| Show STATE SEIZES j CONTROL OVER OVERWATER WATER IN 1 1934 Engineer Notifies Canal of Dictators Dictatorship Dicta Dicta- tors hip State Engineer T T. H H. Humpherys Humphers Friday set up a dictatorship over waters waters wa- wa of Utah lake and the Jordan river basing his unprecedented move on n failure of the canal companies compani to to agree on dIstribution for the 1934 irr Irrigating gating season despite prospects of the the most serious dr uth in Salt Lake a c county's history The engineer notified S Salt La Lake e City and the associated canal companies companies compa nies that of at the feet acre the lake is expected to yield this year will be prorated on In a basis of the area irrigated by each of the five canals Secondary users user will be at- at l. l 2800 feet acre The estimated supply for tor 1934 of feet acre Lc is about third one the amount used by Salt Lake cou county ty irrigators irrigators gators in 1933 which was one ot of t the e driest seasons on record In antic antici pation of the serIous serIous' water shortage hortage this year Mr Humpherys asked the canal companies to agree on a distribution distri distri- schedule two weeks ago Notifies Canal Companies Since you are unable to agree and have failed to accept the schedule proposed by me Mr Humpherys notified the canal companies corn com in a circular letter I propose to and will distribute the available supply ot of Utah lake and water on the following equitable basis The 1934 distribution schedule which the companIes are bound by bylaw bylaw law to accept Ut Utah h and Salt Lake canal feet acre on the basis of an irrigated acreage of the East Jordan canal in which Salt Lake City has has' hasa a one ruth intErest on a basis of acres Salt Lake City acre feet acre feet for foI acres the South Jordan c canal ca- ca na nal feet acre br acres the North Jordan canal cana feet acre for acres The secondary users Utah Lake Distributing company and the Draper Irrigation company will receive 2000 feet acre for acres and feet acre for tor acres respectively DiffIcult Mr Humpherys explained his action action ac- ac tion was tai ta n for the purpose se of meeting present presen emerge emergency cy and w with th to jeopardize je r rf f prejudIce the claims claims' or rIghts of the J parties in the lake water f 1 I 1 0 Ordinarily when a 3 water shortage i impends the supply Is divided under an n agreement between the users This accord has been difficult to teach in the last three years due to recurrent drouth Mr Humpherys pointed out Ills lUs action ac- ac lion tion breaks the present impasse over divisIon for this year It is only fair he said in corn com on the dIstribution schedule that the secondary have water for stock and to orchards permanent crops The two secondary users have ben given 2800 feet acre which is absolutely absolutely necessary l Remainder Prorated t. t The remainder has been prorated pr rated a basis of irrigated area amounting amount amount- 1 ing to about 12 feet acre per acre No canal except the secondary users will be permitted to draw in excess of 75 per cent ot of the amount allotted j until in the opinion of the state en eer the remaIning supply has been accurately gauged Salt Lake City it was recalled must meet heavy oblIgation to farm e ers s holding exchange contracts The cIty takes creek creck water owned by the thet t farmers for cUlinary use and gives the farmers Utah lake water jn in ex change chang Whether the amount all allotted by the state engineer will be cleat for these demands is a moot question City Attorn Attorney e Fisher Harris speaking for tor Salt Lake City expressed ex- ex pressed satisfaction with the state engineers engineer's allotment of Utah lake Jake Jakewa wa water The by State n- n T T. H. H Humpherys said Mr HarrIs is on a basis hasis of Irrigated acreage The Irrigated and other on account of whIch Salt Lake City require and is entitled to water from froin- Utah lake are much greater than that given by the state engineer |
