The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-07-18
PLENTY OF LAND AND WATER.

! NJ huHoer ana extent or private
or corporation irrigation enterprises in
utah this season is the surprise of the
year More interest is awakened in
TINS direction at the present time in
Utah than in the aggregate of many
years before. Some Of the projects are
LARRY advanced, some are well begun
some are Just beginning; some as are
! yet but plans, and others are only in.
qu1rlos. But all show vast spirit Of
enterprise that is II splendid tribute to
the spirit OF American vitality that
rs so profoundly awakened by the bril-.
liant American success in Salt Lake,
The beauty OF it all is that there is
ample room for all, and plenty of
water The Bear river affords good
opportunity on a moderate scale,
though ii was turned down by tho Gov
ernment engineers because they did not
think that there was land enough to
pay for the great works which they
had in view
Weber river has had a vast flow
Sbat Was not utilized the Government
engineers filed on a large part Of it.
but have done nothing rs yet TO utilize
that filing; and now energetic men of
Weber, Summit. Morgan, and Davis
counties have made filings with view
IT constructing reservoirs and dis,
trlbuting system that Will reclaim
argc areas in the counties named.
Green river has n great volume of
wafer as yet practically untouched
The same is true of Grand river. The
Duchesne river is pretty well utilized,
and so is Price river with the new fl
ings, The San Rafael country is com
ing into view with large enterprises,
and it is likely that within few years
that portion of the State will be made
orchards and gardens. where waste and
desert have prevailed.
The Sewer river has vet an immense
surplus of water that could he bene-
fcially stored in the winter and early
spring. The floods are fierce in that
stream from time to time, and this
year swept out the new dam, TO the
injury Of the big new enterprise that
covers the ground exploited some
seventeen years ago by Major Cava-
naugh, but whose plans were swept
away by the Cleveland panic IT would
be immensely TO the benefit of all con.
cerned if the Sewer flood waters were
impounded for use: and there is enough
land upon which this water could be
used, and plenty TO spare for dry
farming.
In the southern part Of the State,
below "thc rim of the basln,'' the
water is not so plenty; but in Long
Valley much water could be stored. and
the Santa Clara and San Juan rivers
have much good flow that much could
be used by scientific storage
In this water basin, which includes
the Utah Lake system, with the Provo
river and other streams, there is far |
more water wasted every year than is |
used bcnehcially. The problem is to
use it scientifically so as 10 get the
best results. The Government engi- |
neers considered this one of the most |
promising fields for a vast irrigation |
project: but the ''vcsted rights of
the old canal companies were in the
way and few persons, who profcssed
the old fear that it was scheme to
defraud them. headed of the PROPOSE
ton. If it had been acccded to, the
whole river systems of this lmmc-
diatc region, including the handling of
Utah Lake, would have been in the
ne nf hn m IN
to the immense aud everlasting benefit
Of all concerned, as well as of the
whole population Of all the commun-
ties involved
We are reminded of the possibilities
Of extensive irrigation and reclaima-
ion in Utah by the frequent inquiries
hat come from the East on this sub
Icct. The Eastern people with money
appear to be Just waking up TO the
Of good profit in land IN.
'cstments in connection with big irri-
cation enterprises. We hear from
hem all the time the latest inquiry
If this character was that of Wednes
lay morning, when Mr., Tipgey, Secrc
AIRY of State. had letter from Mr..
R. Ingalls, of New York, inquiring
lbout Utah's lands, with a view of
'clieving the congested population OF
eastern cities. Mr. ingalls, represented
hat number Of men of wealth have
colonization scheme in view. and
layc plenty of money to carry 1t
through. But colonists taken from the
congestion of Eastern cities would have
iced OF much instruction in irrigation
though there is no reason why
hey might not learn. And certainly
he land is here and the water is here. [
'lcnty Of opportunities are open for
plans in Utah.
Even in our most used streams there
S sufficient opportunity to use much
water that now runs to waste Take
he case of City Creek the past month