The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-01-11
STATE ENGINEER.

For the first time in the history OF the
state engineers office, there has been
turned into the state treasury, as revenue
from the office. sum In excess OF the
appropriation for its maintenance. Dur
ing the years 1909 and 1910 s39.s6o.S6 was
covered into the treasury from this
source: Practically all Of the revenue
and the business incident thereto.
In connection with this particular phase
Of The engineers work. ] wish to call
your attention to the need OF amend
ments governing applications for water.
or more particularly the extension OF
such applications. During the past two
years, ] have observed q disposition on
the part of certain individuals who arc
making applications for water in the
state engineers office TO traffic In these
10 float their enterprises. these parties
request extensions. and In granting such
extensions. individuals who have the
money and disposition to carry 10 sue
cessful completion legitimate enterprises,
are being held up for fabulous prices by
these usurpers. l object 10 promoters
securing extensions from time TO time on
their applications and keeping capital
from legitimate investment ] recon-
to the aT that tbe w
tension OF applications beyond reason
able time required by a legitimate ap-
plicant 10 perfect his filings and put his
enterprise into operation.
oboGO 1All6hSl lOJCGUo'
The engineers department has contin-
ued during the past two years. its sur
veys Of the natural streams and irriga-
ton bitches. etc. Special attention has
county, and the Virgin river In southern
Utah The state engineer has acted as
an engineering adviser and constructing
director oh state projects upon which
large sums OF money have been expended,
The report contains complete informatio
on irrigation development in the Du-
chesne River basin, the Strawberry VAL
ley project. the Pluto project. the Hatch
town project Carey act irrigation and
reclamation projects, and private irriga-
ton enterprises. as we'll as reservoir and
The state board of land commissioners
on June Is, 1908, acquired an applIca-
ton for water from the Otter Creek
Reservoir company. No. 296 of the state
engineers files. This application was ap-
proved February ], 1906, four years being
given for the completion OF the work.
February !. 1911. The state supreme
court in the case of Pool vs the Utah
County Light G. Power company, has held
that the state engineer has no discretion
under the law governing this application,
TO extend the tImo for completion be-
| yond the maximum Of five years. In
state in, tho matter OF this application,
upon which vitally depends the success
Of The Fiute IRRIGATION project, The legs-
/
graph, to read as follows:
1T is further provided. that In the
! case of the works constructed by the
! United States reclamation service. the
state Of Utah. or muDicipal corporations
the state engineer may, for good cause
shown, extend tho time for completion
| OF construction and application TO bene-
flclal use, beyond the limits specified In
this section
Estimate of Needs.
The state engineer furnishes the fol-
lowing estimate of funds REQUIRED TO con-
duct his department during the years
, 1911 and 1872 exclusive OF the engineer s
salary:
For necessary irrigation contin-
gent expenses salaries OF
stenographers. engineers. re-
cordcrs. calcuIators and
craftsmen, for preparing maps
and records and tabulating
water claims ...,.,.,....,.,, $50. 900 OF
For contingent expenses, rent
Of offices and necessary trav-
cling expenses .,......,..:-., 1000 OF
For surveys of public institu-
tions ...,.,... ..........,.... 900 OF