Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-04-18
viii Irrigate 10000 Acres Best
Fruit Land in
Utah.
PRIEST. SMITH RAISES GATES.
Ceremonies Witnessed by 500 EAcur-
sioni-ts, From salt Lake
Aud Utah Counties.

Provo. May 1S-The official opening
Of the Provo Reservoir company's iui-
cation system. which has been carried
20 rs present stage Of completion with
out any blow of trumpcts and with
commondublo expedition. took place to-
day.
About 500 people left Provo ON the
morning Hcbcr train 90 be present az
the exercises, among them We're. Presi-
dent Joseph p. smith and wife, John
Henry Smith and wife, Hobcr j. Grant,
Mrs. Susa y. Gates. W. -. Caudiand
and Arnold c. Giauque Of the state
land board. and Mrs. w. ID. Candland
from salt Lake city. and many promi-
nent people from the north end of Utah
county.
on arriving at Carriers station. about
Z miles from Provo, the eNcursionists
Inspected the work and enjoyed the
scenery and canyon brcczcs till the time
set for the exercises, which were held
at the HeisClt hotel. as follows:
Music, n. Y. L.. band, led by Prof
Saucr. singing. For the strength Of the
hills" members Of the b. Y. L.. choir,
under the direction OF Prof Lund. In
vocation. Abel John Evans. Singing,
university male quartet
President Joseph r. Murdoch then
delivered the following address on the
history and purpose Of the PROJECT.
PRIEST. MURDOCKS ADDRESS
The Provo Reservoir company was
Incorporated In 1905 with the follow
ing named directors; Joseph r. Muir
dock Joseph h. keclcr. stephen l..
Chapman. J. William Knight George
H. Brimhall, Abel John Evans. James
e.. Jensen and David A. Broadbent
The purpose for which tho company
is organized is 10 supply water for
the unirrigated lands In the northern
part Of Utah county extending from the
mountains southeast OF the mouth OF
Provo canyon westerly below the foot
hills 20 the point Of the mountain at
the Jordan narrOws, from which point
the water can be taken By gravity 20
Draper in the south end of salt Lake
valley
Tho amount Of land that can be COW
cred by this project h. about 10000
acres, a part OF which Is now used for
dry farming. but the greater part has
never been brought under cultivation.
In order to CoVer with water an Of
the lands embraced in the area men
TONED. 10 will be necessary 10 enter
into contract with parties owning irri-
gated lands below the line of Nie
Provo Reservoir company's canal and
Co supply them with water through
the company's canal In exchange for
the water now used. and then apply
tho water received In exchange on
higher levels Through this medium OF
exchange. all lands in the locality can
ua supplied with sufficient wafer to
produce profitable crops.
There is mo- question about the char
acter OF the soil nor its behavior when
brought under cultivation. from the
fact that all along the line of the pro-
posed canal the most valuable crops
ra sed In central Utah are being now
IrOhtahly grown. Nor is this land 20
De redeemed away of on the desert or
in Isolated places but IL is near the
homes ~ the people. where every mod
rru convenience. including good schools
and churches. are already established.
Next to the Primary or "old rights"
90 the waters OF Provo river. which are
now owned by the inhabitants of Provo
city and the neighbOring farms. the
Provo Reservair company has made
a. fling on the flood waters of Provo
river To be used on these lands dur
ing the season Of high water. and in
connection herewith they have also
secured 100 second feet OF the food
waters OF Beaver creek. which Is a
tributary or the Weber river. This
water viii be conveyed into the Provo
NNNtI anu W. MeftA tH ANAAA tAa HAAAAAAiA'
When the flood waters Of both
streams are no longer available. the
waters from reservoirs which are To-
Gated at the head of Provo river will
be released to how down and be rc-
claimed to hntsh up the irrigation
OF the lands stin requiring water.
There are n lakes at the head of the
river which have been filed on for
reservoir purposea: the maximum ca
ass IA
water: 1000 acre feet Of this belongs
to the umpanoRos and the Wasatch
Irrigation companies Of Wasntch couu-
ty leaving a balance OF 10000 aoTee feet
ayaiklble for use In this county.
10 is estimated that sufficient water
will be available during the entire sea-
son 20 take care Of one-half OF the land
with ordinary crops. and the other
half in fruit trees, or that the whole
area may be properly provided with
water for tree culture.
The present construction from the in
take here win carry 80 second feet n
water onto the Provo bench where the
distribution will commence. From the
top or the bench the canal has been
finished fun size for a distance OF two
miles.
Approximately / 900 acres Of land will
be provided with water this year and
as rapidly an the reservoirs are COM
,lotcd ana tho canal extended more
ana usiu bo b~oueht under cultivation
Zach ,ear until an land owners under
the system are supplied.
Il is the purnoso OF the company 10
sell tho ,,atey and Tho system outright
n. 49,, ,.,,,,,,,,,,,sr, ,,,hn v,iu take control
~ a a. s,cn ma II h maid FOR bv them.
Before this project was started land
on Provo bench was selling al SIS 20
t25 per acre. Now tho same lands are