Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-01-10

The act creating this commission was
approved March j., l9Oj. rue culhlnia-
,ion consists of i've members VINO
,orye without compensation. II Is
Question whether or not provision
horld be made FOR compensation
commemorate with the work OF the
commission. especially In the case OF
tbe chairman. If he Is not u public Of
Hcer
There has already been appropriated
Tor tho use Of the commission $4,000,
~ which amount $509l has so far been
,sed. II Is estimated that for the work
or the commission for the next two
,ears already provided for, further
apnroprlatlon of $4,000 viii have to
be- made,
IA YOU are aware the work Of the
commission IL 10 secure to Utah the
boneft OF the reclamation fund pr0vid-
cd for this purpose by the general gov
eminent The most serious obstacle
An the way of this Is, as pointed out
elsewhere in this message, the delay IN
the adjudication of the water rights
nm Utah lake. The same obstacles VIII
doubtless be met in the carrying out of
tho other parts of the project, unless
prompt ADJUDICATION Of rights is made.
IL is proposed, as soon as possible,
IN secure the cooperation of the people
Interested I'm the different projects un-
der contemplation, and proceed with the
work as rapidly as possible, With this
end in view the work has been UNDER
taken Of forming the Utah and Idaho
Water Users' association, and of seCur-
ing a Sufficient number OF signatures
10 the agreement to justify the work
Of ascertaning what the cost viii be,
and proceeding with II. If a sufficient
number can not be obtained, | am in
formed that the men already working
IN the field viii be recalled, and this
important work transferred elsewhere.
You will agree with me that such ac-
ton would be very unfortunate for our
state,
You win please give due consideration
IN such items herein contained as per-
tain to your official work, so that this
great project shall not be allowed TO
languish or fail through seeming
lack Of support on the part of Utah.
IRRIGATION.
The state engineer has submitted
detailed report regarding the operation
Of the irrigation law passed by the
last Legislature, and the work so far
accomplished under it's provisions. Ac-
oordIng to this report, the principal
work in measuring and determining the
How OF water IN dlyerting bitches. has
been done on the Weber river system.
There accurate data IL being secured
regarding daily flow, total flow for the
season, etc, on every diverting ditch.
Maps are being prepared showing size
and location, nature of soil, etc, OF
the farms under each diYerting canal
as also the location of branch laterals
and bitches. Valuable assistance IN
this work has been rendered by Or.
John A. Wdtsoe, director of the ex-
pertinent station. The cost of the work
mp to Nov, 30, 1904, was S22,626.22 II IS
estimated that the completion of this
work ON the Weber river system win
require two more seasons. and an ex-
ponditure OF about 200 more When
this work is completed, II will serve as
a precedent for such work on all the ir.
rgation systems Of the state. and win
be "a means Of determining the feasi-
bility of the provisions of the law in
this important particular
Nothing has been done as yet with
reference to the apportiOnment Of water.
under the provisions of that portion of
the law, for the reason that this cannot
be done until the courts of the state
have passed upon the rights Of the diff
ferent claimants. 4 provisional start
in this direction has been made on the
spanish Fork river irrigation system,
Tor the reason that the courts have gone
farther In the adjudication OF rights
there, than IN any other portion Of the
state So far as the apportionment has
proceeded there, | am informed that IL
has been very satisfactory to all parties
concerned But here, as elsewhere, care
VIII have to be taken as to future I'll
ings, and II Is well for the present rule
10 be followed, prohibiting further fill
ings while existing ones are In force,
for the same water 1t is important
that existing rights be determined as
soon as possible, In order that provi-
sion may be made for the use of all
the water now running TO waste
The difficulties now being encountered
in the settled portions Of the state with
reference TO the adjudication OF old wa
ter rights. may be avoided I'm
the Uintah reservation when Il
IS opened for settlement as
here II proper measures are adj
dopted, the rights can be determined
in the order OF fillng, which viii pro-
'oed without confusion or misunder-
standing.
Certain changes IN the law arc rec
commended by the state engineer, as a
result OF his experience during the past
two seasons; and these are submitted
iu his report. which Is before you,
iho law may be fully tested its opera
lions properly judged and future
amendments wisely made, II viii be
we'll Tor the work on the Weber river
10 be pushed 10 completion. / there
fore endorse In general the sugges-
lions Of the state engineer as 20 the
completion Of this work, but the de-
tails as to amount Of appropriation,
otc. must be left TO your wisdom.
"a ts.s F., 10. ssN
ant matter Will be productive of great
benefit to the irrigation interests oG
Utah.
PRIVATE BANKS,
There has been for years growing
public sentiment In favor of eXamina-
ton Of private as well as corporate
houks and many Of the states have al
ready passed laws which require the
examination OF private banks, Bank
examination by public officials win not
always prevent failures, but It has been
demonstrated beyond any question OF
doubt that IL lessons them very great
ly.
The bank that is perfectly solvent
has no right to complain of an exam
nation, and the bank that Is not SOL
vent certainly should be examined A
private bank is no less q public insttu-
ton than a corporate bank. The re-
cent failure Of a private bank calls at
lontion anew TO the responsibility OF
the state In protecting those who place
money IN banks by requiring sufficient
capital and Insisting upon proper SUI
porvlsou.
recommend that section 2iil of the
(eyised Statutes OF Utah, 1893, which
limits the authority OF the bank ex-
amner to the examination Of corporate
banks only, be amended to include pri-
Vote banks.
RESERVOIR SITES.
chapter 80, laws Of Utah. 1901. author
yes the state board OF land commits
Hlohels TO construct reservoirs for sup