Show THE WEBER cantal CANAL soon after the settlement 4 in tho the northern part of davis county were formed it became man manifest irest that there was wag not a sufficiency clency of water for irrigating what land was at first and opened for cultivation and that the settlements could nat not be extended nor more land brought into cultivation cultivation excepting here and there a small piece where the water of some creek could be more advantageously used nearer the tho base of the mountain than further do down n towards the lake unless water could heb bbb hebr beb rought nought aught from the weber to supply the deficiency on exploring T and arid surveying the country count r y b ser ver e tween the 1 settlements on kalls kays creek and th the e mouth of 0 f weber kanyon kanion where tho water would haye have to be taken out of the tha river it was made to appear that it woud would require much labor and a large expenditure of means to bring brin 11 it around on the north alde side of the high and band rid ridge ride b e intervening 0 between kaya kays creek and add rid tid the river to where it would be ased used on the land that had been opened or oi other land that was suitable for cultivation of which there lihen hen yet is i a barp largo b tract on an the prest west vrest of the territorial road running north from this city through fai FaT farmington to ogden that might rn be converted into grain growing farm sif water could be obtained for irrigating b D but in its natural state of no use excepting excepts rig for herding purposes an estimate of th thi cost convinced those interested in the matter that they could not then undertake a a work df such magnitude with any arry prospect of ot success and there the matter rested for the tirria being hi in therall the fall of 1853 1855 the tho th subject was yas again agitated public meetings were held commit toes tes appointed the legislature memorialized and a company was kas chartered at the jath F annual bess sess session iori lori for the purpose of constructing a canal of sufficient capacity to take as much water from the weber as might be needed to irrigate irrl D ate the lands in question and thern there seemed to be no want of nor lack of energy to accomplish the tha desired object A survey of the route of the contemplated canal was made the following summer and arrangements for commencing the work with a full det determination ernie ernil on the part of the citizens of davis county generally to extend I 1 1 the canal southward after bringing it around the sand ridge 0 through not all of ot the settlements between the weber and great salt sait lake city and thereby open large tracts of land for agricultural purposes that were then thi and are yet measurably valueless the tle great obstacle to be over comein bringing in the water southward after taking m it from the river was the sand ridge or hill running from the mountain seyer sever several al miles farther west towards the lake than magh much of the farming land south of the ridge that needed water to maket inaki jt productive was situated and competent ten teh engineers Z were of the opinion that the construction st of a tunnel through 1 the hill bill would be attended with less expense than the making makin of cx a civial canal around it of sufficient capacity to c convey on as much water as could be advantageously used on those linds lands the feasibility of the thea plan was conceded by a majority of those interested and it ws wils ultimately resolved to make an effort to construct a tunnel for the J passage of the waterland wat erand the work was dor bor ansly commenced late in the fall or earl eari early y in lri the winter of that year I 1 after much means had been expended and the hill had bad been penetrated some con li tid drible drabie erable distance it was l stead of the line of the tunnel passing gassing through D a clayey cloyed compact t strata as anticipated the tho internal formation of the hill or ar ridge was principally of loose sand and that the ex penu of making a durable passage for a large stream gra ira of vaten saten water vater through 6 it would be enormous aud and d of the work attended with danger to the operatives 1 under operation oy ration 1 r I 1 was abandoned and 1 1 in n consequence I 1 of the un J settled sate slate of affairs t that hat have hav q c exis 1 isita edaa edan edjA aa this Terii teril territory lery iery since the tile summer of 1857 till recently nothing f further arther has been dvone d one in relation to constructing the contempt contemplated a ted weber canal and the waters of that stream continue to flow into the salt lahe lake without being made subservient to the agricultural interests of the country tart would be materially enhanced by their application lyts ts parched parche d soil how lon ion long iong it will be before another effort will be made to accomplish the lori fori original einal ginal design A of making the surplus waters of tha the weber conducive to the growing of wheat and other staple products of the country is 19 not known knowd but inasmuch as it Is fes now a time of peace and general prosperity in the Terri territory toy if the scheme is practicable which most of those acquainted with the loc location ationo and have had experience in such matters believe anti anif and b but at very few seem to doubt would it not be ad make another effort to accomplish the wor woi wol kand thereby convert many thousands of azra acres of waste tt aste barren land into fruitful f ields fields the product products of which would decidedly enhance the wealth increase the population and add to the res resources burces of davis county in particular and of this part ot of the territory in generau general gner al the estimated cost of constructing 0 the can alas made at a t the time it was surveyed was na no barrier to the undertaking as ds there was ample means at con com imand as per report to meet all expenses and the farmers and business men in the section of country that would be immediately benefited by the water were firmly of the op opinion ophelon hilon that a more profitable investment could not then be made and tho they y confidently believed that their farms and land claims would not only be greatly increase din value bue but that the thi increase of their prod produce irce lace in one or two years after thedor the work was completed it if no rio more I 1 land should be tilled than was then would be sufficient to repay them for all outlays in the construction construct io of the artificial water course cours e during th the e past summer the scarcity of water has been severely felt in that county and if the canal is ever evor to be made dp it now while there is opportunity and thereby overcome aa obstacle at once that will ever exist and prevent the full fail development of the agricultural resources of a large section of country in the immediate vicinity of thee theme the me tro polls of utah until there Is elou enough gh water to irrigate the land rin mr henry nison er of lahi lehi utah county has been emilin examining the route of the contemplated ditch recen recently ily and proposes to take the job of digging di the same and bring bringing iri lil tl the 1 I 0 water aroun around d the ridge to or near th the e point where the tunnel was commenced forthe sum of twenty five thousand dollars in stock or grain at tithing office prices payment to bp mads d when w hen the work is completed that is comparatively a small sum and the profits that would woula have accrued to the citizens 0 that county this year if the work had bad been done last fall and winter would more than have paid the expense of the excavation with mr bir nison D er we have no acquaintance but iche is not a competent person to under undertake tal tai cc the job which however we believe be he is from what we have heard of him let some other person do it therease Ther eare many no doubt who would dp ap the work for lor the same am and perhaps a less sum than he offers tod to do it for but less or mo more rethe rothe the canal should be constructed ted and the large amount of ot water that can be taken talen out ozithe weber without infringing upon the rights of any should be applied 1 to the soil that is now barren and valueless for the want of it when that canal shall have haye been leen made and completed and the anticipations as to usefulness its fully realized other works of the kind that have been corn com menaced in this and other counties but are and have been for a long time in stata stafa quo I 1 may again be considered important and practice ble and the necessary measures taken to recommence their and to push them forward to completion there has been scarcely a commencement made as yet in developing the resources of these mountain val vai valley vailey ieya leyA bar barren renand and unproductive in their natural state but fruitful when properly watered cultivated and improved by the labor and untiring perseverance of those who have come hither to enjoy peace and immunity from t andas fast as circumstances will vill permit all the water flowing from the mount count mountains ains not otherwise needed shoula d be conducted by artificial chan 1 nels neis nelston to where ican itcan b 4 i 1 1 pro profitably fi t abl abi Y used d in irrigating the soil that it may bring forth food for the thousands and tinh tini of thousands that thit will yet seek refuge here from persecution and other afflictions I 1 that have been foretold ad will wat sooner or later lator I 1 come coxe upon taa 44 ln inhabitants abitanta abl abi tants of the earth when that is doni done do nethe othe agricultural products of davis great salt lake utah an and othen other counties wal be doubly increase increased |