Eastern Utah advocate. [volume] (Price, Utah) 1895-1915, 1913-05-01

May 9TH at Zion. The conference
will be composed OF two delegates
from each water or irrigation COM
pany In the state. one OF whom will
represent tho financial side OF wa
tor conservation and distribution
and the other 60 represent the
practical side OF the business.
Three-flfths OF the total acreage
of the state OF Utah may be brought
under cultivation n the irrigation
waters are properly applied and the
vast area OF alkali or water logged
lands u reclaimed by tile drainage.
II the statement made by Prof John
A. widtsoo. president Of the Utah
Agricultural college at Logan.
lie declared that the farmers OF
Utah are using from three 20 four
acro-feet Of water on irrigated lands
where from ton TO twenty inches IN
sufficient and would produce better
results. Tho remainder OF the wa
Tor, now worse than wasted. could
be used 10 make lands now idle
produce ohctlloni crops
A n direct result OF Professor
widtsoo's remarks. n was decided
10 hold a conference OF water adj
miniatratore OF tho state ne n pre-
liminary to convention thu fall OF
all water usera Prof. Richard II.
Lyman. Prof. John A. wldiaoo. q.
A. Snow. George Austin and w. W.
Armstrong form the committee hav-
ing this matter in charge.
'sThe Duty OF Water"
1.-THE Duty OF Water" was tho
principal subject OF Professor widt-
sooa remarks. but he devoted some
attention TO the subject OF reclaim
alton by drainage. lie told OF hav-
ing Installed the first denomination
farm In tho Salt Lake Valley eleven
years ago. selecting a tract Of land
40 heavily lmprcgnaied with alkail
that 81 shone under tho rays OF the
July aun like snow. Il looked Inn
possible 90 reclaim this tract. a
more hopeless outlook being hard
to imagine. when the tile drains
were Installed and the lands flood
cd, moro than 10 per cent OF alkali
was washed from the soil. Two
years later. a flouriahing alfalfa
field occupied the place OF the for
NOR hkaii waste and the land has
supported an excellent crop every
year Since
Professor Widtsoe deplored the
fact that 30 much time has been al
lowed 20 elapae before others fol-
lowed the example of how easily
the water logged lands may be re-
claimed. but expressed pleasure that
tho work OF further demonstration
has been taken up by a local com
pany az Salt Lake City and spoke
of the many thousands OF acres In
Utah which may easily be reclaimed
and made highly fruitful.
Tells OF Tests Made.
The speaker told OF the duty OF
water tests conducted for the past
twelve years principally at Logan.
He said emphatleally that the rea-
son for the abuse OF water In irri-
cation was the misapprehension that
more water. more yield" This he
says Is absolutely wrong. "The
moro water used. the less proper
tionate returns" be says. Is :he cor
rect maxim IAN additional water
used over certain amount de-
ereases the crop yield Just that
much"
Further. he said. "oyer Irrigation
causes an actual loss In value OF tho
land. washing away the plant food
and causing the formation OF alkali
In the lowlands. Irrigation should
extend only TO tho depth OF root ac-
ton. Il having been demonstrated
that plants are more nutritious
when less irrigated" lie advised
cementing highline canals as a fur
Their means OF conserving irrigating
water.
Professor widtsoe declared the
states greatest need Is men espe-
oially trained for tho work, who will
stand between tho water owner
and the farmer. competent 10 give
advice 10 both on conservation OF
water"
The Need OF Training.
Oscar l.. Cox pointed out the ne
oessity OF a campaign OF education
among the older water users OF the
state, who insist on their right 10
the use OF much more water for T-
rigation than Is really required,
while their neighbors' land lies ne
elected for lack OF that same water.
II was decided that the committee
have special representative on
the Greater Utah" excursion TO
point out TO the farmers the adyis-
ability and fairness OF surrendering
their excess supply for the upbuild-
ing OF the state. The assistance OF
the department OF agriculture Will
be invoked in establishing a num-
- In ITfah Tor fnN,-