BU wie TINCT NG TING JING TINO/NGTINOA NG ING ING NONE NO IW TNC ANG JNO LING ANG JING TING ING ING NGA NG TNC A NG ANG ING ING ING INC IING ZNO JIN JNG JING ANG INC INCI ANG ING ING ING) NOHO INC ANG ONGOING HNO NG NOTING NODC INOANG rary Ha ¥ 7G NOZNG NG NT NONE DINO NINO CNOA ONO NENG NCA NOOO NON NG ING OHNO NO NOANG INA NTN NOD NOENO SALT LAKE COMMERCIAL CLUB BULLETIN NUMBER ONE ALKALI and | WAT ER LOGGED LANDS ( OLNG aN ALY) es Bnei ey LYOY @) a eg By THE LANDS COMMITTEE DD VN NV NN DANN ANANDA NAA WAANAAIAATAAGAGAAAAIAT ADNAN ANT AN ANA ANN ANIANIANI AN ANANA AN AN AVANT AN AN AN ANDINA AN AAA ANA AAV ANNAN NAA AAA AAA ANANDA AAA PAY ae a ai € ashe A , Ceo i/ : Salt Lake Commercial Club Bulletin No. One Alkali and By THE LANDS COMMITTEE COMMERCIAL CLUB, Inc. SALT LAKE CITY OFFICERS: W. F. JENSEN, |. - - President FRANK S..MURPHY, Vice-President JOHN F. BENNETT, -_ Treasurer W.. C)-STARE.4o- - Secretary EDITED BY W. C. ALEXANDER, Chairman Lands ge gan So ltd S bts 0 VA | ALKALI AND WATER LOGGED LANDS 3 Acknowledgment. N PRESENTING this bulletin to the public, the Salt Lake Commercial Club, through its Lands Committee, wishes ZB 0 acknowledge its indebtedness to the following authori- ¥ ties on the subject of reclamation, and to express its appre- " ciation for the generous responses to requests for the articles contained in this, the first of a series of bulletins it is pro- posed to publish. BSW. Hicearp, E.L..D:, Ph.D., Chemist (Emeritus) of the University of California. Rogpert STEWART, B.S., Ph.D., Chemist of the Utah Agricultural College. Be) BATE, Bb. 9. M.S; Ph.D;, Director of the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station. L. A. MERRILL, B.S., Agricultural Expert Salt Lake Route and United States Mining, Smelting and Refining Company. Ae HART 5.9.7. C.E., Supervising Drainage Engineer of the United States Department of Agriculture. J. C. WHEELON, - Chief Engineer of the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company. It is to be hoped that the articles herein will correct, in a measure, the general misapprehension regarding alkaline soils. ‘Alkali,’ as the term is commonly used in the west, conveys to the average mind some harmful substance whose presence in soils renders the land practically valueless from an agricultural standpoint. That the prevailing opinion is contrary to the fact is shown by the contributions to this publication, notably in the initial article by Prof. E. W. Hilgard. Fi een, eis ia)“ are aN ‘HIS BOOK COPYRIGHT, 1914, BY THE COMMERCIAL CLUB CONTENTS OF T. ALKALI AND WATER LOGGED LANDS 5 Introduction. need) HE OBJECT of this bulletin is to place before the public as authoritative information regarding the practicability of reclaiming by means of sub-drainage, alkaline and water- logged lands generally, and with specific reference to and urging the development of the major portion of an area of land approximating 50,000 acres lying between Salt Lake City and Great Salt Lake. This area of desert—and in many sections unsightly—waste is in excess of ten per cent of the total acreage of Salt Lake County, and is equal to forty per cent of its improved land in farms. The articles contained in this issue, which have been generously contributed by authorities, whose opin- ions are final in all matters pertaining to reclamation, should leave in the minds of even the most skeptical, no doubt whatever relative to the feasibility of successful reclamation of alkaline and water logged lands by means of drainage. There can be no question regarding the efficiency of drainage, but largely influ- encing its economic success is the factor of proper out- let for drainage waters. It therefore follows that in every district where a drain- age system is contemplated, this primary element should be the sub- . ject of careful investigation. Topographical conditions under which successful drainage of the land west of this city must be accomplished, are such as to require much attention to this important feature. The altitude of the land with reference to the varying levels of Great Salt Lake (upon which depends the practical operation of a gravity drainage system) renders this con- sideration one of unusual importance. To the end of supplying a small measure of accurate information on the subject of elevations, the Commercial Club secured the services of a competent engineer, who 6 SALT LAKE COMMERCIAL CLUB ‘ay ran levels from the lake to the central portion of the tract under con-— sideration. The result of his work dispels any doubt whatever regard-_ ing the sufficiency of outlet for gravity drainage for approximately — ninety per cent of the land traversed, basing the elevation of discharge — upon the average level of Great Salt Lake for the past quarter of a cen- _ tury. A graphical chart indicating the relative land and varying lake — levels, together with a brief report and map of Salt Lake County by C the engineer will be found elsewhere in this issue. : ae It is not the purpose of the Commercial Club to enter into a tech- _ nical discussion relative to engineering, the sufficiency of water for irri- — gation or other features involved in the ultimate reclamation of this — great tract, or, to pass upon the merit of any existing enterprise. It is the development of the tract as a whole in which this club is interested _ to the end that it may conform to the otherwise unsurpassed environ- — ment of Salt Lake City. ‘ x. ALKALICAND WATER LOGGED LANDS 7 ECONOMIC CONDITIONS To the most casual analyst of local opportunity for profitable investment in a drainage enterprise, it must be readily apparent that this area possesses exceptional economic advantages. It lies within a short distance of Salt Lake City, which affords the largest as well as the best market in Utah for all produce and is the distrib- uting center of the inter- mountain west. Its prox- imity to the city offers su- perior educational and so- cial advantages with little inconvenience, and nowhere 4 within the State is to be i. found an undeveloped area, similar in extent, which is so well served with all classes of public utilities. The transportation fa- cilities are exceptional. Ex- tending through the cen- tral portion of the tract is the Salt Lake & Los An- geles (Saltair) Railroad, and to the south, within a distance of less than two miles from it, are the lines of the Salt Lake Route and the Western Pacific Railroads. Electrical energy for commercial and domestic purposes is easily available from the transmission system of the Utah Power & Light Company, while telephone and telegraph service may be obtained from the lines which traverse this area. Topographical conditions are such that highways of very light grades, leading to almost every section, may be constructed and maintained at very low cost. RECLAMATION The feasibility of successfully reclaiming these lands by means of drainage has advanced beyond the experimental period. This state- ment has been confirmed by the United States Department of Agricul- ture, acting jointly with the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station on what is known as the “Swan Tract,” an area of forty acres in Section 5, Township 1 south, Range 1 west, on the line of the Western Pacific Railroad. This acreage was selected as representative of perhaps the worst possible soil condition to be found on the tract. Not only was the land water logged but the alkaline content so high that, in places 8 SALT LAKE COMMERCIAL CLUB upon its salt incrusted surface, even native plant growth was utterly impossible. Within the short period of a year, this farm, under intelli- gent management, produced a satisfactory crop and is now regarded as being the best “40” west of the city. A brief article by Prof. bo Merrill regarding the results of this experiment will be found in this booklet. An entirely successful demonstration of drainage reclamation by private enterprise, under conditions similar to those of the Swan Tract, has been a recent accomplishment by the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company in Bear River Valley under the able direction.of its chief engineer, J. C. Wheelon, by whom an instructive article has been contributed. The articles by Prof. E. D. Ball of the Utah Agricultural Experiment Sta- tion, R. A. Hart of the Department of the Interior and Mr. Wheelon, regarding the practicability of reclaiming worthless lands by means of drainage, should be thoroughly convincing. SOIL Concerning the chemical composition of the soil of this tract (aside from its alkaline content), it is shown by analyses that the elements essential to plant growth are found in such quantities as to assure com- mercial agricultural success. The Utah Agricultural Experiment Sta- tion, in co-operation with the Bureau of Soils of the United States Department of Agriculture, at the time the soil survey of this tract was made, collected some fifty samples from various portions of the land, and included in this bulletin is an exhaustive article by Prof. Robert Pe vbr Ab ALKALI AND WATER LOGGED LANDS fe) Stewart of the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station, thoroughly cov- ering this essential subject and which, through his courtesy, is for the first time given to the public. From the foregoing and the articles following, two conclusions, at _ least, will be reached: First, that this area offers unusual opportunities for investment in drainage enterprises, from which very exceptional profits may be realized. Second, and far the more important from a civic viewpoint—the transformation of this, the most conspicuous waste in Utah, into productive fields and gardens. PUBLIC OPINION The environs of Salt Lake City, with the single exception of this area, are rarely equaled. The beauty of the surrounding scenery is nowhere in the west surpassed. Particularly is this true of its many magnificent canyons, but, unfortu- nately, the greater percentage of visitors rarely spend sufficient time here to visit them and their opin- ions are largely based upon obser- vations from passing trains. The railroads leading north and south from this city traverse a country, the greater portion of which is un- der a high state of cultivation; the fields and orchards with their back- ground of majestic mountains bear silent testimony to the fertility of the soil and industry of the people. The impression on the traveler is salutary. In striking and disagreeable contrast is the impression received in traveling westerly through the area under discussion. Traversing its southern boundary are two transcontinental lines, the Western Pacific and Salt Lake Route, while bisecting it is the Saltair Railroad which, during the summer season, carries constantly increasing thousands of visitors to Utah’s world- famous lake and its equally famous resort—Saltair. The opinion which all travelers automatically form in traversing this unsightly forbidding waste is justly unfavorable and one which at best cannot but reflect negatively upon an otherwise progressive community. The advertising value of favorable expression by travelers con- cerning any section of the country visited is difficult to measure. Its 10 SALT LAKE COMMERCIAL CLUB influence is far reaching and very often the pleased visitor becomes a satisfied investor and frequently a resident. Pleasing environment of a well equipped city offers an uncon- scious inducement to the itinerant to prolong his visit, during which the active man of business is certain to inquire relative to local condi- tions and opportunities. The longer the visitor remains the greater the likelihood of his engaging in the affairs of the community. This interest in turn ex- tends to his associ- ates, all of which tends to the up- building of the state. It is outside cap- ital for develop- ment of which all western states stand in need. No- where in the inter- mountain west do so many opportu- nities exist as in Utah, a state which has within its boundaries all of the resources of an empire. No western state stands more in need of financial assistance to develop its wonderful resources than Utah—resources which are as yet, practically untouched and local capital, however actively it may be employed, is far from sufficient to realize even a fraction of the results which are possible with the opportunities everywhere at hand. ALKALI AND WATER LOGGED LANDS 11 CONCLUSION Agricultural expansion of the arid states is restricted by reason of topographical conditions or scarcity of water, to comparatively nar- row limits. This unquestionably applies to the State of Utah gener- ally and to Salt Lake County in particular. Considering the limited undeveloped area in this country which is susceptible of cultivation and its proximity to the largest city in the State, it is difficult to deter- mine the cause for its present condition. That the soil is alkaline should afford no ground for apprehension regarding the ultimate result of de- velopment. The practical demonstration on the “Swan Tract” has long since proven its feasibility. But one logical reason seems to remain—the lack of publicity concerning the truth relating to the suc- cessful reclamation of this class of land and the intrinsic value of this particular tract. In presenting this bulletin, it is with the desire that it may prove, in a measure at least, educational and if there shall follow as a result of this effort to correct erroneous impressions, a measure of activity leading to the development of this tract, the endeavors of the Salt Lake Commercial Club to that end, through its Lands Committee, will not have been in vain. OS) 12 SALT LAKE COMMERCIAL CLUB A WELL KNOWN FARM LOCATED SOUTH OF SALT LAKE CITY. Indicates the agricultural development which is possible to equal in the area west of the city. et $n eltouet Ate irae ce trail wre s ye are Tee ea « ee : et A TYPICAL FARM NORTH OF SALT LAKE CITY UNDER A HIGH STATE OF CULTIVATION. This farm, with many others, adds to the environment of Utah’s metropolis. ALKALI AND WATER LOGGED LANDS 13 Mr. W.C. Stark, Secretary Commercial Club, Salt Lake City. In response to your request that I should give to you some special expression of my views regarding alkali lands and their cultural value I might say, summarily, that both chemical investigation and practical experience have shown that when such lands are once freed from excess of salts which injure useful vegetation they prove exceptionally and lastingly productive; more so even than the non-alkaline lands lying -adjacent. The fact that they result from the failure of adequate rainfall to leach out the salts at once indicates that all the active soil ingredients are retained, the useful ones as well as the useless, so that so soon as the useless or injurious salts like common and Glaubers salts and carbonate of soda are removed there remains an accumulation of plant food which for a long time renders fertilization unnecessary, provided only that proper deep cultivation is practiced and maintained, so that the crop roots can reach the great depths to which the available soil almost always reaches in these lands. They are therefore eminently adapted to intensive culture, such as truck-farming, where markets are available. The maintenance of good surface mulch of loose soil, to prevent unnnecessary evaporation from the surface, is of course as needful in alkali lands as in other dry-farming soils of the arid region. But owing to the remaining saline ingredients, reclaimed alkali soils are always more easily kept in a moist condition which greatly helps vegetation. While the reclamation of alkali lands by drainage is somewhat ex- pensive in extreme cases, there is a large porportion of them that, while showing some salts on the surface before cultivation, may be made to produce large crops by deep and thorough tillage and the maintenance of a good surface mulch, alone. The one deficiency of most of these lands is lack of humus, but this can readily be made up by turning under the abundant vegetation they produce. EW. HIinGArp. SALT LAKE COMMERCIAL CLUB 14 at Saltair ~ Feet ” D 2 0 U) > 0 v = > oO . vo & _ 9 3 12) uv ie o ~ o te) 1) ~ c 2 O}— [ye |@] 21] o | + |2| ' DiaGRAM SHOWING LAND ano LAKE LEVELS, MADE FOR SALT LAKE Ciry ComMERCIAL CLuB. FF L.C.STUBBINS Cons Engr. SALT LAKE Crvry, UTAH. Newhouse Bldg. Mar.l 1914. ALAN sft oa ee B997|1P}> | | IN yIN -UCUQ28E SATAN AN / nee ah ae ANG abo ¢ | Sea Level above Feet ALKAI.I AND WATER LOGGED LANDS 15 Salt Lake City, Utah, January 2nd, 1914. Mr. W. C. Alexander, Chairman Lands Committee Commercial Club, Salt Lake City, Utah. DEAR SIR: Complying with your instructions, I ran levels on the Salt Lake Meridian from Salt Lake City to Great Salt Lake, connecting with the guage of the United States Weather Bureau at Saltair. When running these levels, I took the elevation of certain lands lying adjacent to the Meridian which are indicated on map of Salt Lake County, herewith. The levels taken disclose the following facts: (1) The elevation of the present level (January Ist, 1914) of Great Salt Lake is 4229 feet above sea level. (2) The elevation of the highest land (near Ewing Station) covered by these levels is 4256. (3) The elevation of the lowest land surveyed (near the works of the Inland Crystal Salt Co.) is 4238. (4) The average elevation of land covered by these levels is 4244 feet above sea level. (All elevations refer to Salt Lake City datum. ) Therefore, the greater portion of the land surveyed is susceptible of gravity drainage’ with outlet into Great Salt Lake with tile placed at a depth of five feet under ground, so long as the water level of the Lake remains below a reading of thirteen (13’) feet on the guage of the United States Weather Bureau at Saltair. Should the water level of the Lake arise above this level, a gravity system of drainage would fail and a pumping system would be re- quired. In order that some opinion may be formed as to the possibility of the Lake attaining to that height, I am submitting herewith a dia- gram showing the fluctuations of the Lake from the year 1862 to date. On this diagram are indicated the elevation of the Lucin Cut Off of the Southern Pacific Railroad across the Lake and the pier at Saltair, also the elevations of the land surveyed. Yours very respectfully, L. C. Stuspeins, C. E. Chief Engineer Richlands Irrigation Co. SALT LAKE COMMERCIAL CLUB BINA I vast fl ‘i BL NN TAZ Baap ¢ £ BEGe 2 Bagi i eat a count” ae cE NS PL SY ED SRE Set) aie Gri BEE Et F a a aS TOOELE - eae ALKALI AND WATER LOGGED LANDS 38 Sea esea 2 Cah | Sere a “oe aRg a Be JIhacegad tet Eee nee (Eva SEB ao — ae @ ; 4 q ; 4 ec t Za \ =e a + LZ shee > | ee A Si aE 7 ogame ar. busi an vo%, Noon TIcr) Ty oer GA ee mG i x bal Ga 5 taal Malini flix . Ty ies i b ! =! ) 3s : ~ Nas “sy MAP OF SALT LAKE COUNTY. UTAH | | Fe= SALT LAKE pe ease CLUB cis To accompany BULLETIN N81 | insulting Engr. Newhouse Bldg + Lak Utol (eoey GET 4 1914, BY THE COMMERCIAL CLUB) as the LANDS ees vee 18 SALT LAKE COMMERCIAL CLUB 'UNIT«1000 UNITS CHART TO ACCOMPANY BULLETIN N&I ortHe SALT LAKE Crty ComMMERCIAL CLUB showing Increase in Population, Improved Farms, Compiled from U.S.CENSUS REPORTS Mar.1,1914 L.C.STUBBINS Const Engr, Newhouse Approx. AREA of SALT LAKE COUNTY = 483,840 acs LAND IN FARMS = 169,262 acs IMPROVED LAND IN FARMS IN 1910 = 121,22! acs ALKALI AND WATER LOGGED LANDS ° 19 THE SOILS OF SALT LAKE COUNTY BY ROBERT STEWART, CHEMIST, UTAH EXPERIMENT STATION. A complete soil survey of the region lying west of the Jordan River in Salt Lake County, Utah, was made in 1899 by the Utah Experiment Station in co-operation with the Bureau of Soils of the United States Department of Agriculture. The physical and alkali conditions of the area are quite thoroughly discussed in the report of the survey which may be obtained from the United States Department of Agriculture, or from the Utah Experiment Station. In this report no discussion was made regarding the plant-food content of the soil and it is therefore the purpose of this article to give a brief discussion of the fertility of the soil from the viewpoint of plant-food actually present in the soil. At the time of the survey, samples of soil representative of the important soil types to a depth of twelve (12) inches were carefully collected and preserved for chemical analysis. The Jordan Sandy loam comprises above 30% of the area investigated. Gardner and Stewart in their report of the survey say, ‘““The Jordan Sandy loam is easily cultivated and is sufficiently fertile to produce almost any class of crops. It forms the most valuable portion of the low salty area, because of the ease with which it may be reclamed by underdrainage and washing.” , The analysis of these samples of soil from this type are reported in TaBceE 1. Phosphorus, Potassium and Nitrogen in Jordan Sandy Loam. (Results expressed as pounds per two million of soil.) Labora- | Description and Location of Phos- | Potas- | Nitro- tory No.| Samples phorus| sium | gen 19523. | NE Corner of SE Quarter of Sec. 27, | Township 3 S, Range 1 W........ 2800 18600 | 2400 19527 South Center of Sec. 22, Township 1 meee: MtaVVe hrs cscnes bese care acute 5600 11600 | 5420 19536 | Near NE Corner of Sec. 15, Town- | | shine2. of hange: 1 Werse.ce. as cee 4400 10200 | 2160 . 19537. | SE Corner of Sec. 5, Township 2 S, | Rata Side AW Vinm tees ee ott trees inaline Gan A ease 4600 ~21000 | 3460 19538 | E Center of Sec. 3, Township 2 S, | Reaitieeaalie VASE Solin My a ne ene eae 3800 21000 2520 19539 | N Center of Sec. 10, Township 2 S, | TRAE Tal UNA eine un stine ate dei cones 4000 12400 2900 19542 | N Center of Sec. 27, Township 2 §S, | TTC UI VN aise ie bs 0's Ae oo OS 3800 15600 | 3300 19544 | NE Corner of Sec. 29, Township 2 S, | NAMI OOC VE” nite, on cies Se ere a leraieene 6800 15000 | 3300 19545 | Near S. Center of Sec. 18, Township | HES Hacc rey gua NV ia ecole vec takes oh seston eats 2800 5400 | 2660 19547. | SW Corner of Sec. 22, Township 1 S, : eerie ay. eke 22 boy cea 4800 | 16200 | 2120 19548 | SE Corner of Sec. 28, Township 1 S, | RNa Via Sivas: ane cede Shaner erence = 2400 | 12000 | 3000 19550 | S Center of Sec. 1, Township 1 S, | RENE RE Se ae ane 2200 13600 | 2080 | ENA Ets mitten unre | 4000 | 12633 | 2948 20 SALT LAKE COMMERCIAL CLUB The soils of this type are very rich in phosphorus. A soil contain- ing 2200 pounds of phosphorus per two million pounds of soil is re- garded as rich in this element. It will be noted that none of the samples. analyzed contain a smaller quantity of phosphorus than this, while the average amount of phosphorus present is 4000 pounds per two million pounds. ia The potassium content is also high. A soil containing 11500 pounds of potassium per two million of soil is abundantly supplied with potassium. Only one sample falls below this amount, and many of them greatly exceed it, while the average amount is greater by 1100 pounds. With the proper methods of cultivation the amount of potassium present is sufficient for indefinite periods of time for ordinary general farm crops. Phe amount of nitrogen present is as in all arid soils, somewhat low—but by the proper utilization of the ability of legume crops to secure nitrogen from the air this deficiency can easily be corrected in a proper system of agriculture. TABLE 2. Phosphorus, Potassium and Nitrogen in Jordan Meadows. (Results expressed as pounds per two million of soil.) ] aborasl Description ‘and Location of iG Phose- Potas- | Nitro- tory No,| ___ Samples 2 AW Se epi sium | gen ~ 19524 | NE Corner of NW Quarter of Sec. | | 14, Township 3 S, Range 1 W..... 2600 14600 | 2020 19540 NE Corner of Sec. 11, Township 2 S, Range io WW vente. Sere eee: eek 3200 | 17000 | 5820 | Average....... DS es oa | 2900 | 15800 | 3920 The composition of the soil of the Jordan Meadows is indicated in Table 2. The conclusions arrived at by a study of the results for the Jordan sandy loam, apply here also. TABLE 3. Phosphorus, Potassium and Nitrogen in the Jordan Loam. (Results expressed as pounds per two million of soil.) | abora-| Description and Location of | Phos- | Potas- | Nitro- tory No.| Samples | phorus! sium | gen 19525 | About 2 miles NE of Harriman, | | | Township 3 S, Range 1 W........ | 2600 17000 | 1780 19526 | NW Corner of Sec. 29, Township 1 | | | bay ane. 1: Wn... eo eamee | 3400 | 14000! 2520 19541 | NW Corner of Sec. 4, Township 1 S, | | | Been ato onloc 8 ser ee 2800 15800 | 2260 19543 Near Center of Sec. 28, Township | Zum, Range TOW or. Wat ee 3400 16000 | 2440 AVELARE. «2_ots ea nee eee | 2800 | 15700 | 2225 The composition of the Jordan loam is shown in Table 3. This soil like the Jordan Meadows and Jordan sandy loam is well supplied with the elements of plant food. ay " . eae Ty eee ee Tee re ce pal PD ee ERMA EE EPIL , ie ee ala Dileep da tia aes ahs ‘ 4 “ai . €2"~ "Sat vie : ear aN ALKALI AND WATER LOGGED LANDS 21 TABLE 4. Phosphorus, Potassium and Nitrogen in Jordan Clay. (Results expressed as pounds per two million of soil.) Labora- | Description and Location of | Phos- | Potas- | Nitro- tory No.| Samples | phorus} sium | gen 19546 | N Center of Sec. 5, Township 1 S, | ER Wat oe. Bre te vee | 1400 | 13000 | 1260 The composition of the Jordan clay is indicated in Table 4. This is a much poorer type of soil than the others since it contains only half as much phosphorus and nitrogen. Soil of this type is also very compact and difficult to drain. Tasle 5. Phosphorus, Potassium and Nitrogen in Soils on Higher Lands of Salt Lake County. (Results expressed as pounds per two million of soil.) Potas- | Nitro- 1 abora-| Description and Location of Phos- torv No.| Sample phorus| sium | gen 19528 | Near E Center of Sec. 29, Township | | | Peepers’ 1 he. 2 20y os bre vas odes | 3000 14800 | 4860 19529 | Near W Center of Sec. 14, Township . | Dee TINTS Mor Bsc = f-pl aes Save a beak 3800 17200 | 2740 19530 | E Center of Sec. 17, Township 2 S, | | Le Sa ae eae acre rb ates 3000 11600 | 2¢0 19531 | E Part of NW Quarter of Sec. 32, | | Township 2 S, Range 1 E........ 2600 7800 | 3500 19534 | Near Center of SW Quarter of Sec. | vile Township 1.S,-Range dE... : 3600 14000 | 2400 19535 | NW Corner of Sec. 19, Township 1 | | Beeinanioe rb Ea sekac'. Hane Bee ois 4200 13000 | 5740 | Ayerage. ooh os ade | 3370 | 13400 | 3200 The results in Table 5 show the composition of the older cultivated lands in the vicinity of Murray. They are given here for comparison. It may be noted that the soils west of Salt Lake are nearly as well sup- plied with nitrogen and potassium and far more abundantly supplied with phosphorus. Sufficient accurate chemical evidence is thus pre- sented upon which to base a confident statement that the soils are well supplied with the chemical elements of fertility. Jf the salts are per- manently removed by adequate drainage the soil should be converted into fertile farms. Attention should be called to the fact that in the removal of alkali salts by drainage the tilth of the soil may be destroyed temporarily, but this condition can easily be remedied by the introduction of organic matter in the form of barnyard manure or by plowing under a green manure crop. 22 SALT LAKE COMMERCIAL CLUB REDEEMING ALKALINE LANDS BY E. D. Batt, Director, UTAH EXPERIMENT STATION. If the wealth of a state is to be measured by the amount of its undeveloped resources, then Utah may be reckoned as one of the wealthy states. At the present time, both Government funds and private capital in large amounts are being used to develop new irrigated sections that will ultimately bring greatly increased areas under cultivation, establish new towns and cities and build up those already here. Some of these pro- jects are far from markets and lack transportational facilities and even with good soil and water, will develop slowly until these conditions change. Without the irrigation project, these conditions would probably never be changed and development of new territory without the “pio- neer” stage is impossible. There are, however, immense areas in the state that are close to established cities and towns, with transportation facilities already at hand, which offer just as tempting a field for investment as do the irrigation projects: now building. The “pioneering” in this case will have to be done by the company that develops them and not by the settlers after they are developed and there seems to be the rub,—pioneering work is alright—for the other ‘fellow. The areas referred to are the alkali flats west of Salt Lake City and other similar tracts extending along the Wasatch Range. Taken alto- gether there is an immense area of such land in the state. Land where, if once reclaimed and made productive, the settlers could enjoy, right from the start, all the advantages of proximity to markets, rural free delivery and social and educational advantages of well developed com- munities. Experiments already carried on by the Agricultural College and the U. S. Government Drainage Department, working in co-operation have shown that the alkali can be worked out of the land at reasonable cost and that once the alkali is removed, the land can, with the time and labor necessary to develop any virgin soil, be brought under cultivation and profitable crops produced. Just why the lands have not been developed previous to this is hard to understand. It certainly cannot be the cost, as experiments have proven that it will cost less to reclaim this land than it will to furnish water to any of the irrigated projects under way at the present time. It certainly cannot be the lack of water to wash out the alkali because the washing could be done in the spring or fall when the water was not in use. It cannot be the time involved in the washing process, a matter of two or three years, as many projects have taken much longer time than that. The only apparent explanation is the one suggested before, that corporations do not like to “pioneet.” Their engineers have had Os ees od r SEER ALKALI AND WATER LOGGED LANDS oe) no experience in the line of work and cannot furnish them estimates with the accuracy of an irrigated project and they therefore much prefer the beaten path. ’ The agricultural possibilities of these lands, for trucking and market gardening are too great, however, for them to remain idle much longer. Some courageous corporation will pave the way and then there will be a scramble to get in on what must ultimately prove to be a profitable. investment. There is no need, however, for capitalists to hesitate on this project. Agricultural experts are at hand to examine and select lands that have the most favorable soil conditions. Drainage engineers can give close estimation of the cost of installing a drainage system with laterals close enough to wash out the alkali in a reasonable time. Irrigation engineers can figure the cost of bringing water to the land and the cost of leveling and diking to hold the water. Anyone can figure the cost of watering the land to wash out the alkali, the water will do the rest. After the land has been washed free of harmful amounts of alkali then the soil will need stirring and washing for a year to overcome the effects of the puddling and washing to bring it into condition to grow crops, but any raw land must be worked up and subdued before it is profitably farmed. 24 SALT LAKE COMMERCIAL CLUB DRAINAGE OF ALKALI LANDS BY Pror. Lewis A. Merritt, AGRICULTURAL EXPERT SALT LAKE Route AND SECRETARY UTAH STATE CONSERVATION CoMMISSION and alkali lands by tile-drainage has been urged ae Government ee F f ‘State Officials. Some twelve years ago the writer, who was then con- nected with the Utah Experiment Station, represented the state ina co-operative experiment with the Government in an attempt to reclaim — a forty acre tract near Salt Lake City. me, Irrigated lands in Salt Lake valley are worth from $125.00 to — $250.00 per acre, and if adjacent to Salt Lake City and free from alkali are worth much more. There is plenty of good tile clay in the vicinity of Salt Lake City and tile can be and is manufactured here at a reasonable cost. Experience has shown that these lands can be drained at a cost of = less than $25.00 per acre. It is apparent, therefore, that there is here — an opportunity for a material addition to the wealth and population of Salt Lake valley. Careful estimates show that there are at least 90 square miles be- tween Salt Lake City and the lake that can be drained; lands that at present have but a nominal value, but if properly drained would be worth at least six million dollars. d ; That the drainage can be successfully accomplished and the alkali removed has already been demonstrated. In 1902 the “Swan tract,” consisting of 40 acres, lying 4 miles west of Salt Lake City in Sec. 5 Township 1 S., R. 1 W., was underlaid with tile at a cost of $660.00 This land was strongly impregnated with alkali salts and was con- sidered practically valueless. After installation of tiles, the land was flooded practically each week for an irrigation season. Before any water was applied to the tract, however, a detailed survey was made to determine the alkali content of the soil. The following table gives the tonnage of alkali in the tract, as shown by these surveys: Quantity of Alkali in the First Four Feet of Soil in the Swan Tract. 4 Soil SEPTEMBER, 1902 MAY, 1903 OCTOBER, 1913 Sections Alkali Per cent Alkali Percent | *Percent, Alkali Per cent * Per in 40a of Total in 40a of Total Lost | in40a of Total |cent Lost lst Ft. 4|)2_ 1363 20 499 14 63 101 8 Fe 2nd Ft. | 1540 23 650 19 58 183 15 88 3rd Ft. | 1766 Gf 1066 31 40 330 28 82 4th Ft. | 1982 30 1265 36 36 607 | 49 69 Tota oss... eS ae: | 49 | 1220 Sea | ae “Shows the proportion of the salts removed as compared with the salt originally present in the various depths. ALKALI AND WATER LOGGED LANDS 25 “The data given in the table shows that between September, eo and the following May, 3,177 tons of salt had been removed from e soil to a depth of four feet, and that between September 1902 and e following October, 5,430 tons had been removed, or 82 per cent of he alkali originally in the first four feet of soil. _ The tract was sown to fall rye during the fall of 1903 and this owed under during the spring of 1904 in order to add humus to the soil. The land was then seeded to alfalfa with oats as a nurse crop. During 1904 a Lae ag crop of oats was secured and a uniform “stand” rs Drainage of lands not only removes alkali but prevents water log- ging—promotes soil areation and is most desirable farm practice. It is eS be hoped that the unsightly, forbidding, desolate stretch of waste 26 SALT LAKE COMMERCIAL CLUB DRAINAGE A FACTOR IN THE FUTURE GROWTH OF SALT LAKE CITY BY R. A. Hart, SUPERVISING DRAINAGE ENGINEER U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. It may sound antithetical to say that one of the most important factors of the future growth of Salt Lake City, the acknowledged capital of the arid west, is the drainage of agricultural lands, yet such a statement is capable of proof and it is the purpose of this article to im- press upon the public generally the vital importance of this phase of reclamation work. We must admit that agriculture is the fundamental basis of our existence and is the foundation of both manufacture and commerce. Utah is primarily an agricultural state and with all due respect to our mining and other allied industries, we are compelled to acknowledge agriculture as being the one stable producer of private necessities and public wealth. Science is doing much to assist in the utilization of lands beyond the reach of irrigation water but “dry farming,” as we choose to call it, must for the greater part be confined to the production of annual crops such as the grains, while hay, sugar beets, fruit, berries and garden truck must continue to be grown on irrigated lands. A wise Providence has made it possible to grow grain on the hilltops and the lands above the highest canals; reserving the bottom lands, where water may be more easily and cheaply applied, for hay, beets and vegetables, and the slopes for fruit and berries which require less water and better air and soil drainage. The importance of artificial underdrainage may be realized when it is known that the amount of agricultural land in the state of Utah now unproductive or given over to wet pastures, for want of drainage, is equal to at least a fourth of the amount of land in the state actually being irrigated. Much of this injured area has been productive and has been brought to its present condition through a too liberal use of irrigation water. A considerable area has always been in the condition in which we now see it. Much of the land in Utah that is in need of drainage does not ” present the appearance of a swamp to the eye. In truth much of it is dry on the surface and is covered with a deposit of powdered or crystal- lized salts, known popularly as “Alkali.” These salts, however, indicate that for a part of each year at least the ground water reaches a danger- ous proximity to the surface, such that through the action of capillary attraction and evaporation the salts are brought to and deposited upon the surface of the ground. These salts are, of course, injurious to plant life as is indicated by the barren condition of the soil, or by the presence of certain alkaline resistent plants such as salt grass, greasewood, alkali heath, etc. It is ALKALI AND WATER LOGGED LANDS 27 only necessary to provide ample underdrainage to a depth of six feet or more and then leach out the salts by a liberal application of irrigation water coupled to a vigorous cultivation of the soil. It is impossible to wash the salts from the surface by flushing. They must be dissolved and leached out into the underdrainage. The presence of the salts on the surface indicates that the ground water is at such a height that plants would suffer even if there were no salts present so underdrainage serves a double purpose. It behooves all citizens of this city and state to acquaint them- selves with the needs and possibilities of drainage as a factor in agri- cultural development. The farmer must understand the situation, naturally, as he is directly in touch with it and there is no valley in the state in which the problem of water-logging has not been encountered and there are few individual farms that could not be improved by drain- age. The banker should, by all means, understand the situation because lands injured by an excess of water or alkaline salts generally have a very low loan value when as a matter of fact most farms which are not paying taxes can be improved at a cost of from $15 to $25 an acre and be made to yield returns on a valuation of from $100 to $200 per acre. One of the greatest obstacles to drainage reclamation is the securing of sufficient funds to effect the reclamation. Business men, professional men, manufacturers, railroad heads and men in the building trades should understand the situtation because the future of their business in this section depends to a considerable extent upon this factor. This is true not only because of the present status but because the problem grows bigger as time goes on and each new irrigation development brings with it an increase in the acreage demanding reclamation by drainage. In fact all prudent irrigation companies make a compre- hensive drainage system a vital part of their plans when they begin a new irrigation project and it is usually safe to avoid projects that advertise perfect natural drainage because this is only a relative term which applies before irrigation water is put upon the land, but cannot apply afterward. Even a high gravelly bench does not have perfect natural drainage as is witnessed by the fact that many such benches require drainage. Investors are becoming inbued with a new wisdom and their inquiry is not, “Is this soil well drained,” but, “What pro- visions are making for artificial drainage” and ‘What are the possi- bilites of securng a satisfactory outlet for artificial drainage.’ There are few lands so badly alkaline in this state that they cannot be brought back to a high state of cultivation if proper methods are employed but it must be remembered that thorough underdrainage is the fundamental basis of all such reclamation work. A great deal of agitation is now going on throughout the state, looking toward such reclamation, and this will be followed by dishonest activities on the part of unscrupulous pro- moters to foist worthless lands upon the unsuspecting. It should be re- membered that thorough underdrainage is a vital necessity in lands that are, have been or may become impregnated with alkaline salts. It is not the intention of this article to attempt an enumeration of 28 SALT LAKE COMMERCIAL CLUB all the sections of the state that may be benefited by drainage but in or- der to convince the skeptical of the seriousness and magnitude of the problem, attention will be called to sections more or less familiar to the general public. If a trip to Ogden is made over the O. S. L. it will be observed that from Beck’s Hot Springs to Kaysville there is a very little land in maximum producing condition west of the tracks and that in places the wet lands extend across the tracks and even beyond the Interurban line. This means that one of the richest valleys known is limited, to a width in places, of a fraction of a mile. Beyond Kaysville the Sand Ridge pro- jects out into the valley and very little water-logged land is to be seen but much may be found in a short drive to the west. The seeped area is spreading and the farmers are very active along drainage lines in that section. This injury will continue on up the slope and in case the Sand ~ Ridge is irrigated much of the land below the O. S. L. tracks will re- quire drainage. West of Ogden is a great territory that should be thoroughly drained and continuing north of Ogden it will be observed that the productive area narrows down to a mere ribbon as far north as Brigham City. Beyond this point the Bear River Valley spreads out its great expanse. Thousands of acres of land in this valley have been reclaimed by drainage, by individuals and corporations, and much more remains to be done. Crossing over the divide we find a great tract of wet land in the very heart of Cache Valley. Returning to Salt Lake City we are greeted by what has been aptly termed the “eye sore of Zion” that vast area of land lying to the west, unproductive and useless in its present state but inherently fertile and capable of producing rich returns if relieved of its excess water and properly cultivated and irrigated. Going south of Salt Lake, water- logged land may be found on both sides of the Jordan River while thou- sands of acres of land lie on three sides of Utah Lake, much which may be reclaimed by gravity canals and much by diking and pumping. And so we might continue on down through central valleys of the state and then go either west or east to the various other valleys, old or new, but enough has been pointed out to set even the most skeptical to thinking and to open the writer to the charge of “knocking.” It is not intended that the information herein given shall be detrimental to the interests of this city or state. The truth is good enough for Utah and investors are coming to appreciate the truth more than the lurid advertis- ing which has been a curse to the west. All irrigated states are con- fronted with the problem of drainage, but Utah, the mother of Anglo- Saxon irrigation in the west also pioneered in the reclamation of over- irrigated lands by artificial underdrainage. The other states followed the lead and bid fair to outdo us in drainage activities. It behooves us, therfore, to bestir ourselves in an effort to regain our lost ground, prevent future injury, transform our “eye sores” into garden spots and fulfill our destiny of making the desert to blossom as the rose. Laie ae A rape ALKALI AND WATER LOGGED LANDS 29 TILE DRAINAGE IN THE RECLAMATION OF WATER- LOGGED AND ALKALINE LANDS BY J. C. WHEELON, Cuter ENGINEER, UTAH-IDAHO SuGaR Co. Though but little time has heretofore been given to lands which -are not producing money crops, it appears that the cultivation of the waste places, and the reclamation of the vast tracts of land that are now idle and unproductive presents some valuable possibilities for the conservation and enhancement of the agricultural resources of the country. For, in agriculture even more than in other lines of science or business, it is necessary to plan constantly for future improvement and expansion. While great efforts are being justly put forth to bring the new and as yet unclaimed desert under the life-giving influences of irrigation, a very large field of endeavor awaits those who will devote their at- tention to the reclamation of lands already under irrigation. We may travel the length and breadth of the settled portion of Utah and we find on one side the bench lands which are thirsting for water, while on the other side we can see the lower lands giving up to the unequal contest against over-irrigation, and we find ourselves wondering which should have the first aid, the man dying of thirst or the one being drowned Personally, I am attracted to the drowning one as in no other way can we be so completely convinced that there is water to spare for all the needs of the thirsty one. While we realize that we in Utah