The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-09-25
WHAT IRRIGATION
SIGNIFIES IN UTAH
National Copper Bank Letter
Points Out It's Potency in
Development.
WILL RECLAIM EMPIRE
Work of Bringing Soil Under
Cultivation Greater Than
That of Mining.
WILL RECLAIM EMPIRE

The adjournment OF congress has put
at rest for a period the fears Of the busi-
ness world on the question OF disturbing
legislation. Before that body reconvenes
In December the ardor OF various lesis-
ators on the subject OF nuckraking may
have become some what cooled. and the
country may be spared further sensa :
tions in the announcement OF congress
sional Investigations into corporate af-
fairs. says the National Copper Bank OF
Salt Lake in It's monthly letter II is fair
TO presume that the orders dissoving
two giant trust combinations will point
the way to other large corporate inter
ests and that further findings OF the SUI
preme court or further Investigations
may be unnecessary. The Sherman anti
trust law has been clearly construed and
defined by the court rulings. and the nf-
fairs OF the business world should soon
become normal providing no further
eruptlons are threatened.
Business In general is increasing In
volume AS Is shown by the bank clear
ings in many reserve cities. Less activ-
ity is displayed in some commercial lines
than is usual at this time OF year. bu,
when actual crop conditions have become
more generally known business Will Ell
liven. We arc compelled To discount a
bit the first government reports OF a
er than was first reported, there Is every
reason TO believe that the total produc-
ton throughout the country Will show
an Increase over last year,
Irrigation in Utah.
But for irrigation there would be no
west, as the west is today. The ex
tracing OF minerals from their mountain
stores has employed many thousands OF
hands and has resulted in the produc
ton OF great wealth, but the lure of com
fort and prosperity on the irrigated farm
has peopled these valleys.
Utah Is the mother OF new world ir-
rigation, 1t was his knowledge OF the
successful irrigation of desert lands. one
Young the faith TO assume the 'remcn
dous responsibility OF leading his people
into the region Of the Great American
desert and settling with them beside a
frs, irrigatio ditch before the close OF
the day when he descended into Salt
Lake valley: the twenty fourth day of
July. 1877. The first ditches later gave
way to city streets, and more prcten-
iious canals were projected and built
along the uplands, carrying water from
Utah lake, which lies thirty miles TO the
south, and spreading It out over the lands
ample has been followed all over the
west. until Utah has become the center
OF the irrigated district of the United
States.
Although ,illinG the soil by dryfarm
methods mus, play large part in the
future development OF this region, a real
problem, and one worthy OF most serious
consideration is presented In the matter
of conserving tho annual water supply
OF our mountains and distributing il when
and whore needed to coax vegetation
from the hill sides and valleys. The soil
OF the Great Basin and OF these Inter-
mountain valleys is OF great depth and
fertility. Climatic conditions are favor
abla, so that the addition Of water at
the right lime often produces marvellous
results To make this distribution pos
siblo throughout the state more millions
of money win have to be expended in
the construction OF reservoirs. tunnels
and canals.
Although initiated siYtyfour years and
two months ago. the work Of reclaining
the lands of Utah has scarcely begun.
There are more than ifty-lwO million
acres OF land area In tho state. with
Twenty-Five million acres susceptible Of
cultivation The major portion Of II has