUIRED by the department. De
fore definite action can be taken, out
i'm an other essentials the settlers are
informed that they must work out their
own destiny, that their requests Tor
aid must bear practically the unanin-
Gus. endorsement OF the actual prop
erty owners, and must be free Ucm
suspicion of politics
Down fu the forBidding Salton desert
the settlers are petltlonlng Lhe govern
rnert TO take up a stupendous Work
Tor the fuller utilization of the waters
of the great Colorado river. To those
making such request, and 70 all othefs
who i'm the future may desire the gov
ernment's aid the above outline OF
the position of the reclamation service
is especially directed.