Chapter XX: Section 3: provided that the lands should be disposed of by the

legislature for the purposes aforesaid and were not to inure to the benefit of any company then constituted or organized. The road was to remain a highway, as in previous grants; and the lands could not be sold until they had first been “offered” at the increased price.

By section 4 no title was to vest in said Territory or patent issue for any part of the lands until a continuous length of twenty miles of said road had been completed; and when the Secretary of the Interior was satisfied that any twenty continuous miles of said road had been completed, then patent was to issue for a quantity not exceeding one hundred and twenty sections of land; and so on from time to time until the road was completed. If the road was not completed within ten years no further sales could be made, and the lands remaining unsold were to revert.

By an act approved August 4, 1854, the act of June 29, 1854, was repealed; and although four grants have been declared forfeited, for failure of the grantees to perform the required conditions, this is the only one which Congress has in terms repealed.

It is to be regretted that subsequent legislation was not as devoid of ambiguity. Had it been, much embarrassment might have been saved the Government. I refer particularly to that clause or section respecting the vesting of title and the manner in which the State was to acquire rights under the grant. By the terms thereof no patents were to issue except as the work of building the road progressed.

By the omission of such language from the grants subsequently made from time to time to as late as 1862, the Department of the Interior believed that the duty of “disposal” was properly in the States charged with executing the trusts; and in all the earlier grants, immediately upon the location of the roads and determination of the limits of the grants, certified, in whole, the lands to which the companies would ultimately have been entitled had the roads been completed as required. At that time there was but little doubt that all of the roads would be rapidly constructed; but the civil conflict very naturally put a stop to such extended improvements, and to-day about twenty railroads remain uncompleted, and the lands certified to the States for their use and benefit exceed by 1,058,295.86 acres the lands actually earned by the portions of the several roads constructed.

Out of the act of June 29, 1854, and the repealing statute a very interesting question arose, which received, ultimately, the consideration of the Supreme Court. A suit was brought in trespass by Edmund Rice against the Minnesota and Northwestern Railroad Company, for cutting timber on a tract of land in Minnesota. The company, in its defense, set up title under the granting act aforesaid; to which plaintiff replied, reciting the repealing statute. On demurrer by the company, the question as to whether an interest had vested under said grant was thus fairly presented to the Supreme Court. That body decided, after elaborate review of the whole case, that the act of August 4 was “a valid law”, and that no interest, beneficiary or otherwise, had vested under the said grant.

In 1856, at different times, various grants were made to the States of Iowa, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Mississippi, and on the 3d of March, 1857, to Minnesota.

An examination of these grants--say the one to Iowa, it being first of the series--shows that, with the exception of the fact that the sections granted were designated by _odd_ instead of _even_ numbers, they were similar to the Missouri grant of 1852. The change there inaugurated was owing to the fact that certain even sections in each township had been previously given to the several States for school purposes, and in a grant embracing a large territory the difference to the railroad grants caused thereby would be considerable. From 1857 until 1862 Congress seems to have been otherwise engaged, for I am unable to find that any acts were passed during that period touching railroad grants.

By an act approved July 1, 1862, a new departure was taken. Certain persons were created into a body corporate under the title and name of the “Union Pacific Railroad Company”. The object thereof was the construction and maintenance of a railroad and telegraph line from the Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean.

They were granted the right of way through the public lands to the extent of two hundred feet in width on each side of the line of road, together with the necessary grounds for stations, buildings, workshops, etc. They were also granted in aid of the construction of the road “every alternate section of public land”, designated by odd numbers, to the amount of five alternate sections per mile, on each side of the road; and all lands which had been disposed of or reserved, and mineral lands, were excepted.

Sections 5 and 11 of the act related to the issuance of bonds by the United States. Section 7 required the company to file a map of its general route, and directed the Secretary of the Interior to thereupon withdraw the lands within fifteen miles of such line.

Various other roads were provided for upon the same conditions, now known as the Central Pacific, Central Branch of the Union Pacific, Kansas Pacific, and Sioux City and Pacific.

As it is not the purpose of this inquiry to look into any provisions except such as relate to _land_ donations, I will not pursue the sections respecting the issuance of bonds, payment of interest, etc. But, before proceeding further, it is proper to notice the changes inaugurated by that act.

In the first place, the grant was to a corporation direct, and not to a State in trust for one.

Second. It was not confined to any particular State or section, but was transcontinental in character, extending in this case more than half across our country.

Third. It was a grant ten miles in width on each side, instead of six, as in previous grants, and no provision was made for indemnity.

Fourth. It provided for the filing by the company of a map of its general or designated route (before definite location of its line); and upon the filing thereof the lands became legislatively reserved or withdrawn.

By an act approved July 2, 1864, this act was amended in several particulars, and instead of “five” sections “ten” were granted, thereby increasing the limits from ten to twenty miles on each side of the roads. The term “mineral land” was construed not to include “coal and iron land”.

By section 19 of this latter act a grant was made to the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad Company, for the construction of a road from the Missouri River to some point not farther west than the one hundredth meridian of west longitude to connect with the Union Pacific road, of ten alternate sections per mile on each side of its line of road. It has been decided that this company was not confined to any limit, but could go far enough to secure the quantity granted, and it is the only railroad whose grant is not confined to lateral limits. By a proviso to the twentieth section, however, the company received no bonds.

The rapidity with which the Union Pacific road was constructed was surprising, and the whole progress of the work displayed a spirit of energy seldom seen in an undertaking of that character. The most positive achievements, however, were those of the Central Pacific Company. The construction of that road over the Sierras is considered by professional authorities as one of the greatest results of engineering. It crossed the maximum summit, of 7,042 feet above the sea, within one hundred miles of the Pacific tide waters, requiring a distribution of ascent really scientific to render it practicable, and, by using a minimum radius of 573 feet, secured, comparatively speaking, a direct alignment.

The two roads were completed and a junction effected May 10, 1869, and the initial transcontinental line was thereby finished.

By an act approved March 3, 1863, there was a grant made to the State of Kansas to aid in constructing certain railroads therein, now known as the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fé; Leavenworth, Lawrence and Galveston, and Missouri, Kansas and Texas. It was of every alternate section of land designated by odd numbers for ten sections in width on each side of said roads. Indemnity was provided in ten additional miles and, except as to extent, it was not unlike the Iowa grant.

On the 5th of May, 1864, similar grants were made to the States of Minnesota and Wisconsin, and on the 12th of May to the State of Iowa. Various other grants followed of like character, differing only in few respects, to Arkansas, Alabama, Missouri, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Kansas; as also grants for wagon roads. The latter were similar in terms to the railroad grants, save that three sections on either side of the roads were given instead of six or ten. The Northern Pacific was created July 1, 1864, and was very much like the Union Pacific grant, except in extent, being double the quantity through the Territories, with provision for “indemnity”. The Atlantic and Pacific and Southern Pacific grants were made by act of July 27, 1866; the Denver Pacific by act of March 3, 1869; the Southern Pacific (branch line) and Texas and Pacific by act of March 3, 1871.

Many of the grants made in early years were enlarged, and the time for their completion extended; but thus far only four grants have been declared forfeited. At present, however, about twenty grants have “lapsed” by reason of non-compliance with the terms of the granting acts, requiring completion within prescribed periods, and recommendations have been made urging proper legislation.

Neither time nor space permit an extended examination of every grant, but sufficient has been considered to point out the origin and growth of the system.

We have seen that the first donation was one-twentieth part of certain proceeds derived from the sale of lands; then ninety feet of land, followed soon by one-half of five sections per mile on each side; then by six sections; then by ten, and finally by twenty sections per mile on each side of the road.

If the lands granted, or in other words embraced within the limits of the grants, could be found available, the companies, not including those for canals or wagon roads, would receive, provided each built its road and complied with the laws, more than two hundred and fifteen million acres. That quantity if embraced in one compact body, would form an area of more than three hundred and thirty-five thousand square miles, or a tract of land more than seven times as large as the State of Pennsylvania, and only about six thousand miles less than the area of the thirteen original States. But, in fact, the grants will not realize near that quantity, and the estimate, as made by the Land Department, is only about one hundred and eighty-seven million acres.

By the aid of those grants, however, about fifteen thousand miles of road have been constructed. Those roads have been the means of developing vast fields of magnificent territory, and securing to the people many lesser lines built by private capital.

The various grants have been the subject of much explanatory, amendatory, and confirmatory legislation, and have also received numerous interpretations by the different courts. Of the latter, I deem it proper to refer only to the more important rulings of the Supreme Court which bear upon the fundamental principles underlying the whole system.

In nearly all grants, except the Pacific, provision has been made for indemnity in case it appeared, when the lines of the roads had been definitely fixed, that the United States had sold, disposed of, or reserved any of the sections or parts of sections contained within the grants. The theory has heretofore existed that “indemnity” was allowed for all tracts which might not be found subject to the operation of the grant; and selections have been permitted in lieu of such disposed of or reserved tracts.

A recent decision, however, casts some doubt upon the correctness of this theory. The question came up in a case from Kansas, under the act of March 3, 1863, and the court declared:

“We have before said that the grant itself was _in præsenti_, and covered all the odd sections which should appear, on the location of the road, to have been within the grant when it was made. The right to them did not, however, depend on such location, but attached at once on the making of the grant. It is true they could not be identified until the line of the road was marked out on the ground, but as soon as this was done it was easy to find them. If the company did not obtain all of them within the original limit, by reason of the power of sale or reservation retained by the United States, it was to be compensated by an equal amount of substituted lands. The latter could not, on any contingency, be selected within that limit. * * * It would be strange, indeed, if the [indemnity] clause had been intended to perform the office of making a new grant within the ten mile limit, or enlarging the one already made. Instead of this, the words employed show clearly that its only purpose is to give sections beyond that limit for those lost within it by the action of the government between the date of the grant and the location of the road. This construction gives effect to the whole statute, and makes each part consistent with the other.”

If it be thought, however, that such was not the intention of the legislators who framed the statutes, consolation can be found in the construction given to the clause inserted in every grant, substantially as follows: “And the said road shall remain a public highway for the use of the Government, free from toll or other charge upon the transportation of troops or other property of the United States.”

It is declared by the Supreme Court that the purpose of that clause was to allow the Government the right to place its locomotive engines and cars upon the railroad tracks, and to use such tracks as a public highway. The court say: “We are of opinion that the reservation in question secures to the Government only a free use of the railroads concerned; and that it does not entitle the Government to have troops or property transported by the companies over their respective roads free of charge for transporting the same.”

The section providing for the disposal of the lands, recited in full in the Missouri grant of 1852, has been construed as vesting in the State the right to sell one hundred and twenty sections of land, contained within a continuous length of twenty miles at any place along the grant, even though the road contemplated was never built; and the title acquired by purchase from the State is valid. And the clause with which the section referred to ends, to the effect that if the road be not completed within a certain time the lands shall revert to the United States, has been declared inoperative without further action by the Government, either legislative or judicial, looking to an enforcement of the reserved right.

Fears have been awakened as to the power to ultimately control these corporations, on account of the enormous extent to which they have expanded; but, as has been said by an able writer, “this evil, however, if it be such, will probably work its own cure.”

Be that as it may, their influences have been felt by all, and their benefits have extended to the remotest sections of our country. They have proved a bond between the eastern and western States--anxiously sought for by Washington when the lateral limits of the United States were less than half what they are at this time. They have united the Pacific with the Atlantic, and the Rocky Mountains of the west with the Alleghanies of the east. They have dispelled all ideas looking to the removal of the seat of Government, for they have put in direct communication the people of Oregon with the people of Maine. From ocean to ocean requires but days, where only a few years ago it required weeks.

In the past, long lines of moving wagons groaned beneath their loads of adventurous families, who at night, within the corral, seated themselves around the blazing camp fire, fearful of the dangers to which they were exposed. But the present has forgotten them. In their stead the ponderous wheels of frequent trains, moving with a speed surpassing that of the deer, traversing the valley and mountain, carry forward their loads of living freight; and, in place of dangerous encampments, provide means of sleep and refreshment, and afford the comforts of luxurious homes. The railway has brought to our doors the harvest of our fields; handed to our mints the vast resources of our mines, and opened to us direct communication with the older worlds. Its arms have extended into a hundred vales and over a hundred mountains, grasping in their embrace manifold evidences of civilization and prosperity.

INDEX.

Page.

Abbott, Mr., 62

_Abies amabilis_, 102
_Canadensis_, 100
_concolor_, 101
_Douglasii_, 100
_Engelmanni_, 101
_grandis_, 102
_Menziesii_, 101
_subalpina_, 101

_Acer grandidentata_, 103

Agricultural and timber industries differentiated, 18
resources of the Bear River drainage basin, 119
Jordan River drainage basin, 124
Weber River drainage basin, 121

Agriculture, Amount of precipitation necessary for, 2, 3
Influence of temperature upon, 2
in the Arid Region dependent upon irrigation, 40
in Utah dependent upon irrigation, 6
exceptions thereto, 6
limited by several conditions, 7
Utilization of the small streams in, 7
without irrigation, 3, 6, 50

_Aira cœspitosa_, 109

Alabama, Land-grants to, 179

Alkaline salts, 145

Amount of land a unit of water will supply, 7

Antelope Island, 63, 64
bar, 63, 67

Areal distribution of rainfall, 82

Area of irrigable land sometimes not limited by water supply, 85

Areas of standing timber, 15
to which larger streams can be taken, 7
which smaller streams can serve, 7

Arid Region, Boundaries of the, 1, 3
Extent of the, 5
Increase in water supply in the, 89, 91
Land system needed for the, 25
Mining industries of the, 88
Physical characteristics of the, 1
Precipitation of the, 48
Rainfall of the, 5

Arizona and New Mexico, Seasonal precipitation in, 56

Arkansas, Land grants to, 174, 179

_Artemisia_, 110

Ashley Fork, Irrigable lands of, 161

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fé Railroad Company, Land grants to the,
178

Atlantic and Pacific Railroad Company, Land grants to the, 179

Atlantic coast, Flow of the rivers of the, 76
Rainfall on the, 69

Barfoot, Mr. J. L., 59

Barton, Mr., 113

Basin, Colorado. (_See_ Colorado Basin.)
Great Salt Lake. (_See_ Great Salt Lake District.)
Range System, 94
Sevier Lake. (_See_ Sevier Lake District.)
Uinta-White. (_See_ Uinta-White Basin.)

Bear River, 117
City, 78
drainage basin, Agricultural resources of the, 119
Area of the, 119
Mean flow of the, 72

Beaver dams, Effect of cutting, 74

_Betula occidentalis_, 103

Bill to authorize the organization of irrigation districts, 30
pasturage districts, 33

Black Rock bench, 61
pillar, 59, 60

Bonneville Lake, 96

Book Cliffs, Orographic structure of the, 98

_Bouteloua oligostachya_, 108

_Bromus_, 109

Brown Cliffs, 98

Brown’s Park, Irrigable lands of, 162

Burlington and Missouri Railroad Company, Land grants to the, 178

Canals, Land grants in aid of, 166

Cañon Lands, Amount of irrigable land in the, 106
Coal lands of the, 106
Description of the, 105
of Utah, 94

_Carex Jamesii_, 109

Carrington Island, 62

Castle Valley, 105

Central Pacific Railroad Company, Land grants to the, 177

_Cercocarpus parvifolius_, 110

_Celtis occidentalis_, 103

Circle Valley, Amount of irrigable land in the, 137

Climate of the Colorado Basin, 151

Coal lands, 45
Disposal of the, 44
of the Cañon Lands, 106
of the Rocky Mountain Region, 19

Colony system, 28

Colorado Basin, Climate of the, 151
Elevation of the, 151
Irrigable lands of the, 150
Mean annual precipitation in the, 79
Orographic structure of the, 95
Source of the water supply of the, 152
Table of irrigable lands of the, 164
drainage area, 94
River, Principal tributaries of the, in Utah, 150

Conditions affecting the distribution of rainfall, 90

Coöperative labor necessary to the development of irrigation, 11

Critical period, 85, 138, 154
season, 116

Dakota, Precipitation of, 51

Denver Pacific Railroad Company, Land grants to the, 179

Desert drainage area, 94
Orographic structure of the, 95

Des Moines River, Land grant in aid of the improvement of the, 171

Distribution of rain throughout the year, 50

District, Great Salt Lake. (_See_ Great Salt Lake District.)
Sevier Lake. (_See_ Sevier Lake District.)

Division lines of pasturage farms, 22, 28, 37
of land by settlers, 38

Drainage area, Colorado, 94
Desert, 94
Modification of the conditions of, 73
of the Tavaputs Plateau, 96
Uinta Mountains, 96
Wasatch Mountains, 96
Utah, 94

Drummond, Willis, jr., on land grants in aid of internal improvements,
164

Dry farming, 50, 78

Duchesne River, Volume of flow of the, 160

Dutton, Capt. C. E., cited, 110
on the irrigable land of the Sevier Basin, 128

East Florida Railroad Company, Land grant to the, 169

Egg Island, 67

Engelmann, Mr., 102

_Erocoma cuspidata_, 108

Escalante River, Irrigable lands of the, 156
Volume of flow of the, 156

_Eurotia lanata_, 110

Evaporation by spreading of water, 74

Farmington pillar, 61

Farming without irrigation, 77

Farm residences, Grouping of, 22
unit for pasturage lands, 21, 28

Fencing of pasturage lands, 23

Fires in the timber region, 15, 99
Cause of, 17, 99
Protection from, 18, 99

Flood-plain lands, 88

Forests, Amount of rainfall necessary to the growth of, 15

Fox, Mr. Jesse W., 61, 113

_Fraxinus anomala_, 103
_coriacea_, 103

Fremont Island, 62, 67
River, Irrigable lands of the, 157
Tributaries of the, 157
Volume of flow of the, 157, 158

Gilbert, G. K., cited, 84, 110
on irrigable land of the Salt Lake drainage system, 113
on water supply, 57

Government right to use of subsidized railroads, 181

Grand River, Irrigable lands of the, 163
Volume of flow of the, 163

Grasses of the pasturage lands, 19
Utah, 107

Great Salt Lake, Accumulation of the water in, 58
Area of, 66, 73
Basin (_See_ Great Salt Lake District)
Causes of abnormal change of, 67
Desert, 66
Diagram showing rise and fall of, 64
District, 94
Amount of irrigable land in the, 107
Change in the climate of the, 68, 70
Description of the, 107
Irrigable lands of the, 113
Fluctuations in the rainfall of the, 70
Irrigation by large streams in the, 117
small streams in the, 126
Evaporation of the water of, 58, 72
History of the past changes of, 62
Increase and decrease of the size of, 58
Islands of, 62
Limited oscillation of, 59
Limit of wave action of, 65
Record of height of, 60
Rise and fall of, 59
Storm lines of, 65
Streams flowing into, 72

Green River, Irrigable lands of the, 162
Volume of flow of the, 162

Gunnison, Captain, 98
Valley, 105
Irrigable lands of the, 163

Hayden, Dr. F. V., 71

Henry Mountains, 105
Prof. Joseph, 46, 59, 62, 79

Henrys Fork, Irrigable lands of, 161

Illinois, Land grants to, 168, 172

Increase in water supply in the Arid Region, 57, 89, 91
of rainfall, 69, 91

Indiana, Land grants to, 166, 167

Internal improvements, Land grants in aid of, 165

Iowa, Land grants to, 169, 179

Irrigable and pasturage lands of Utah, 104
areas, Increase of, by storage of water, 12, 13
land, Area of, sometimes not limited by water supply, 85, 86
Extent of, increased by the use of springs, 9
in Utah, Amount of, 9
lands, 23
Amount of water required for, 84
Disposal of, 27
highly productive, 10
Important questions relating to, 81
Increase in the extent of the, 57
in Utah Territory, Table of, 111
of Southwestern Utah, 148
of the Colorado Basin, 150
Table of, 164
Great Salt Lake District, 113
Sevier Lake District, 134
valley of the Sevier River, 128

Irrigable lands of the, Virgin River, 153
of Utah, Distribution of the, 9
Selection of, 87
Situation of the, 6

Irrigating canals, Cost of, 125
methods, Improvement in, 8
season, 85

Irrigation, Advantages of, 10
Amount of water needed for, 114
used in, 141
companies, 40
Coöperative labor necessary to the development of, 11
Direct influence of, upon the inflow of Great Salt Lake, 75
Indirect influence of, upon the inflow of Great Salt Lake, 76
of pasturage farms, 21
Quantitative value of water used in, 81
Unit of water used in, 81

Isohyetal line of twenty inches, 2

Jordan River, 121
drainage basin, Agricultural resources of the, 124
Area of the, 125
Mean flow of the, 72

_Juncus Balticus_, 109

_Juniperus Californicus_, 103
_Virginiana_, 103

Kanab Creek, Irrigable lands of, 154
Ponding of, 154

Kansas, Land grants to, 178, 179
Pacific Railroad Company, Land grants to the, 177

Kimball, Mr. Heber P., 61

King, Mr. Clarence, 66

Lake Bonneville, 96
Utah, Function of, as a reservoir, 123

Land grants in aid of internal improvements, 165

Lands, Classification of, 43
Irrigable. (_See_ Irrigable Lands.)
of Utah, 93
and Idaho fertilized by water, 75
Physical features of the, 93
Pasturage. (_See_ Pasturage Lands.)

Land system needed for the Arid Region, 25

Leavenworth, Lawrence and Galveston Railroad Company, Land grants to
the, 178

Lower Columbia Region, 1
Precipitation of the, 49

Marshes, Drainage of, 74
Evaporation from, 74

Martineau, Mr. J. H., 113

Mean temperature by seasons for the San Francisco Region, 54

Method of determining the supply of water, 85, 86

Michigan, Land grants to, 179

Miller, Mr. Jacob, 61, 62

Mineral lands, 44
Disposal of, 44
not suited to agriculture, 44

Minnie Maud Creek, Irrigable lands of, 160
Volume of flow of, 160

Minnesota and Northwestern Railroad Company, 176
Land grants to the, 174, 179

Mississippi Valley, Flow of the rivers of the, 76

Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad Company, Land grants to the, 178
Land grants to, 179

Mitchell, Mr. John T., 59

Monopoly of pasturage farms, 22

Mountains, Henry, 105
Uinta. (_See_ Uinta Mountains.)
Wasatch. (_See_ Wasatch Mountains.)

_Negundo aceroides_, 103

Nevada, Mean annual precipitation in, 79

New Mexico and Arizona, Seasonal precipitation in, 56

New Orleans and Nashville Railroad Company, Land grants to the, 168

New York, Rainfall of the State of, 70

Ogden River, Measured volume of the, 120

Ohio, Land grants to, 166, 167

Ohio Valley, Rainfall of the, 70

Orographic structure of the Book Cliffs, 98
Colorado drainage area, 95
Desert drainage area, 95
Uinta Mountains, 97
Wasatch Mountains, 96

Pacific coast, Seasonal precipitation and temperature of the, 55

Panguitch Valley, Amount of irrigable land in, 136

Paria River, Irrigable lands of the, 155
Volume of flow of the, 155

Park, Dr. John R., 59

Pasturage farms, Division lines of, 22, 28, 37
Irrigation of, 21
need small tracts of irrigable land, 21, 28
lands, 19, 24, 104

Pasturage lands, Boundaries of, 19
Disposal of, 28
Extent of, 19
Farm unit for, 21, 28
Fencing of, 23
Grasses of the, 19
Monopoly of the, 22
partially supplied by scattered springs, 21
Situation of the, 6

_Phragmites communis_, 109

_Pinus aristata_, 100
_edulis_, 100
_flexilis_, 100
_monticola_, 100
_ponderosa_, 100

Pioneers, Enterprise and industries of, 41

Plateaus, The High, 94

Plateau, Tavaputs, 93
Yampa, 105

_Poas_, 108

Ponding, 12, 13

Ponds, Evaporation of the water of, 73

_Populus angustifolia_, 102
_monilifera_, 102
_tremuloides_, 102

Precipitation in the Region of the Plains, 52
Mean annual, in Colorado, 79
Nevada, 79
Utah, 79
Wyoming, 79
north of the Columbia River, 1
of Dakota, 51
Texas, 50
the Arid Region, 48
Region of the Lower Columbia, 49
San Francisco Region, 49
Sub-humid Region, 47

Precipitation, Seasonal, of the Pacific Coast, 55

Price River, Irrigable lands of the, 159
Volume of flow of the, 159

Provo River, 121

Public lands, How to acquire title to, 25

_Quercus undulata_, 103

Railroads, Land grants in aid of, 165, 168, 172

Rainfall, Areal distribution of, 82
Conditions affecting the distribution of, 90

Rainfall, Distribution of, throughout the year, 50
Increase of, 91
of the Arid Region, 5, 48
belt between Great Salt Lake and Wasatch Mountains, 6, 79
Sub-humid Region, 4, 47
of the western portion of the United States, 46

Rain gauge records, 1, 3, 91, 131
Deficiency of, 1

“Rainy seasons”, 25, 50

Ranges, Basin, 94

Records, Rain gauge, 1, 3, 91, 131

Region of the Lower Columbia. (_See_ Lower Columbia Region.)
of the Plains, Seasonal precipitation in the, 52
San Francisco. (_See_ San Francisco Region.)
Sub-humid. (_See_ Sub-humid Region.)

Renshawe, Mr. J. H., 113, 153

Reservoirs, 12, 13, 85, 144

River, Bear. (_See_ Bear River.)
Colorado. (_See_ Colorado River.)
Duchesne. (_See_ Duchesne River.)
Escalante. (_See_ Escalante River.)
Fremont. (_See_ Fremont River.)
Grand. (_See_ Grand River.)
Green. (_See_ Green River.)
Gunnison. (_See_ Gunnison River.)
Jordan. (_See_ Jordan River.)
Ogden. (_See_ Ogden River.)
Paria. (_See_ Paria River.)
Price. (_See_ Price River.)
Provo. (_See_ Provo River.)
San Rafael. (_See_ San Rafael River.)
Sevier. (_See_ Sevier River.)
Uinta. (_See_ Uinta River.)
Virgin. (_See_ Virgin River.)
Weber. (_See_ Weber River.)
White. (_See_ White River.)

Rivers, Land grants in aid of improvement of, 169

Rockwood, Hon. A. P., 113

San Francisco Region, Mean temperature, by seasons, of the, 54
Precipitation of the, 49
Rainy season of the, 54
Seasonal precipitation in the, 53

San Pete Valley, Amount of irrigable land in the, 138
Flow of the streams of the, 138

San Rafael River, Irrigable lands of the, 158, 159
Tributaries of the, 158

San Rafael River, Volume of flow of the, 159

Schott, Mr. Charles A., 46, 69

Seasonal precipitation and temperatures on the Pacific coast, 55
in Arizona and New Mexico, 56

Seasonal precipitation in the Region of the Plains, 52
San Francisco Region, 53

Selection of irrigable lands, 87

Sevier Lake Basin, 94
District, 94
Altitudes in the, 133
Amount of irrigable land in the, 106, 143
Climate of the, 131
Description of the, 106
Irrigable lands of the, 134
Physical characteristics of the, 130
Rainfall of the, 131
Rain gauge records of the, 131
River, Course of the, 129
Volume of flow of the, 139, 140
Irrigable lands of the valley of the, 128
Valley of the, 129

Sierra La Sal, 105

Sioux City and Pacific Railroad Company, Land grants to the, 177

Smithsonian Tables of Precipitation, 46, 69

Soil and subsoil, Complicating conditions of, 83
Conditions of, 82

Soils, 145

Southern Pacific Railroad Company, Land grants to the, 179

Springs, Opening out of, 74
Use of, in irrigation, 9

Stansbury, Captain Howard, 64, 65, 66
Island, 67
bar, 64, 67

Streams, Descent of, 88
flowing into Great Salt Lake, 72
Flow of, at different periods, 13
Increase in the volume of, 57
Measurement of, 86, 115
of San Pete Valley, Volume of flow of the, 140
of Utah, Fluctuations of the, 115
Practical capacity of, 85
small, Employment of, in irrigation, 7, 11, 12

Strong’s Knob, 67

Sub-humid Region, Boundaries of the, 3
destitute of forests, 4
Mean precipitation of the, 47
Rainfall of the, 4

Supply of water, Method of determining the, 85, 86

Table I. Precipitation of the Sub-humid Region, 47
II. Arid Region, 48
III. San Francisco Region, 49
IV. Region of the Lower Columbia, 49
V. Texas, 50
VI. Dakota, 51
VII. Season of precipitation in the Region of the Plains, 52
VIII. San Francisco Region, 53
IX. Mean temperature, by seasons, for the San Francisco Region, 54
X. Seasonable precipitation and temperatures on the Pacific coast,
55
XI. in Arizona and New Mexico, 56
of irrigable lands in Utah, 111
of southwestern Utah, 149
of the Colorado Basin, 164
Sevier Lake District, 144
of mean annual precipitation in Colorado, 79
Nevada, 79
Utah, 79
Wyoming, 79

Tavaputs Plateau, 93
Drainage of the, 96

Temperature dependent upon altitude and latitude, 2

Temperatures, Seasonal, on the Pacific Coast, 55

Texas and Pacific Railroad Company, Land grants to the, 179
Precipitation of, 50

The High Plateaus, 94

Thomas, Prof. Cyrus, 71

Thompson, Prof. A. H., cited, 86, 110
on the irrigable land of the Colorado Basin, 150

Timber, 98
Areas of standing, 15, 17
Cultivation of, 19
Destruction of, by fire, 15
growth dependent upon climatic conditions, 14
lands, 14, 23
Boundaries of the, 14
Disposal of the, 27
Situation of the, 6, 14
regions, 15
Extent of the, 16
Fires in the, 15, 17, 18, 99

Titles to public lands, 25

Uinta Mountains, 93
Drainage of the, 96
Orographic structure of the, 97

Uinta River, Irrigable lands of the, 160
Tributaries of the, 160
Volume of flow of the, 160, 161
White Basin, 93
Amount of irrigable lands in the, 105
Description of the, 104
Physical features of the, 160

Union Pacific Railroad Company, Land grants to the, 177

Unit of water supply, 8, 84, 115, 141
Method of determining the, 8
used in irrigation, 81

Utah, Amount of cultivated land in, 84
Church government in, 89, 128
Drainage of, 94
Forest trees of, 100
Grasses of, 107
Irrigable and pasturage lands of, 104
Lake, 123
Lands of, 93
Mean annual precipitation in, 79
Pasturage lands of, 104
Prevailing winds of, 68
Table of irrigable lands in, 111
Timber of, 98
Variety of crops cultivated in, 84
Watershed of, 94

Valley, Castle, 105
Circle, Amount of irrigable land in the, 137
Gunnison, 105
Irrigable lands of the, 162
of the Mississippi, 76
Sevier River, Amount of irrigable land in the, 144
Panguitch, Amount of irrigable land in the, 136
San Pete, Amount of irrigable land in the, 138
Flow of the streams of the, 140

Vasey, Dr. George, 108

_Vilfa_ (_Sporobolis_) _airoides_, 108

Virgin River, Irrigable lands of the, 153

Volume of water flowing in the streams, Determination of, 8

Wagon roads, Land grants in aid of, 166

Ward, Mr. L. F., 103

Wasatch Mountains, 93, 94
Drainage of the, 96
Orographic structure of the, 96

Wastage of water, 84

Water, Evaporation of, 13
Irrigating capacity of, 8, 84, 115, 141
Loss of, by evaporation, 87
Method of determining the supply of, 85, 115, 139
storing, 12
rights, 40
should inhere in the lands to be irrigated, 40, 41
supply, 57
affected by the cutting of timber, 75
farming, 73
grazing, 74
Economic bearings of the, 76
Increase in the, 57, 89, 91
Storage of, 116, 125, 144
used in irrigation, Quantitative value of, 81
Unit of, 81
Wastage of, 84, 142
ways rudely constructed, 8

Weber River, 119
drainage basin, Agricultural resources of the, 121
Area of the, 121
Mean flow of the, 72

White River, Irrigable lands of the, 162
Volume of flow of the, 162

Winds of Utah, 68

Wisconsin, Land grants to, 169, 179

Wyoming, Mean annual precipitation in, 79

Yampa Plateau, 105

Young, Hon. Brigham, 105

U. S. GEOGRAPHICAL AND GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION,

J. W. POWELL IN CHARGE.

MAP OF UTAH TERRITORY

REPRESENTING THE EXTENT OF THE IRRIGABLE, TIMBER AND PASTURE LANDS.

COMPILED AND DRAWN BY CHARLES MAHON, J. H. RENSHAWE, W. H. GRAVES AND
H. LINDENKOHL FOR THE COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC LANDS

1878.

Miles

Note _This map has been constructed from atlas sheets of the U. S.
Geographical and Geological Survey of the Rocky Mountain Region with
additional material taken from the maps of the U. S. Geographical
Explorations and Surveys west of the 100ᵈᵗʰ Meridian, Lieut. Geo.
M. Wheeler, Corps of Engineers, in charge, the U. S. Geological
Exploration of the 40ᵗʰ Parallel, Clarence King, U. S. Geologist
in charge, and the U. S. Geological and Geographical Survey of the
Territories, F. V. Hayden, in charge_

EXPLANATION

_Irrigable Lands_
_Standing Timber_
_Area destitute of Timber on account of Fires_
_Rail Roads_
_Wagon Roads_
_Trails_
_Telegraph Lines_
_County Seats in Capital Letters._]

MAP OF THE UNITED STATES

EXHIBITING THE GRANTS OF LANDS MADE BY THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT TO AID IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILROADS AND WAGON ROADS.

1878

For explanation see chapter on “Land Grants in aid of International
Improvements”

[The base chart was engraved for the Statistical Atlas of the United
States.]

Julius Bien. Lithographer]

Transcriber’s Notes

Errors in punctuation have been fixed.

Page 35: “the Commisioner” changed to “the Commissioner”

Page 52: “not greater han should” changed to “not greater than should”

Page 57: “very erroneneous” changed to “very erroneous”

Page 65: “needed to clense land” changed to “needed to cleanse land”

Page 68: “whatever manner in was disturbed” changed to “whatever manner it was disturbed”

Page 108: “strongly akaline soils” changed to “strongly alkaline soils”

Page 162: “in the moutains” changed to “in the mountains”

Page 172: “of a “a portion”” changed to “of “a portion””