The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-05-15
BIG IRRIGATION PROJECT

| kaysville, May 13-One of the largest
irrigation projects that has been engin-
eered in Utah recently is that of the We
Der reservoir, Power & Irrigation COM
pany,. which has for it's purpose the re-
claiming of vast tracts of arid ana sa,,i-
arid land in Davis and Weber counties
| as we'll as some portions of Morgan
county; The company's plans are just
now attracting much attention through
out Davis county by reason of the exer-
tlon OF gentlemen connected with the con
tCtsIn, VINO are endSavoring to secure OPP
tons for the purchase of 10000 acres Of
Davis and Weber county land that will
lately, in case the proposed canal is
constructed, come under its system of
Some four years age the company was
Oasanizeo by prominent men of the four
SounueS mat VIII be chiefly benefited
Summit. Weber, Morgan and Davis coun-
ties. Four valuable reservoir sites were
secured near Echo and Peoa where suf-
Hclent water can be stored to supply
every arid acre in this district of cotIn-
try 1t was at that time given out that
one OF two projects would be adODted-
either tunnel would be run through the
mountain to tap the Weber river i'm Nor
/ gan country or a canal would he duo
through Weber canyon. on what is known
| as the high line" which would have
sufflcient elevation to carry the water to
| over Ogden bench.
Many Davis county people interested
themselves IN the company and gave
pany were: Moses w. Taylor of Coal
| VILE president; T l. Allen of CoalviIie
/ kaysville. treasurer These gentlemen,
assisted by the cOmpany'S directors have
MADE strenuous efforts to carry the pro-
1ect through. but ii has been found to
| be financial burden of enormous nroo
! portions No one doubted the practica bill
over the surveyed high line" u" and TaI H6
| one questioned the ultimate success of
! the enterprise or the unreasonable bene-
Ut TO the uplands between Ogden and
Salt Lake, but the g, 900 900 or so neces-
sary to complete the work was seen TO
be beyond the reach of local caDifa lists
and the company faced the alternative of
letting In outside capital or losing it's ac-
CURED reservoir rights and it's invest
ment of $25, 600
A short time ago eastern capitsIiste
TepreSented IN Utah by Colonel Willard
Dung ana Frank c Kelsey of Salt
Lake. took a six months option on the
companyS holdings, agreeing to nav
back to the stockholders their entire in
veStment of S25 900. Since that time sIIr
veys have been made and estimates nre-
pared. and the holders Of the option are
said to have convinced themselves that
the project is q good one, with splendid
prospects of good returns. They have
| foreseen that the bringing of water onto
Ties Will increase land values many fold
and in order ia reimburse themselves in
part for what must be an enormous ont
lay they are seeking to buy Approximately
I one-haf of the unirrigated lands Their
agents. who during the last week or two
have canvassed the northeastern mart of
Davis county. and who are now work
ing IN Kaysville say that if the land
owners will part with half of their hold
lnSs, so that the capitalists can be as
suFed Of 10000 acres or more in the dis
| trict between Ogden and Salt Lake they
VIII take up the option and actual work
! IN reservoirs and canals will begin. In
every instance the present market value
| OF land is taken as the basis of the option
\ TO purchase. and the prices throughout
Davis county range from So TO S25 an
acre: The option IS taken for ninety davs
AT the expiration of that time 10 per cent
must be paid, and the balance will be
| paid in one year.
l. l.. Allen has the work of taking on
lions IN charge. and he is being assisted
by John q. NJ. Barnes and Heber J Shelf
NED OF haysville and David Z, Layton
! of Layton.
Inc people generally are willing to sell
half OF their land in order TO secure
water for the other half and there seems
now good prospects for the consun1rnation
| OF the deal with the eastern parties
! which viii mean that the canal will be
constructed. If. however. the owners re-
fuse TO part with their land and i'm the
event that 10000 acres cannot be bought
! II IS doubtful If the eastern hackers viii
take up their option on the reservoir
| sites. 80 iA
About 10000 acres Of Davis county land
VIII be reclaimed If the canal fs built
and homes can be provided for thousa nds
or new settlers on lands that cannot be
| eXCellqd IN he Of -