Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-02-07
UTNH's RESOURCES.

The Report submitted 10 His Excel
lency. Gov Spry. by the Utah Conser-
walton Commission. though enly pre-
liminary, Is an interesting document
1t shows how immense are the natural
resources of the State: how only be-
ginning has been made to utilize these
resources and how the intelligent con-
servation of the wealth bestowed by
nature will insure prosperity for ages.
According to the report Utah has
twenty-five million acres OF land that
can be cultivated. of which less than
one-tcnth is under cultivation at the
present time The soils are OF unsur-
passed fertility. and by proper methods
Of tllage 1t may be maintained indeh-
nItely. The question OF exhausted
soil is one that will not confront the
farmers of this State.
The water supply is considered in
the report, and the statement made
that when all the water running OIL
the mountains is held back in great
reservoirs to be used on arid lands,
seven to ten million acres may be
brought under irrigation as against
one million which IS now the approx
innate irrigated area.
But the river waters do not form
the only source of supply. The great
valleys are undcrlaid by water. Large
bodies of underground water have
been located, and subterranean water
for culinary and irrlgating purposes
has been found in the most arid parts
Hundreds OF thousands of acres may
be reclaimed by the aid of artesian
wells and pumping plants
And then there is dry farming. The
report states that practically all land
in Utah not occupied by mountains
and not under irrigation, can be used
for dry farming, except when the rain
fall is under ten inches annually. 1t
has been found that plants readily
adapt themselves to arid conditions.
and that crops grown on dry farms
are more nutritious than those grown
in humid climates. Wheat. potatoes,
and other crops, arc actually improved
as they arc grown with minimum
Of water So It is evident that Utah
in dry farms alone has resource of
immense value.
On the range Industry the report
calls attention to the fact that by
earlier methods many of the native
grasses were destroyed and millions of
acres OF land rendered barren wastes.
because OF the overstocking of live
stock upon them. But better methods
arc now being developed, and the
range industry is likely to become
moro important than ever.
One section OF the report is devoted
to the minerals OF Utah. manufactured
products. and fish and game. and an
other to timber 1t is all intensely in
teresting to those who desire informa-
ton on the resources OF the State.
It is evident that Providence made
no mistake in leading the Pioneers
to these valleys. when. driven from
Missouri and Illinois by unrcasoning
mobs. they turned westward in search
of a place of refuge. as did the Pilgrim
fathers. centuries before them. They
were led to a section of the country
which, IL not actually flowing with
milk and honey" was. nevertheless.
SO rich In possibilities as to need only
the waving over II of the magic wand
OF industry in order to be transformed
into paradise. with golden. gem-stud-
ded palaces and fragrant gardens. And
the Pioneers and first settlers did their
work well. We OF today are enjoying
do no better than to continue In the
marvellous work they planned and Of
which they made a beginning.