Show T AMA MAY Y BE USED FOR ADJUDICATION I i i OF WATER RIGHTS I I tate ate a to Engineer in Biennial Report Report Re- Re port Tells Tells' o of f Work Acc Accomplished om- om r pUshed plashed by Office ti The first part of ot trio tho biennial report f the thc engineer m was submitted to William Spry yesterday It among lm ng other thine the of ot the hydrographic sury sur- sur sury py y of the Logan river and the finish finish- g of or the field work for the survey t f the Virgin river Within a few tow tenths the latter data will wilt be bo In shape submit as a a. a basis for fot the tho on of ot water rights on this stream Tho The matter of ot the using of oC such ta to was touched upon in the follows follow follow- jf s language The Thc last legislature provided a and arid ind rid nd of ot to be bo used for tor tho the nd- nd of oC water rights expendi- expendi res under this fund Cund to be taxed water claimants when hen the n ad ad- ad I t I Ii completed oi ril ted The Tho act was meant to cur cure several difficulties It now seems that the tho terms of ot the law did aid not go so far fat enough In that It did not especially provide for tor the tho expenses of ot the district judge should he he ad adjudicate ad- ad the rl rights o of ot water claimants without reference So at this writing writIng writIng writ- writ Ing w WA seem em to be as far from getting getting get get- ting an any results the surveys as ns ever er The Tho Utah laws for the adjudication tion of ot water rights havo have their disadvantages disadvantages vantages at least b by comparison the comparison tho Ore Oregon on and Wyoming scheme works while the tho Utah doesn't In speed and and nna In In extent the ordinary judicial process In the tho district and superior courts Is slow and and tho th high and w we cannot cannot can can- not expect that th our wat water r adjudications adjudications whoa when made mad by the court are goIng goIng go- go Ing to be materially different from tho tiro general experience at least BO so fas as time and cost Is concerned The state reservoirs Including the tho n project and the Plute pro pro- project are arc touched upon from a a. technical technical cal standpoint Tho The matter of ot cooperation co Opt ration with the United States geological cal survey sut which makes measurements measurements measurements measure measure- ments ot of Utah streams Is also alga touched upon State Engineer Tanner shows Dhows that the appropriation of at 2000 Is 18 too loo small to successfully gain such data though th the government provides a a. amount yearly He ur urges es that the amount be Increased and says sn's OlD By By reason of ot the tho small appropriations made In this state for tor stream measurement work many of ot the areas that should have havo our attention are arc arenow now new neglected and must continue so o till we e are better provided for tor I 1 call attention to a striking case In point in the southeastern part of or the state a company compan Is- Is Is Isnow now K tn en h VA h NI l'- l' regaled for reclamation a a. considerable tract of at public land It Is 11 s proposed to make this reclamation under the Care Carey act act- Some weeks ago o an engineer de de- de detailed tailed to Investigate ate tho the matter for this compan company carne came to tho the state engi neer's office seeking Information about water supplies He II had bad all the information ao so far tar as ns the tho land was concerned but to our misfortune Utah could supply him with absolutely nothinG noth noth- ing lug pertaining to the water supplies from an any 3 of or the streams of ot San Juan county This is a serious omission on the part of ot tho the state It Is within 1 our power power pow pow- er cr to have good and complete records of our most important natural re resource re- re source our waters and we may obtaIn obtain ob ob- ob- ob tain this record at a n. small outlay considering con con- the advantage nd The government govern govern- ment stands read ready to turn furnish Ish a good goodart part art of ot the cost ost Roads and bridges then come un under er consideration Tho hc limited supervision supervIsion sup sup- over the latter Is deplored The Tho surveys SUf for fat state institutions and the reclamation work worle In the Duchesne river basin receive much attention especially the latter since man many applications applications ap ap- ap- ap have been made the state engineers engineer's office for Cor water to Irrigate the lands the tho Indians In the Uintah Indian reservation and also lands entered upon by white citizens The trouble this year ear in th the l Uintah basin coming corning from the allegation of at lowland farmers that the higher land farmers Mere ere getting all tho the water when the streams were low loon is also re referred re- re to Finally the Y Wyoming Irrigation law with Its system for Cor the adjudication of oC water disputes is recommended for tor adoption b by Utah I |