The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-02-12
PROBLEMS ARE
MORE COMPLEX
Why Government Irrigation in Utah
Lays Behind.
OPINION OF Mr.. NEWELL
UNION OF INTERESTS ABSO-
LUTELY NECESSARY.
Especial to The Herald.)


Washington, Feb. 1.-THE attention
OF Chief Engineer F. II. Newell Of the
government reclamation service was
called today TO the apparent sighting
or Utah in the distribution of the
reclamation funds. He was asked why
it is that Idaho Wyoming. Nevada
and other western states are getting
large slices of the S25. 600 GOO of the
reclamation fund, While Utah, the pio-
neer state in irrigation, is getting
nothing.
To this question Mr.. Newell respond
cd; The engineering work of examin-
ing and preparing plans for water con-
servation in Utah has been rapidly
developed to a point where water
users must take up and prepare a
contract with the secretary of the in
Terror Various propositions or mOdi-
hcationS of these have been suggested j,
but the matter which meets with most
favor IS the formation of all water
users in one great organization. such
as must necessarily be brought about
TO procure the largest development of
arid lands Of the state. Farmers de-
pendent upon the waters of Utah lake
and its tributaries are being brought
together and are gradually becoming
convinced that an increase of irrigated
area, and consequently of population
and values, will only be possible when
they have all come together and adopt
ed the best and most comprehensive
plan for saving water which now goes
TO waste.
The side issue or part of the general
project is that of bringing water by
means of tunnel from Straw berry
valley. Before taking this up, engi-
neerS of the reclamation service desire
TO have from farmers to be benefited
an assurance that the water will be
worth to them s25 per acre-fOot for
permanent supply. 1t viii proba bly,
cost a little less than this, but if the
farmers who are to be benefited will
agree to pay this amount the Straw
berry valley project may be considered
as assured.
There is also another side issue. or
related scheme, involving the storage
of the waters of Weber river. This
VIII necessitate changing the line of
The Union Pacific railway, but it is
believed it Will be feasible and that
many thousand acres of good land can
be reclaimed near Ogden. Plans re-
iating to Bear lake are also in the
same conditions, where the union of
water users must be brought about
I'm order to secure the best treat
ment.
Time and patience must be employed
in dealing with diverse interests and
in getting farmers to see that the
course pursued is best, but it is be
]ieved that systematic progress is be-
ing made and that actual construction
can begin on one of these matters at
an early date. Utah, while the Oldest
state in irrigation, presents conditions
of involved water rights more difficult
to solve and harmonic than any other
state in the Union. There is more in
diVidual irrigation in a given area than
in any other state. Earlier days of ir-
1igation in Utah were without laws or
system, and irrigation methods were
arranged according to local customs,
varying in various parts of the state
The physical conditions of Utah are
favorable TO the utilization of a fair
share of the reclamation fund, and as
soon as the legal problems can be
Solved there will be no delay in get
ting down to actual work"