PROFITS IN FARMING ON IRRIGATED AREAS IN UTAH. 3 



nature; hence, the drainage is much better. In some sections the soil 

 is very badly affected with alkali, so strongly as to prohibit the culti- 

 vation of crops. In many places this condition is the result of seepage 

 of irrigation waters used on the bench lands near the base of the 

 mountains (fig. 3). Over many of the lower areas the alkaline con- 

 ditions result from rapid evaporation, due to the surface of the soil 

 being within capillary reach of the ground water. This feature of 

 the situation is discussed in the report of the Bureau of Soils on the 

 soil survey of the Provo area. 



HISTORY OF AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT. 



The first settlers of Utah Lake Valley came from Illinois, halting 

 on their journey for a year at Salt Lake City. The first company, 



I 



Fig. 2. — Peach and apple orchards planted at the bases of mountains or near the mouths of canyons, 



to insure good air drainage. 



consisting of 30 families, came early in March, 1849, and settled close 

 to the site of Provo. By the middle of March they had built a 

 fort, consisting of log houses surrounded by a stockade, from the 

 center of which, overlooking all, arose a long parapet upon which was 

 mounted one or more cannon for protection against possible attacks 

 from the Indians. 



Meantime the settlers had taken up land along Provo River, near 

 the present site of Provo, and had plowed, fenced, and planted 

 with corn, wheat, and rye the greater part of a field consisting of 225 

 acres of land. Soon afterwards 10 more families joined them, and 

 the field was divided into 40 lots and 1 lot given to each f amity. 



