History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

IRRIGATION. 723
ing on the farm-lands rich particles of fertile soil. 9
Two or three waterings a year would, in most locali-
ties, secure good crops, and the millions devoted to
purposes of irrigation throughout the territory paid
better interest, directly and indirectly, than capital
invested in any other description of enterprise. Nevertheless,
the supply was insufficient, more water
being still allowed to run to waste during the spring
and winter months than was utilized. 10
The winter rains swell the streams, sometimes to
overflowing, when considerable damage occurs to farming-lands
along the river-bottoms. Snow falls to a
depth of from two to twenty-five feet, but does not
usually melt before summer is well advanced. Windstorms
are often violent, and occasionally destroy
growing crops. 11 The altitude of Utah renders the
high lands liable to night frosts during the summer
months, and on the more elevated plateaus no attempt
is made to plant, the surface being devoted entirely to
grazing purposes. At times in winter a very low temperature
is registered. Often the valleys are colder
at night than the more elevated adjacent regions, and
9 The necessity for irrigation of course reduces the size of farms, which in
1SS3 probably did not average more than 25 acres. See Hollister's Res. and
Attract, of Utah, 16.
10 See, for remarks on facilities for irrigation, Wheeler's Surveys, Progress
Rept, 1872, 2S-33; for report on water supply, character and quantity of irrigated
and irrigable land, etc., in 1876, House Ex. Doc, 45th Cong. 2d Sess.,
73, passim; for report on existing system of irrigation and needed improvements,
Powell's Lands of the Arid Region, passim.
11 The Kings of Kingston, in Piute county, one year sowed 300 acres with
wheat, and the wind blew the crop away. What was not actually displaced
was kept cut close to the ground by the perpetual passage of waves of sand.
They planted an orchard, but some gooseberry bushes alone remained. Shade
trees were set out about their houses, but the wind worked them around so
that they could not take root. Robinson, Sinners and Saints, 209. In 1880
occurred the most violent storm ever known in Utah. A description of it is
given in the S. L. C. Herald, July 29, 1880. For account of flood at Parowan
in 1857, see Deseret News, Sept. 30, 1S57. In Nov. 1860 there was a violent
hurricane which caused great destruction of property. See Deseret News, Nov.
21, 28, 1860; Sac. Union, Dec. 1, 1860. In 1S60 there were heavy floods
in various parts of Utah. See Little's Jacob Ilamblin, 75-7; Deseret News,
Jan. 15, 22, Feb. 12, May 7, Julv 9, 1S62; Utah Jour. Legist., 1803-4. For
other remarkable storms, see S. F. Bull, May 25, 1877; S. F. Chron., Apr. 25,
18S3. The prevailing winds are westerly. Powells Lands of the Arid Region,
in H. Ex. Doc, 45th Cong. 2d Sess., 73, 68.