112 THE IB RIG A Tl ON A GE. 



was due to the process of evaporation on a body of water lacking a 

 drainage outlet, and that its excess was the consequence of altitude. 

 Plainly enough, if the inflowing water be diverted to other uses before 

 it reaches the lake, there will come a day when the salt deposit, which 

 is the result of the long continued warfare between sun and water, 

 will stand exposed, its blanket gone. 



The Mormons, more, perhaps, than any class of settlers in the 

 arid districts of North America, have mastered the science of irriga- 

 tion. They have been studying and experimenting for over half a 

 century. In all the time since they entered their promised land they 

 have labored with the end of making a little water do the most possi- 

 ble good. 



Unfortunately for the Great Salt Lake, the lessons in economy, in 

 the usage of irrigation rivulets have not served to keep pace with the 

 increase in population and the consequent necessity of tbe continued 

 reclamation of arid land. All the water for the irrigation of the Jor- 

 dan Valley the Great Salt Lake state of the Mormon Church, as it is 

 denominated must come from the rivers which feed the lake. They 

 are the Jordan River itself, connecting the fresh water Utah Lake 

 with the larger body; Weber River, which has its source in the foot- 

 hills of the Uintah Mountains and flows northward, winding close to 

 Ogden before it empties into the lake; Ogden River, a smaller stream 

 which parallels the Weber for the latter half of the journey; and the 

 Bear River, which drains the Great Lake at the north. 



The Bear River is subject to irrigation demands of the Gentiles 

 as well as the Mormans, since more of its course is through Idaho 

 than Utah, but the Weber and the Jordan are wholly within Mormon 

 sphere of agricultural influence. While the Gentiles divide the city 

 populations of Utah with the Mormons, they do not compete with 

 them in the farming districts. They own the mines in the mountains, 

 but these need no water for irrigation. Hence it is that the Mormons 

 have themselves to thank for the lake's recession. 



It has come to pass that at the dryest season of the year the 

 Weber discharges but a tiny streamlet into the lake. The Jordan and 

 the Bear both drain lakes, which in turn are fed by mountains streams, 

 hence their flows are larger than that of the Weber, though insignifi- 

 cant in comparison to what they once were or what they would be 

 again should the irrigation canals and ditches cease to claim their 

 contents. 



It would seem at first thought that the fate of Utah Lake would 

 be identical with that of the Great Salt Lake. The federal govern- 

 ment, indeed, was seized over ten years ago with the fear that the 

 lesser body soon would be dried up, though no concern was expressed 

 for the possible effect upon the saline reservoir it keep filling. 



When the Great Lalt Sake is gone it will be missed as a wonder 

 and as a salt factory; for little else. Its waters destroy vegetation 



