Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-03-15
Pope and BrinkerhOff Pressing
Action to Avert StarVa-
ton in Uintah.
RAILROADS TO BE SOUGHT.
Precedent Found In Colorado Where
Commission and Company Worked
Together 10 Relieve Suffering.

indian reservation. an item OF $500
has been attached 20 the omnibus ap-
preparation bin now pending before the
legislature. The amount was originally
5000 and was placed on the bill at tho
request Of Rock N. Pope. representative
from Wasatch county IN the lower
house % the Legislature.
AIR Pope ia speaking OF the desti-
tute condition OF the settlers on the
reservation, this morning said. These
people are actually suffering FOR the
necessities Of life. They came into the
reservation country just after the omen.
ing Of the Indian tract about thre,
years ago and drove their stakes and
planted their homesteads upon the
broad acres Of the reservation. The
land is fertile enough. and with lrriga-
ton VIII yield ahundantly in response
TO the farmers pillow But there's the
rub. II has been almost impossible to
get water out on 10 the land under the
conditions which have faced the settlers
during the past three years when the
settlers came in, most OF them were
prepared 10 carry themselves over FOR a
year or two without crops. IL necessary.
ana did not reckon but that they would
DC able 20 get water on their home
stoads within that time The land was
raw; everything was absolutely new
there was nothing done on ,he land
and 1t was 40 or so miles from rail-
road Everything had TO be hauled ln
and as time went on. the settlers found
themselves up against the difficulty OF
being unable TO get water out on their
lands with the means they had brought
Tn. il takes money to build canals. and
this the settlers had not
FACE STARVATION.
Conditions grew worse until now
things are i'm that pass that unless help
is forthcoming from some source. starv-
alton Is staring the people ON these
homesteads in the face. Everybody I'm
the basin have done all that they could
do, and IL is the hope of those who UNI
derstand the conditions that the legis-
lature will come 20 the RELIEF Of the
stricken settlers until they can get on
their feet again.
The legislature has already accom-
plished one thing that viii greatly as
sist the settlers IN getting water to
their lands, in passing house bill IS
which ] introduced and which passed
the house readily and went through
the senate on Saturday, and which. 1
have no doubt. Gov. Spr-y viii approve
This bill gives the settlers the right
20 organize irrigation districts and
bond their property for the purpose Of
organizing canal and irrigation compa-
mics. This will enable them to raise
money with which to secure water. ana
their troubles are at an end the minute
they get water out OF the rivers spread
over their fertile lands.
The extent OF these lands susCeDti-
bic TO irrigation Is almost unbelieva-
bic" continued Representative Pope
They equal I'm extent, In this one val
ley, the entire area now under irriga-
ton In the entire state, OF approximate
ly 100000 acres. Now this sounds like
a broad statement, but It IS a fact
The Uintah basin contains sufficient
land. under cultivation. to maintain
population OF million people without
taxing Ii 20 its utmost II IS one of the
coming sections OF this state, and with
Its vast gilsonlte and asphalt deposits
and its wonderful agricultural and hor-
ticultural resources, II is only a ques-
tion Of time when the basin win be
one OF the leading sections OF the state.
RAILROADS COMING.
I'VE have great confidence. too. in the
securing Of a railroad In the near fu-
ture The MOffatt road, / am credibly
informed has completed arrangements
for capital sufficient 20 complete is
line through to salt Lake City. and
the road win run through the heart
of the Cintah basin. Wnea this road
has been built and the settlers have
secured water for their acres. there
WIn bee another tale 20 tell and the
people who arc now destitute viii Boz
ready and able 10 extend assistance 20
others who may be found ln "a situation
similar 20 theirs at the present time
"The plan Of relief as cJmprehended
iu the distribution of the s. 5o0 is 20
place the fund Boo the hands OF a COM
mission OF three persons. inhabitants OF
the basin. who shall On spending the
money apply IL as far as possible IN
the completion NJ the building OF
roads and bridges already started but
which for the lack of funds have not
been completed. This will give work
TO the male members of the settlers
who are without funds and without
work, completing the bridges and the
finishing OF roads necessary for COM
municatlln between the settlements
and 10 the railroad. The idea ~ sup
plying necessary seed for the coming
seasons crops VIII also De FULLY lnFes-
tlgated. and whore necessary such dc-
tiou viii he taken On this direction as
may Doe deemed wise
PLAN HAs a PRECEDENT.
"The Denver & Rio Grande railroad.
which Dr. the nearest line 10 the district
at present, will be approached with
the Idea or assisting On the plan Thal
there ls precedent FOR such acton 0n
the part ~ the railroad, is shown Iu
tho action OF the Rock Island road.
which early in the present year made
application to the interstate commerce
commission for permission 20 haul ln
free seed and supplies 10 the settlers
OF a portion NJ eastern Colorado whose
crops had failed them ana who were
in exactly the same condition AS the
settlers are now in eastern Utah. The
permission was granted, ana DO Rock