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Show Irrigation Raises Havoc With Ponds Continued from preceding page) millions of ducks by disease, might sound absurd, but nevertheless it is a fact. In 1900 the Bear River, Malad, Box Elder and numerous small creeks flowed into the marsh, flooding thousands oPacres and producing heavily vegetated areas which offered feeding and nestwaing grounds for countless terfowl ducks, geese, shore and marsh birds. It was a paradise for the hunter, and a nesting place for millions of wild fowl and a resting spot for as many more migratory birds passing to the Canadian nesting The migratory birds grounds. would return with their grown young in the fall, using the Bear river marsh as a stopping place to fatten up on the seeds of the tule and other natural duck food. The hunting area extended from within three miles of the Wasatch range on the east to the Promontory range on the west, a distance of 30 miles. From the south shore-linof e Great Salt Lake the marsh area extended back Inland from fiv? to 15 miles. lit 1910 a far different picture was presented. What once had been a vast expanse of productive marsh, with thousands of acres of open freshwater shallow lakes, had become a barren waste of mud flats. Where Bear river and other streams had emptied their full flow into the marsh, only a fraction of the water reached the duck lands. The demands of a rapidly grow-- i ng in farming population northern Utah for more and more irrigation water had robbed the streams of their lifeblood. Canals, pumping plants and power dams diverted the water into more productive uses. Duck Sickness Appears The 'old, old story of man interfering with nature was repeated, and the "Western duck sickness appeared on the Bear river marshes. Ducks died by the millions, due, it was said, to the birds contracting disease from the stagnant pools of alkaline water which had gradually replaced the fresh water. If has been estimated that seven million ducks from perished 1910 to 1925 on the Bear river marshes. During the outbreaks dead ducks could be seen as far as the eye could reach. In an effort to check the mor- - Get Set For A BEST Dressed Vacation! Send us your dresses, blouses, suits and coats too. We assure cleaning per- tality, game officials employee men to gather and bum the dead and decaying bodies. The vast problem became one of lovbird to Western importance ers and game officials alike. Then the idea was conceived that by construction of a series around of dikes in a great-circl- e the Bear river delta, the marsh area might again be restored It was to its former condition. the that impounding thought fresh water and locking out the Great Salt Lake brine might save the marshes and eliminate duck sickness. Government Aid Secured The sponsors of the idea contended that the constant flooding of the area with fresh water would wash away the alkali, promote new growth of natural vegetation and relieve the stagnant pollution thought to be responsible for the duck malady. Pressure of game officials and bird lovers at this time resulted in action by government officials. Engineers made surveys and computed the cost of the construction of thirty miles of dikes which were to impound the fresh water of Bear River during the spring run-ofThe Bear River Migratory Bird refuge was established by an act of congress in 1928. The government appropriated $250,-90to carry out the provisions of the act, and in 1929 contracts were let and construction of the The dikes was commenced. bureau of agriculture engineering in cooperation with the bureau of biological survey, was held responsible for the supervision of construction and administration of the refuge. Finished In 1931 Considerable thought and investigation had been made concerning the type of dike to be constructed, and the final decision was in favor of the low, wide earth dike. By 1931 thirty miles of dikes and eight miles of canal had been built, as called for in the contract. The main outer dike is nearly 20 miles long and 100 feet wide, the center of it standing six feet above the water line. The object in building low, sloping dikes was to simulate a beach and prevent excessive erosion. The idea has proved most sue- f. 0 ICE CREAM fection ! No matter your vacation date our rapid service assures your cleaning in am- Refuge... The Treganza Heron, exotic bird, with its impossible ed, long neck, long bill and long legs. And all of the birds are free and wild although tame and easy t close to. cessful. After 19 years of service the dikes show only a minimum of cutting, even though at times 60 mile gales have whipped the surface of the water. into The refuge is divided five independent units, separated by ten miles of partition dikes, and dive lakes totaling 40,000 acres now are flooded with fresh water. Wooden spill-boxe- s placed in the dikes at various intervals, make It, possible to regulate the depth of water in the lake units from a few inches to three feet. At a point where Bear river divided to form the old natural delta, a concrete diversion dam was built in 14 sections. 'By lowering the steel control gates the water may be backed up the river for a distance of 13 miles and forced out through the various feeder canals which, supply a portion of the units. Sickness Persisted to a duck hospital es for the study of a sid which experts seemed little. What caused ness, no one knew; it dent that in the nr ady rati in o Bir eac ver; Jolla ear warm seasons, great numt healthy birds suddenl be stricken, would lie beaches or float helple lake units. Find Cause of Sickneti Western duck sickn the baffling malady t by far the heaviest to duck population. Mi employed to shoo duo from certain stagnai where it seemed to be i but the prevalent, continued year after ye E. R. Kalmbach, a gc biologist of Denver, Col the malady to be a or food poison.! ed by a certain sease germ. Aided by clue, the experts at tli thou- traced the trouble to t However, despite the sands of dollars spent by the ooze at the bottom government, the impounding of marshes, which they f the fresh water, the location on hibited by the germ the project of government ex- mained comparatively perts in bird life, the dreaded until the water in the shallow anc duck sickness persisted in tak- became ing the lives of thousands of warmed by the sun. ducks. In certain seasons, hun- temperatures the botuli dreds of ducks were picked up (Continued on followln by refuge officials and brought a milli inal ag spe lii 1 .It the he :he vel, nstn luge Twc tov ll Cl ie rod-s- mi orati ts ! po uses iuild al well al Sun is fun , . . but dont overdo it ! Theres health, good looks and pleasure in a tan, but nothing but misery in sunburn. We have a complete assortment of lotions, creams and cosmetics yes, your favorite brand that are summer necessities. CANDIES ple time! POST CARDS Youll be more than pleased with the1 exacting results of any minor alterations your vacation wardrobe may You'll See At The Whatever your drug or cosmetic needs, let The Drug Store On The Corner serve you. Youll find our service pleasant and friendly, but quick; Youll find all the familiar vertised lines in our large stock. Youll feel right at home at Hamilton Drug. SOUVENIRS nationally-ad- require. Phone We Pick 31 Up And Deliver COLD DRINKS DRUG SUNDRIES 'The Drug Store On. The Corner" 3 10 South Main Street Brigham Oifr " opt. 1 |