Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-12-17
P1og1eSS Of The Exclamation Service in Utah.

ton law IN 1902, the public press
OF Utah has spared no EFFORT 10
~ secure to the people OF the stale
ar understanding Of the provisions and
advantages Of the law. and the local
division Of the reclamation service fully
appreciates the advantage that such
support has afforded. Such co-opera-
ton indicates the early appreciation by
The people OF the state Of the benefits
that would follow iron, the wise proyl-
slons Of that act
Irrigation had fully passed the ex-
perimental stage IN Utah Flfty-nye
years OF experience were sufficient TO
demonstrate the superiority OF irrigated
farms over any others In the older
settled districts OF the state many Of
the canals had been used so long that
they were out OF date and the farmers
OF such localities were SO far advanced
that they fully appreciated the fact
that a rectihcation OF existing systems
and conditions was of primary import
ance 10 future substantial success
This does not mean that the opera
lions IN the development Of these sys-
TENS IN the past have been unwisc, On
the contrary the cooperative plan by
which these systems have been deyel-
oped. has been so emlnently successful
that the benefaotors are now in such
condition that they can readily under
take the extension and perfection Of
these systems on such a comprehen-
siye plan as 10 secure the most COM
plete and permanent results.
In appreciation OF this condition the
attention OF our force was first called
TO the necessity for investigating the
existing conditions in these older irri-
gated districts In the belief that
plan might be developed whereby the
entire condition could be perfected un-
der the provisions Of the reclamation
law, These notions have been the con-
trolling factors In the choice OF the
projects that should receive first con-
liberation IN Utah. and led to the con-
ciuslon that the more complete control
Of the Utah Lake water supply tho
fnL development Of the Bear river and
lis tributaries, the securing Of an addi-
runaI supply Of water FOR Utah county
and finally. the complete control Of all
the important streams tributary to
Great Salt Lake. should form the basis
for the operations OF the reclamation
law in Utah as a basis for the first benz
eAts 10 be received
While our detailed examinations have
been governed by this conclusion, our
general operations have extended over
a much broader area, especially In 30
far as they relate TO the photographic
data that is Of so much Importance In
the irrigation development.
The accompanying map serves TO
show the extent OF this latter work as
well as to indicate the general hydro
graphic conditions within the greater
part OF our state
UTAH LAKE PROJECT.
The project OF FIRST importance to the
state is that contemplating the more
complete control OF the Utah lake
waters. and the perfection and extern
sion Of the systems pertaining to that
section Of the state. SO much
has been said OF the project that
It's general features are well known
though the great Importance attached
10 the matter may not be fully COM
pretended. For tho past three years
photographic conditions have been such
that the bed OF the Quite, channel has
been above the surface OF the lake the
greater part OF the time, and as would
be the case in any reservoir where tho
outlet VS. above the water surface II
any water Is secured Il must be pump
cd. Much may be said In commendl-
ton Of the men who were the means OF
securing the installation Of a plant to
secure the farms in the Jordan valley
from desolatlon-
This Improvement. however, does not
accomplish ali that should be undertake
en- In the matter OF controlling the sit
uation- Would there not. be a great
step In advance and more security at
tanned II all Of the 100000 acre feet OF
water In the lake below the level OF the
Jordan could be depended upon IL need
ed' -Four years supply at the rate
used IN IDOL lies below the level OF out.