Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-02-12

Is about one person to each acre
! and quarters OF land. II Is
the opinion OF this commission II an
ample water supply can be provided for
The whole lrrigable area Q,O0O, 900 acres)
that these valleys would be made cap
able OF sustaining 100000 people, OF at
the rate OF one person to each acre Of
land.
The presence OF the Great Salt Lake,
having surface area of about 2,001
square miles, has a most beneficial ell
matte effect which Is not agreeable
beyond the three valleys here consl-
dered and which makes them the most
desirable Of any In the state or In the
inter-mountain region for human habi-
tations. The preservation Of this lako
Is therefore an important matter and
cannot be ignored in any plan pertain
ing to the water supply Of the state.
STREAMS MUST BE SECURED.
To provide an adequate supply Of
water for all the worthy land will re-
qulre not only the complete conserya-
ton and regulation OF the water that
naturally flows into these valleys, but
other sources Of supply must also be
secured. Fortunately the situation Is
such as to favor the accomplishment Of
both these requirements.
As shown by the map the position of
these valleys with relation to each other
Is much like the links OF a chain In
which Salt Lake valley forms the CEN
trail link, with Cache valley on the
north and Utah valley on the south.
The extreme distance from the north
end Of Cache valley to the south end OF
Utah valley Is nearly 200 miles. Each
valley has its local river and numerous
smaller streams, all Of which have their
sources in the Wasatch and flcH into
the valleys from the east.
SOURCES OF WATER SUPPLY.
The Bear river, which Is the largest
stream that flows into the Great Salt
Lake, has its source on the northern
slopes OF the Uintah mountains and
flows northvard for a considerable dis.
lance. then tanks the northern end OF
the Wasatch range and turns south
ward. traversing both Cache and Salt
Lake valleys. From the southern slopes
of the Uintah mountains flow the vari-
GUS streams which form the Duchesne
river, one Of the principal tributaries
OF Green river. The Strawberry branch
Of the Duchesne flows through the
Strawberry valley, situated lmmedl.
ately over the crest of the Wasatoh.
east OF Utah valley, at an elevation OF
about $500 feet above sea level and
having an ara Of about 1000 acres. The
strawberry valley and the waters OF
the Duohesne are all embraced within
the Iiintah Indian reservation. and
therefore not open to entry or appro-
priation.
The Blackfoot branch of Snake river,
In the state Of Idaho, mas its course In
the high mountains a short distance to
the northeast OF where Bear river
Hanks the northern end of the Wasatch,
Immediately over the divide which sep
arates the waters of Snake river from
those OF the Great Basin, The waters
OF the Blackfo0t are In the state OF
Idaho and except the flood and winter
flow have been appropriated and are
being used for irrigation In that state.
AT an elevation Of about 6lO0 feet the
Blackfoot traverses several small val
leys which are now used as cattle
ranches by parties who have acquired
title to the land az we'll as the right to
use the water for irrigation.
on nearly all Of the local streams OF
the three previously described valleys
there Is opportunity TO store the flood
and winter water which now goes to
waste, and the general plan here pre-
sented cOntemplates that this shall be
DONE Also that the headwaters Of the
Duchesne on the south and of the
BlacRfoot on the north shall be divirt-
ed from their present courses and be
made to flow into these valleys for the
purpose Of Increasing the water supply,
ENGINEERING WORK NECESSARY
In general way, the engineering
work required TO accomplish this and
provide for the proper distribution OF
the water throughout the several val
leys viii be as follows
/. The building of dam from 30 to
100 feet in height 10 convert Straw
berry valley into reservoir having
sufficient capacity 10 hold all the wat.
ers that can be practically diverted in
TO II from the several branches Of the
Duchesne river.
g. The excavation Of channel 30 10
30 miles long, following about 1900. foot
contour by which 10 intercept the said
waters OF the Duchesne river and con.
vey them into the Strawberry valley
storage reservoir,
B. The construction OF a tunnel about
three and one-half miles long through
the crest Of the Nasatch mountains
by which the water stored In the Straw