Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-01-30
WATER SUPPLY
FOR NEXT YEAR.
-------------------------
Engineer WheeIon Makes Off.
CiaI Report Of lnves.
tigation.
BIG SNOWFALL EVERYWHERE.
On the Water Shed Which Supplies
The Bear River and Its
Tributaries.

II will be cheering news to the farm
ers who depend OIL the waters OF the
Bear river for irrigation. to read that
Chief Engineer Wheelon OF the Utah
Sugar company has just concluded all
exhaustive examination into the water
shed OF that great stream and It's trib-
utaries, and that he sets forth In the
most emphatic manner that the farm
ers may rest assured OF an ample sup
ply of water next year.
Mr. Wheeon's official report made to
the Sugar company, IL as follows:
Jan 25, 1905.
In response 10 numerous inquiries for
information regarding the probable
water supply for irrigation during the
coming season, the writer has Just
completed tour OF the water shed OF
the Bear river and its principal trib.
utaries I'm personal observation OF the
condition of the snow fall IN the upper
reaches OF the Bear river and In the
higher attitudes Of the head waters Of
Thomas, and Smiths fork, the two
principal tributaries OF Bear river
above the mouth of Logan river. As
great "Sublet Range the top of whose
mountains tower above timber line, they
are admirably formed TO afford a
bountiful and steady supply OF water
through the midsummer months. The
fact that these streams enter Bear
river at points we'll below all the dams
and head works belonging TO the irri-
gators In the vicinity OF Randolph and
Woodruff plats and all works above
Cokeville, renders nearly all of their
waters available for use by the irr-
cations works located between Bear
lake and the mouth OF Bear river.
The last three or four years have been
very unfortunate In the deposit OF snow
In these hills, and the light fall has
been seriously felt by Irrigation enter
prlses along the river In Gentle, Cache
and Bear River valleys. These con-
ditlons now seem to have changed, and
the prospect at the present time for
plenty OF water for next season Is all
that could be desired
The mail route from Montpelier TO
Star valley passes over these noun
tains through a low pass not far north
OF the headwaters Of Thomas Fork.
This road has not been Travelled By the
public since the first OF December last,
except by mail carriers until Jan. Is,
when ] CHANGED TO be one of the first
passengers that had been carried since
the blockade. The snow is very deep
and has been followed by strong winds
which have helped to pack It into the
gulches. We find that the earth was
so dry when winter set in that Il could
not freeze, the consequence of which is
that when the SHOWS melt In the spring
instead OF running off the frozen
ground and precipitatng excessive
Hoods, the grounds will receive an
abundant supply OF this moisture,
which viii raise the subterrestrial wa
ter plane and replenish the springs up
on which We must rely for late sum-
mel water
In prospecting the Smith Fork, we IN
tended TO go as far as the Stoner saw
mill, some 30 miles up the stream from
Cokeville. With four good horses on
light sleigh, We were able to get within
about 10 miles OF the mill, when we
learned from d man we met. who was
riding one horse and leading another.
mat the teamsters at the mill had
abandoned logging on account OF the
new blockade, and had decided to break
a road out Of the hills and reach their
homes.
This seems like fairy tale when we
consider that the last winter and also
two years ago, there was not enough
snow to facilitate the logging at these
mills
Taking It altogether, would say that
II We're farming either under the Ham,
mond company's canals on the east
side OF Bear river, or under the west
side canal system. | should not hesitate
to prepare the ground and plant to any
crop l desired. with every confidence
that so far as nature has done her
work, there viii be water for all,