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All Theses and Dissertations
1974
The Mormon Role in Irrigation Beginnings and
Diffusions in the Western States: An Historical
Geography
Kelly C. Harper
Brigham Young University - Provo
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BYU ScholarsArchive Citation
Harper, Kelly C., "The Mormon Role in Irrigation Beginnings and Diffusions in the Western States: An Historical Geography" (1974).
All Theses and Dissertations. Paper 4764.
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THE MORMON ROLE IN
irrigation beginnings
IN THE WESTERN STATES
A
AN
historical
AND
GEOGRAPHY
thesis
presented to the
department of geography
brigham young university
in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree
master of science
by
kelly
C
harper
august 1974
diffusions
this thesis
by
kelly
C
is accepted in its present
harper
form by the department of geography of brigham young
university as
satisfying the thesis requirement for the degree of master of science
f
c
richard
H
lv
alan
J vi 3
aate
J
H
1I
U
marf
jackson co
attee
chairman
coqimittee
ittee Chair
r
4 e metner
grey Com
Corn
mitc
mitt
commite
cornmitt
combite
mite
y
chairm4n
departmext chairmen
robert 1I layto U department
ii
acknowledgments
1I
like to acknowledge the help of the
would
assisted in the preparation of this thesis
dr richard
my
H
1I
its conclusion
appreciation dr alan
H
1I
grey and dr
suggestions and corrections
and
me
F
who
for directing
also like to extend
would
soren
people
wish to especially thank
jackson for suggesting the topic to
study through to
many
cox for
thanks must also go to
mr
my
their helpful
seth budge
for his research contributions
1I
would also
encouragement of
my
help and support of
like to acknowledge with thanks the support
parents throughout
my
wife
iii
my
education and the patient
and
TABLE OF CONTENTS
chapter
1I
introduction
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9
Is
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8
.00
purpose and scope
justification
research design
11
II
THE EARLY
irrigation
beginnings
OF
UNITED STATES PRIOR TO THE MORMON
prehistoric irrigation
the spanish and irrigation
irrigation beginnings state
ili
THE GREAT BASIN
MORMON AWARENESS
OF
ENVIRONM
INT
ent
environment
irrigation
AND
V
experience
0
0.0
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0
5
0
0
0
25
state
by
summary
111
III
IN THE WESTERN
0
0
0
REGIONS
THE
0
0
0
0
the great basin destination
study and knowledge of
the great basin environment
the mormon knowledge of irrigation
mormon
summary
IV
irrigation
DIFFUSION OF
A
hypothesis
TO THE MORMONS
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
37
0
0
diffusion from the spanish
other sources of diffusion
summary
V
irrigation
DIFFUSION OF
FROM THE MORMONS
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
51
direct diffusion
indirect diffusion
summary
VI
INFLUENCE AND STATUS OF PRESENT DAY
irrigation
0
0
0
&
0
0
d
0
0
0
0
0
MORMON
6
5
0
water law as an indication of diffusion
mormon methods
0
0
as an indication of diffusion
iv
0
0
77
chapter
present
day status of
presentday
irrigation
mormon
summary
VII
SUMMARY
bibliography
&
&
s
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0
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a
0
v
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a
0
&
85
0
0
O
0
s
9.9
86
LIST
OF MAPS
page
map
1
spatial extent of irrigation in the western states
prehistoric 1847
0
2
major diffusion routes
3
minor diffusion routes
4
state of deseret
5
sites of
1847
6
mormon
1912
0
in
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
.00
0
0
0
0
0
Is
0
4
0
6
10
0
0
0
it
24
9
49
0
50
52
colonization and irrigation
0
9
0
sprinkler irrigation as
irrigation
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
a
10
a percentage of
0
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&
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total
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CHAPTER 1I
introduction
the art of irrigation is of ancient origin
yet to be accurately delimited and there is
ment among
it
ticed
scholars concerning where and
when
seems to be the opinion of many
gation occurred in egypt
however
equity
ant i quity
this great antiquity
1
beginnings have
considerable disagree-
first pracffirst use of irri-
irrigation
that the
was
the ancient peoples of china
also practiced irrigation
and america
mesopotamia
still
its
and worldwide use of
india
in dealing with
it
irrigate
lon
irrigation
irrigat ion
dlf f icult
dif
scult
is difficult
to determine the diffusion patterns associated with
it
remain unanswered about the diffusion and spread of
irrigation techniques
from the
many
questions
original centers of development
questions dealing with the antiquity origins and diffusion of
irrigation
on a worldwide
whatever the answers
to gain importance
nificance
nific ance in
many
basis are beyond the scope of this thesis
may be
down
it
is obvious that irrigation has continued
through
th
fough the centuries
rough
tough
countries
today
it
has great sig-
in the united states irrigation farming
has developed from an unknown number of acres centuries ago to more
than
fifty million acres
today
1
during this great growth irrigation has played an important role
in settlement and development of the western states
it
devoted to the study of that development
H
neb
E
west
ed
1
irrigation
tion
aa
&a
irrl
irrigation data inc
1972
handbook
p
7
this thesis is
is hoped that
&
directory
some
1972
lincoln
2
contribution however small
that has been written
on
may be made
to the already considerable work
irrigation in the western states
purpose and scope
the purposes of this work are several and center around the beginnings and diffusion of irrigation in the western united states
it
is the purpose of this thesis to
show the
first
spatial extent of early ir-
rigation attempts in the western states in the years preceding the settlement of the mormons in the great basin
second since the mormon leaders
were aware of their destination in the great basin before the western
exodus began
is
a
1I
since they had studied the environment of that area
and
it
contention of this work that they also realized irrigation would be
third iit
lt iiss a purpose of this work to present and examine the
hypothesis that irrigation in the western united states originated in the
necessary
f
spanish settlements of the southwest that
established
it
it
diffused to the
mormons who
securely in utah and that utah then served as
a secondary
how then diffused to other western
knowhow
source area from which irrigation know
states
pose of
conjuction with this proposed hypothesis
fourth in conjunction
it is
a pur-
this thesis to indicate the possible paths or routes of these
diffusions
fifth it is
the final purpose of this work to determine the
present influence and status of
mormon
irrigation in the rocky mountain
region
the scope of this study is primarily limited to the intermountain
region of the united states
1richard
arichard
richard
H
california oregon
and washington are not
myth and reality
environmental percepph D disser1865 an historical Ge
1840
1540
geosophy
18401865
15401865
osophy
jacksons
jacksonl
jackson
cormons
Mormons
tion of the mormons
tation clark
dark university
1969
p
121
3
dealt with in great depth
studies in colorado montana and
restricted to the western
have been
wyoming
mountain portions of these
states
justification
in the last fifty years of geographic thought three major views
or traditions have been emphasized
his recent article
views or
As
reviewed by edward J
the spatial view in context
each of these three
land relationships
manland
traditions area study man
organization
has led to useful findings
spatial
a combination
justification of this study as
of these geographic traditions
two views or
since
may be made
and
haaf
f e also indicates that
taaffe
taaf
future geographic thought and work will likely represent
graphic work
taaffe in
a geo-
land relamanland
traditions man
tionships
tion ships and spatial organization are emphasized in this study in
historical context
be made on the
more
importantly justification of this study
orgina
orginality
basis of its originality
lity
no
tempted to analyze the diffusion routes of
rocky mountain states
mation were incomplete
earlier
and
are
works
may
other recent work has at-
irrigation practices in the
relied heavily
on
anecdotal infor-
seriously out of date
now
a
this study
attempts to provide the answers to significant questions concerning the
irrigation
gatlon
irrgat
the spatial spread of irrgation
lon and represents an important addition to
irr gation
historical
geography
research design
since this study is historical as well as geographical in nature
archival work has been an important source of information
young
university library the
L
D
church
S
historians office various
i edward J Ta
affel the spatial
taaffe
association of american geographers
brigham
view in context
annals of the
1116
16
64 march 1974
a
4
government agencies
and various
libraries archives
and
special col-
lections throughout the rocky mountain area have been searched for perwherever possible original sources have been con-
tinent information
sulted
maps and
air photos
have also been analyzed to help determine
possible routes of diffusion and the spatial extent of irrigation past
and
present
field
work has also been undertaken in major
of the rocky mountains to determine
niques and practices
mexico
and
have been
first
hand
present irrigation tech-
areas in utah idaho colorado
visited
field
and such
work
irrigated regions
wyoming and new
carried out
government
local authoritative sources have been investigated and local ar-
chives examined for information on irrl
gatlon
gation
irrigation
I1
source areas
and
diffu-
sion
from
this research design
a
great
amount of information has been
obtained and is presented in this study in a historicalgeographical
historical geographical
context
II
CHAPTER 11
THE EARLY
beginnings
irrigation
OF
IN THE
WESTERN STATES PRIOR TO THE
MORMON
it
experience
has been estimated that 138240000 acres of land had been
reclaimed in various countries of the world when the
first arrived
in the
thesaitlake
sait
salt lake valley in
1847
1
latterday
latter day saints
of this amount only a
very small percentage existed in what is today the continental united
in 1825 the total acreage being irrigated in the western states
states
primarily in the spanish settlements of the
35000 acres
did not exceed 351000
southwest
2
when the
total could not
being practiced
latterday
latter day saints arrived in utah in
have been much
irrigated at
was
this
nevertheless irrigation
greater
although the scale was relatively small
nearly every western state
1847
was
the soil of
one time or anotherbefore
another before
the mormon arrival in the great basin
prehistoric irrigation
there is
what
is
now
no record of the very
first
so great
the united states
attempts at irrigation in
is the antiquity of 1irrigation
i
in the united states that the only accounts are vague indian myths and
icharles
lcharles
charies
charles hillman brough irrigation
irrieation
irritation in utah baltimore
john hopkins press
1898
2
cgeorge
2george
george thomas
lake city
p
the
3
early irrl
irrigation
atlon in the western states salt
university of utah
1948
p
5
43
6
legends
it
however
is clear that the first irrigators were the native
inhabitants of the land
first irrigators
perhaps the
culture
an indian
were the hohokam
group which lived in the deserts of arizona two thousand years ago
scholars have divided
the colonial
hohokam
during the pioneer period
the sedentary and the classic
the hohokam were only floodwater irrigators
irrigatory
period a canal system
1I
and well
built canal
the pioneer
culture into four time periods
was developed
but during the colonial
between 600 and 900
system was established
A
D
it
is very likely that
hohokams
the pima and papago indians are descendants of the Ho
hokams
indian peoples were extensive irrigators and were the
deans
dians the white man met
centuries
ago these
first
thirty feet across four feet
were
built
4
these
arizona in
indians established an
elaborate irrigation system on the gila and salt rivers
to
canals twenty
and up to twenty miles
deep
large
2
the hohokam culture eventually faded
3
a
in length
near present day phoenix
such works were well engineered
is an indian tunnel several hundred feet long which diverted water to
canal
some
twenty miles in length
systems well
built they
5
not only were the indian irrigation
were also extensive
in the salt river valley
alone more than 250000 acres were irrigated by one thousand miles of
1ibid
bibid
ibid
p
1
2edward
bedward
edward
H
peplow
jr
history of arizona
lewis historical publishing company inc
3ibido
sibido
31bid
44thomas
bthomas
thomas
states
90
p
pp
ap
a
1958
3
1
vols
new york
93
89
8993
547
34
3 4
5ralph
jralph
ralph H hess the beginnings of irrigation in the united
economy
econ
political
807
journal of politcal
1921
20 october 19211
cal
Polit
6
7
canal and ditch
gila it is not
on the
least
been
150
additional 250000 acres were irrigated
rrigated
on the verde an
known how much
can
miles of can
canalman
canal
canalcan
alcan
filled with
i
still
be
land was
irrigated
traced
more
sand and are unrecognizable
eventually irrigation
among
being used by these tribes
canals have probably
2
the pima and papago indians declined
fell into disuse
and many canal systems
irrigation
however
land
acres
some
3
indicate
men
irrigated
disagreement as to
pueblos
indians were
some
in the rio grande valley of
may have been
was
still
as well as by other indian peoples in the
the writings
southwest when the spanish explorers arrived on the scene
of coronado and his
at
however
new mexico as much as
spanish came
when the
how much
still irrigating
4A
thirty
however
the
thousand
there is
acreage was being irrigated by these
5
other areas of the western united states were also irrigated
for instance prehistoric irrigation in nevada
anciently
living in caves in present
by people
remnants of canals and ditches
1leonard
bleonard
leonard
cantor
M
oliver
and london
22thomas
bthomas
hess
thomas
p
historical review
47
effie
of the state sparks
1965
pp
ap
world geography of
1967
p
who
left
behind
occupied montezuma
irrigation edinburgh
13
9
smarc
5marc
marc simmons
Siromons
6
dwellers
they
809
p
44thomas
bthomas
cliff
clark county
practiced
4466
pp
ap
thomas
3
3hess
chess
and boyd
A
6
day
was
spanish irrigation in
april
apri11ll
1972
109
108
108109
new mexico
137
his
wall sawyer here is nevada A history
western printing & publishing company
mona mack and byrd
nevada
new mexico
8
valley in southwestern colorado also irrigated anciently
irrigation
then that long ago
not an
was
uncommon
i
it
is obvious
practice in the
western portion of the united states
it
should also be noted that much of the
pueblo builders
especially in
new mexico and
irrigation
texas
was
done by the
relatively ef-
canals thirty feet
eet across and seven feet deep were engineered and
f beet
fficient
ici ent
even plastered with clay to prevent seepage
gation systems built
92
near el paso ef
f scient
icient
efficient
by the pueblo people long ago
are
irri-
still in use today
3
panish and irrigation
the spanish
following the irrigation developments
made by
peoples came the spanish attempts at irrigation
practiced for centuries in spain
the native indian
irrigation
had been
thus the spanish were well equipped
to extend and improve the indian systems
the spanish were particularly careful to establish themselves in
areas where they
knew
water was available for irrigation
4
the most important physical factor in the selection of a mission site
was the availability of water
ferit mattered little that soilbewas
pro
clen
cien t water could
sufficient
sufficien
tile and level land abundant unless suffi
vided5
1jerome
sjerome
jerome
colorado
1913
2
smiley semi
centennial history of the state of
semicentennial
chicago and new york the lewis publishing company
C
vols
588
1
2
bthomas
2thomas
thomas
3
bedwin
3edwin
edwin
10
p
P
arneson
quarterly
historical quarte
A
4wells
dwells
weils
welis
wells
1I opmen
development
hopmen t
deve
272
25
early irrigation in texas
october
1921
121
Ac
hutchins the community acequia
equia
quarterly
Quar
the southwestern historical quat
term
terL
A
the southwestern
its origin
31
january
and
1928
ar
5rR louis gentilcore missions and mission lands of alta caliassoni
association
atlon of american geographers 51 march
fornia annals of the associ
1961
53
9
the importance of water to the spanish attempts can also be seen
in the cultural landscapes of southwestern settlements
equla
equia
or ditch is an institution which can immediately be attrib-
glace
flace
flacequia
ac
qula
quia
acequia
uted
the community
1
to the spanish influence
principles governing water
laws and
use can also be traced to the early spanish habitation
92
the distribution of spanish irrigation eventually covered a wide
area of the southwestern united states and california
in texas san
antonio el paso and the southern rio grade valley were
important spanish irrigation
rigated the santa fe region
in
new mexico the
valley and northward to the colorado border
practiced in southern arizona but
irrigation
was
spanish settled and
irrigation
and extended
all areas of
ir-
the rio grande
down
spanish irrigation
was
also
in california
of less importance
accompanied the spanish settlements as they moved up the coast-
al regions from san diego to san francisco
lon and extent of
ion
the above is a very brief account of the cocat
location
locat
the spanish irrigation attempts
irrigation state
A
more
discussion
detailed discuss
i on of spanish
1
state is included in the following section
by
irrigation beginnings state
by
state
the brief outline of the early beginnings of irrigation in the
ga
irrigawestern united states presented above indicates the existence of irrl
tion in the west prior to the
mormon
settlement of the great basin
the
following pages will elaborate on the extent of irrigation agriculture
states of the western united states prior to
found in the present
1hutchings
hutchings
2
simmons
p
pp
ap
261
139
140
139140
1847
10
texas arizona
new mexico
and
california
for purposes of analysis
states of
it
is convenient to examine the four
texas arizona and california together
new mexico
subject to early attempts
by the
all
were
spanish or indian peoples to irrigate
territory within the states present day boundaries these states also
contained the bulk of irrigated acreage in the west prior to 1847
the area around santa fe
irrigation in
in
new mexico
was the most
1598
juan de onate and 1250 people
to new mexico to explore and colonize
present day
town of chamita
chakita
rigate the land
santa fe
deans
dians were conscripted
came
they settled at san gabriel
the
near santa fe and immediately began to 1irr
1
was founded
shortly thereafter
1
pueblo in
canals and ditches dug and the area irrigated
irrigation in the vvicinity
lcinity of santa fe
1I
the 1800s
important region of early
and albuquerque continued
n 1807 during
and was noted by zebulon pike 1Iin
f
2
into
his stay in the
southwest
both above and below albuquerque the citizens were beginning to open
the canals to let in the water of the river to fertilize the plains
we saw men women
and fields which border its banks on both sides
and children of all ages and both sexes at the joyful labour which
was to crown with rich abundance their future harvest and ensure
e scenes brought to my
sic them plenty for the ensuing year these
thes
descriptions by savary of the opening of
recollection the bright
3
the canals of egypt
before the american army
santa fe
was
still
lthomas
thomas
9
2simmons
hsimmons
simmons
came
in
1846
irrigation near
the most important in new mexico
however
and around
in the
35
p
pp
ap
1390
139
1381390
138
138139
3zebulon
zebulon montgomery pike exploratory travels through the western
row
paternoster
1811 reprinted
america
london
of
north
territories
W
H
p 255
denver
lawrence and company 1889
11
early 1800s another important irrigated area
taos
new mexico around
was
settled in northern
in 1815 settlements were also
at arroyo
made
seco and arroyo hondo each ten miles from taos
further
settlement were also taking place
texas took place near el paso
perhaps the
ditches were
the direction of the spanish padres in the
teenth century
irrigation farming
the rio grande in texas
down
during the 1700s
and
earliest irrigation in
dug by the
latter half
indians under
of the seven-
other irrigation took place at mis-
sions located on the nueces
nieces river guadalupe river san saba river san
gabriel river
and
also near present day goliad
most efficient
ef f i clent spanish
1
and
vicinity
irrigation in texas
was
tremendous
prehistoric irrigation
works
gate on a reduced scale through the centuries
them
tuson
still irrigating
3
the
around 1770
established at san antonio
pima and papago
indians
they continued to
irr
irri4
and the white man found
tubac and
the spanish established themselves at aubac
but other than this
until after
probably the
2
in arizona as before mentioned the
built
however
irrigation in arizona
was
not important un
1857
padres
were
spanish
the
in
irrigators
california
first
the first irrigation ditch was utilized near the san diego
dfrancis
1francis
francis
cheetham the early settlements of southern colorado
1
the colorado magazine 5 february 1928
T
2warneson
2arneson
arneson pp
ap
3
3richard
arichard
richard
121
123
121123
hispanic american borderland
the hispanicamerican
delimitation of an american culture region annals of the association
645
of american geographers 60 december 1970
L
nostrand
12
mission
other missions were established and irrigation begun at san
gabriel in
1771
capistrano in
san luis obispo in 1772
and
1776
santa barbara in
san bernadino in 1776
1787
2
san juan
besides these missions
i
san
towns were also established and land irrigated at
jose in
i n 1777 and
at los angles in
3
1781
irrigation continued
and expanded in
california
others besides the spanish were irrigating the land
in
1844
that john
sutter
A
was
and by 1844
fremont reported
irrigating california soil
he mentions
the ditches around his extensive wheat field and indian girls
engaged in constantly watering the gardens
sutter
mr
busily
fremont also wrote that
irrigate his lands by means
other american were also irrigating in
about making arrangements to
was
v44
of the rio de los americanos
california before the
va
mormons
in the great salt lake valley
arrived inthe
steinel indicates in his
history of agriculture in colo-
alvin
T
rado
that american settlers were a growing population in california
and
that they
were
book
irrigating before the
mormon
arrival in utah
5
not only had the spanish and various american settlers irrigated
iinn utah but it would
irrigated in california before they did
in california before the arrival of the
also appear that even
chess
ihess
ess
p
bid
ibid9
44bevet
be vet
i
810
p
2thomas
bthomas
thomas
3
mormons
mormons
p
17
25
eppedi
loring expedi
exploring
fremont report of the En
year
1842 and to oregon and north
rocky
the
mountains
in
to
the
tion
gales and seaton 1845
years
44 washington
184344
rs 1843
california in the yea
zea
captain john
C
246
steinel history of agriculture in colorado fort
collins colorado the state agricultural college 1926 p 237
alvin
T
0
so
13
in the salt lake valley
at yerba
buena
sengers
this
on
july 31
3i
ai
1846
the ship
brooklyn
present day san francisco with nearly
group had
left
new york
arrived
240 mormon pas-
in february of the
year under
same
the leadership of samuel brannan hoping eventually to join the major
saints
body of
who were moving
did not arrive at the
west
since the main contingent of saints
salt lake valley until july
the brooklyn
1847
saints remained in california for the intervening year
twenty of
their
number
established the
river in the san joaquin valley
by means of
this
stanislaus
town of new hope on the
here they put in crops
ditches and buckets
practiced in the western states
during this time
was the
first
and
mormon
irrigated
irrigation
1
colorado
mentioned before the
As
first irrigation
rado date back to prehistoric times
gation
gati on
1
also practiced
was
of colorado prior to the
by
however
attempts
it 1Iiss
f
made
clear that
in colo-
irri-
various people living within the boundaries
mormon
attempts in utah
As
early as
1832 the
bent brothers irrigated at
junta
and
las animas
bents fort midway between the towns of la
they built a ditch which took water from the
nearby river to forty acres of land which had been planted to corn
squash
and melons
2
beans
smiley in the semi
centennial history of the state
semicentennial
of colorado suggest that other early trading posts on the arkansas river
lflora
1857
18461857
fiora
flora belle houston the mormons in california 1846
27
ap 18
1827
masters thesis university of california 1929 pp
2aa
2a
A
the early history of irrigation in colorado
A hundred years of irrigation in
and the doctrine of appropriation
colorado denver and fort collins the colorado water conservation
p 15
board and colorado agricultural and mechanical college 1952
W
mchendrie
14
probably irrigated small gardens between 1825 and 1840
he
also me-
irrigation was done at fort lupton and fort st vrain
1
when fremont passed through the
the south platte prior to 1840
ntions
on
that
some
area in july of
fort lancaster
he made
1843
as he called
passing on the
several observations about fort lupton or
it
the remains of two abandoned forts one of which
we reached in 10 miles fort
however was still in good condition
lancaster the trading establishment of mr lupton his post was
appearence
appearance
beginning to assume the app
earence of a comfortable farm stock
hogs and cattle wer sic ranging about on the prairie there were
different kinds of poultry and there was the wreck of a promising
garden in which a considerable variety of vegetables had been in a
flourishing condition but it had been almost entirely ruined by the
2
waters
recent high waters2
if
mr
poultry
way
lupton was raising vegetables and probably feed for his stock and
it
would be
logical to assume he
climate of the area would
demand
was
also irrigating
since the
it
other areas of colorado were also irrigated during the early and
dle 1840s
in 1840 ffifty
iff ty mexican families from the santa fe region
established themselves in southern colorado
conejos
all
ail
ali tributary
new mexico
including
streams of the
on the
rio grande
costilla culebra
3
by 1842
the
the pueblo
and simpson
first
site
white men to
this
raised
1smiley
smiley
2
2fremont
fremont
a
settle in colorado cultivated
group of men
history
1
S
A
an area near
year later in the
111
wllbur fisk stone ed history of colorado
wilbur
1
478
J clarke publishing company 1918
4
4smiley
smiley
in that year
551 571
551t
3
jwilbur
3wilbur
the
bestab
had estab
fisher sloan spaulding kinkaid
crop of corn there in 1842
semi
centennial
semicentennial
p
4
semi
centennial history
semicentennial
1
571
4
vois
vols
and
others from
their spanish wives
some mountain men and
dished
lished themselves on the arkansas near present day pueblo
some of
mid-
chicago
15
hardscrabble valley thirty miles from pueblo
by george
S
simpson
1I
he found some of these
a crop of corn was
when fremont passed through the
settlers still
raised
rregion in
1843
engaged in farming
short distance above our encampment on the left bank of the aras the mexicans call their civilized indian
kansas is a pueblo
villages where a number of mountaineers who had married spanish
women in the valley of taos had collected together and occupied
themselves in farming carrying on at the same time a desultory
2
indian trade
A
in
1846
francis
parkmen
barkmen noted crops growing around pueblo
i
ved corn and vegetables from the settlers of the area
ceived
cel
cei
occasion to
visit
a group of mormons who were
is possible that the settlers of pueblo
and
also had
A
4
vicinity irrigated since
it
it
and corn over
successive years
As was
mentioned before
there is proof that irrigation
carried out at bents fort in colorado as early as
later the founder of the fort william bent
L
he
re
wintering at pueblo
is unlikely that sufficient rain fell to raise vegetables
a period of
3
and
1832
some
was
years
and another man named john
Purga
re river area
Purg
purgatori
purgatoi
hatcher conceived the idea of farming the purgatoire
toire
atol
atoi
1
istone
stone history of colorado
2
2fremont
fremont
33francis
dfrancis
p
1
some
478
116
oregon
parkmen
kmen
barkmen
Par
the
francis
trall
trail
new york
p
doubleday and company 1946
reprint
ed
garden city and
263
oregon
4the
athe
parkmen
mormons
n
barkmen
1
mentions
ore&on trail p 263
the
in
the
francis
I
were a group composed of mormon battalion members and converts from
mississippi who had expected to meet the main body of saints moving westhowever the main contingent of saints did not come west until the
ward
next year for this reason the group took up quarters in pueblo for the
winter joining the saints the next spring for the westward trek
1
16
by
these
it
bents fort
miles from
teen to sixteen
men
they located on bottom land along
Purga toire
al ong the purgatoire
river about eighteen miles northeast of present
day
trinidad
acres were planted to corn and an irrigation ditch one to
3
constructed
was
ntaineer
ta ineer
john hatcher
and plainsman
ticed
ticel in the southwest
construct
a
ditch
first irrigation
hatcher
L
sixteen oxen and fif-
september 1846 with three wagons
2
was used
john
purgatoire
the bottom land of the Purga
toire river
men on
left taos in
is well documented that irrigation
As
a
two
forty
miles long
trapper indian fighter trader mou-
irrigation having seen
had knowledge of
4
some
result it
lewis
and small dam
was a simple
H
garrard
was
it
prac
matter for him to
present
when the
water flowed into hatchers ditch and gave the follow-
ing account
william bents party consisted of himself long lade and two others
acequia
they had plows and the ac
equia by which the land would be irrigated
was nearly ffinished
ini shed the dam to elevate the water in this was yet
to be constructed so the following morning we went hard to work
embroyo
embroyosic
sici crop depended
for two days we labored as though the embroyosic
bici
when the water flowed
upon our finishing within a specified time
with the
acequia
in the ac
equia we watched bits of wood and scum floating
5
and
satisfaction
first tide with intense interest
despite hatchers efforts the experiment failed as a result of indian
6
attacks just as the crop matured
aa
1a
1846 1928 the oldest
the hatcher ditch 18461928
colorado irrigation ditch now in use the colorado magazine 5 june
1928
W
mchendrie
84
22cheetham
cheetham p
5
3
3smiley
smiley semi
centennial history 1571
semicentennial
4lewis
alewis
lewis
H
W
deily
garrard wah
wahtoyah
to yah and the taos
H
and company
5ibidt
bid
6smiley
smiley
p
1850
p
191
281
semi
centennial history 1571
semicentennial
trail cincinnati
17
washington and oregon
probable that the farst
first irrigation practiced in washington
irst
it is
and oregon was by white men
west
it
rather than the indians
unlike the south-
that the indians of these states did not practice irriga-
seems
tion
in
this
was perhaps
it is
but
doctor john mcloughlin was farming at fort vancouver
1825
r l C u iture practiced
agriculture
agri
first ag
tho
th
unclear whether irrigation
knowledge of
the region
irrigation since
did irrigate
who
may have been
1836
no doubt mcloughlin had
familiar with the missionaries in
fort vancouver
was
also far enough inland
As a
company
the hudson bay
in
was used
result it is possible that dr mcloughlin
the areas first irrigator
to warrant irrigation
irrigation
he was
2
west of the cascades
established fort walla walla in
practiced there at least
was
irrigation at the fort
by the
1830s
on a garden
was seen and noted by mrs
and
1819
basis
marcus whitman
3
4
near fort walla walla marcus whitman also pioneered in irriga-
tion
at his mission
whitman
irrigated his crops
and induced the
dians of the area to also farm and irrigate the land
visited the area in
irose
rose
washington
1841
5
charles wilkes
and found whitman and the indians
successfully
boening
the history of irrigation in the state of
260
washington historical quarterly 9 october 1918
M
22edomond
the
in-
edgmond
edomond S meany history
of the state of washington
histon
303
ap 302
302303
macmillian company 1927 pp
3thomas
bthomas
thomas
50
p
at
4tT C elliott the coming of the white
1004
looe
100
loo
historical quarterly 37 june 1936
5boening
boening
new york
p
261
women
1836
the oregon
18
practicing irrigation
gating their crops
their
own
the indians have learned the necessity of
1I ng that dr
finding
whitmans succeeded better than
find
i
by
111
irrigation
also practiced at other missions in the oregon
was
near what is
washington region
wascopam
Wasco pam
the dalles
practiced
2
a
mission farm was established
missionfarmwas
potatoes
wheat
the border of these two states
now
and garden
thomas farnham
visited the mission in
and
much
irrigation
tshimakain
was
1839 and found one
lville in washington
also practiced
irrigation
was
as well since 340 acres were plowed
produce were raised around the
acre planted
more
acres
by mr
fort
elkanah walker in 1841 at
and the
site
was
near fort
co-
likely practiced at fort colville
and wheat
potatoes
and garden
6
icharles
lcharles
charies wilkes narrative of the united states exploring
charles
C
sherman 1850
expedition 5 vols Phil
adelphi
philadelphia
4396
philadelphy
philadelphi
2aj
2jJ neilson barry agriculture in the oregon country in 1795165
1844
oreson historical quarterly
uart erly 30 june 1929
the oregon
3d
geo
ad
A
great
plain
D W meinig
columbia
the
bistor ical geoghistor
historical
1805 1910 seattle
raphy 18051910
university of washington press 1968
91
p
135
A
30
vols
4reuben
rreuben
tes
thwaloites
reuben gold ahwal
thwaites
edy
ed
eda
ed1
the arthur
cleveland
.5
5
H
1846
early western travels 1748
17481846
358
28357
clark
38
2835738
dark company 1906 28357358
women
over the
ed
white
drury
merrill
clifford
first
rockies glendale california the arthur H clark
dark company 1963
p
217
ubarry
6barry
barry
p
163
3
4
he was another missionary
5
irri-
of their needs
irrigated with plans for four hundred to five hundred
to be farmed and irrigated
irrigdte
irrigate
at
irrigation
vegetables did well under
gation and supplied the missionary families with
and
irri-
19
idaho
the
first
attempt at irrigation in idaho was in 1837 by henry
his missionary establishment at the mouth of lapwai
laprai creek
spaulding
clearwater had sixty to seventy indian families cultivating the
on the
soil in
in
1838
farming and
1840 one hundred
irrigating the area
indian and missionary families were
by 1843 the lapwai
laprai mission was
self
sufficient with the indian families cultivating four to five acres
1
each
charles wilkes in
1841
and a
twenty acres of wheat anda
noted that spaulding himself was growing
field of vegetables
his efforts in agriculture are not less exemplary for he has twenty
acres of fine wheat and a large field in which were potatoes corn
melons pumpkins peas beans etc
the whole of which were in fine
2
order
wilkes further wrote that irrigation was needed
irrigation is necessary
tables etc
were
and the wheat
treated in this
way
in their cultivation
fields as well as those of
vege
3a
laprai it is probable that irriefforts at lapwai
gation also occurred at fort hall and fort boise ephraim tucker writing in 1838 noted that agriculture was practiced on a small scale at
spauldings
besides spaulding
fort hall
in the eastern section or upper country fort hall is the only
place where any attempts at agriculture have been made vegetables
and the small grains are produced here in tolerable abundance
but
the soil of this section as well as the climate is better adapted
4
pasturage
than
to
cultivation
b
imeinig
einig
p
137
wilkes 4460
3
3ibid9
ibid
4
1844
ephraim
461
p
W
tucker history of oregon buffalo
reprinted fairfield washington
np
ap
1970
A
p
65
W
wilgus
20
attempts at raising vegetables were
fremont recorded in 1843 that minor
minorattempts
also
at fort boise
made
payette had made but slight attempts at cultivation his efforts
being limited to raising a few vegetables in which he succeeded
1
tolerably well the post being principally supported by salmon
mr
9.9
since climatic conditions at fort hall and fort boise were relatively
dry
it is
probable that irrigation by
practiced at both
some method was
locations
montana
there is only
irrigation
utah
in
one recorded
instance of agriculture and probable
which took place in montana
1841
mission in the
father
de smet
a
prior to the
A
experience in
catholic missionary founded st marys
bitter root valley of montana
from wilderness to statehood
mormon
history of
james hamilton in his book
says that
montana
irrigation
2
was used
at this mission but gives
however
as a general rule neither farming nor gardening would likelyhave
likely have
succeeded in the area without
no source as to
irrigation of
some
his information
sort
support of this
idea was given by father de smet himself when he wrote
root valley is one of the finest in the moumaryls or bitter
st marys
bitterroot
ntains presenting throughout its whole extent of about two hundred
miles numerous grazing but few arable tracts of land irrigation
fical means is absolutely necessary to the
either by natural or artificial
artifical
arti
cultivation of the soil in consequence of the long summer drought
in this region commencing in april and ending only in
that prevails
3
october
fremont
2
montana
p
174
james mcclellan from wilderness to statehood
p 350
portland binfords
Bin fords and mart 1957
ap
3pP
A
history of
J de smet S J to rev and dear father provincial from
ath 1846 as found in
flathead
flat head camp yellowstone river september 6th
1846 32 vols
17481846
clevereuben gold thwaites early western travels 1748
company
1906
29322
land
the arthur H clark
dark
21
utah
prior to the
coming of the mormons to utah
irrigation
tremely limited within what are now the state boundaries
indians of southern utah did practice
irrigation
some
evidently the
parley
irrigating on the santa clara river in january of
addison pratt also wrote that travelers bound for california
found them
dians irrigating on the virgin river
no doubt
was ex-
pratt
P
1850
found in-
these indian groups
irrigated long before the arrival of the mormons into the area
prior to 1847 miles goodyear had established a ranch on the
river in northern utah
ranch and found radishes
these crops
ever
july
on
corn
cabbage
irrigated
may have been
1847 a mormon
22
carrots
weber
delegation visited the
and beans growing
nothing more than a bucket
by
how-
the ranch at that time was not being looked after by goodyear but
by an englishman named
kells
kells
had previously lived in mexico
familiar with irrigation
was no doubt
2
it
may have been
that the
and
good-
year garden was watered not by a bucket but by an irrigation ditch but
s
this is
i conjecture at best
nevada
the
by
first agriculture
and
irrigation in nevada
prehistoric cave dwellers in present
hind remnants of ditches and canals
practiced
by the
indians
settlers arrived in
1
p
11
2
bthomas
2thomas
p
47
33mack
amack
the
first
clark county
however
white
irrigation
carried
they
was
settlers arrived
mack and sawyer
pp
ap
109
108
108109
on
left
be-
also being
when
walker valley they found portions of the valley
thomas
thomas
when
3
day
was
22
already being irrigated
place prior to the
As
mormon
far as is
known
arrival in utah
practiced in the state until the
this irrigation
and was the only
mormons themselves
was
taking
irrigation
settled in the region
in the 1850s
wyom
wyoming
irrigation took place in
no
will
to utah
As
state
initiated
was
wyoming
prior to the
mormons coming
later in this study irrigation in this
be discussed
by the mormons themselves
in the 1850s
south carolina
although south carolina is not included in the study area of this
thesis
it
is interesting to briefly note that irrigation also occurred
in this state long before the
1800
plands
rice indigo
cotton were
and
of south carolina
times from
mormons came
fields
grown by flood
irrigation in the
swam-
were diked
biked and generally flooded three
april to august of each year
2
before and after
to utah
by openings
in the dikes refer
thus even in the eastern united states a form of
red to as
ksel
trunksel
trun
trunks
irrigation
had been used long before the ffirst mormon
irrigation occurred
in the great basin
lthomas
thomas
history of nevada
1881 with an introduction by david F myrick oakland california
thompson and west 1881 reprinted
berkeley california howell north
1958
p
H
thompson and
albert agustus west
131
22ralph
jralph
ralph
H
brown
orical
historical
hist
york chicago san francisco
pp 140143
140 143
inc 1948 ap
and
geography of the united
alanta
states
harcourt brace and world
new
23
summary
summ
it
is obvious that irrigation
the united states many years before the
though
irrigation
was
discontinued in
its inception in
had
mormon
many
was
and
still
now
al-
experience in utah
of the areas spoken of in this
study before the arrival of the mormons in the great basin
it
is
what
in others
particularly in the southwest
of considerable importance
california
the
map on page 24
r
best summarizes the spatial extent of 1ir1
rigation attempts in the western united states prior to the
it
al in utah
at irrigation
represents as accurately as possible the attempts
from
prehistoric times
up to 1847
arriv-
mormon
from the map
it
made
may be
noted that irrigation at some time or another was practiced in nearly
every western state before the
earliest
mormon
the soil of wyoming was not irrigated
the
attempts in
map
1847
only
also points out the
greater influence of early irrigation in the southwest especially around
the santa fe region
except for the prehistoric indian attempts
tion in the southwest
was
primarily done by the spanish
irriga-
in california
the distribution of irrigated land between san francisco and san diego
was
also
a
result of spanish settlement but
tion also occurred there
anglo american irrigaangloamerican
in the remaining western states irrigation at-
tempts were fewer and more widespread
colorado
some
a
greater
number occurring
n
1in
1
A
5 x
mdo
ado
I1
9 regions
of prehistoric irrigation
90
regions
of
0
sites
spanish and indian irrigation
of angloamerican
anglo american irrigation
0
CHAPTER
MORMON AWARENESS
THE
THE GREAT BASIN
REGIONS environment
AND
little
early writers give
OF
lii
111
III
irrigation
support to the idea that the
mormon
people and their leaders knew of
irrigation before their arrival in the
salt lake valley
smythe in
for instance
his book the conquest of
arid america wrote
brigham young had lived in vermont ohio missouri and illinois
neither he nor any of his followers had ever seen a country where
rainfall did not suffice for agriculture nor ever read of one
save in the bible
but they quickly learned that they had staked
their whole future upon a region which could not produce a spear of
tame grass an ear of corn nor a kernel of wheat without skillful
irrigation of the art of irrigation they were utterly ignorant
the
but the need of beginning a planting was urgent and pressing for
their slender stock of provisions would not long protect them from
starvation
it
was
this
emergency which produced the
ever built by white
men
in the united states
irrigation
first
1
brough also included a similar statement in his book
canal
irrigation in
utah
young
any
brigham
had
reason
to
previbelieve
that
little
lie
ile
he entered salt lake valley
ous knowledge of irrigation when lle
the
region around nauvoo illinois from which the mormons were driven
by the united states authorities typify
led the agriculture of the
typified
typif
2
humid
ld region
huml
humi
there is
soe
widtsoe
other authors of early studies of irrigation such as Widt
awilliam
iwilliam
william
E
macmillan company
2
2brough
brough
smyth
1905
p
the conquest of arid america
55
pp
ap 54
5455
3
25
new
mead
york
and
the
26
hess made similian
similiar
si
miliar assertions
1
thus
it
that the
was assumed
mormons had
contact with the art of irrigation prior to
no previous knowledge or
their arrival in utah
it
latterday
latter day saint
leaders were unaware of their destination until reaching the salt lake
valley that they had little or no understanding of the areas environin
and
ment
summary
has often been suggested that the
that they were ignorant of irrigation methods
examines these suggestions
and shows
knew where they were going
leaders
this chapter
that they are not true
left
before they
nauvoo
the church
and had stud-
ied the then current information concerning the great basin region
they
also were aware of irrigation methods recognizing that irrigation would
likely
be a
necessity in the area they intended settling
the great basin destination
the
mormon
leaders
knew
their destination before leaving
nauvoo
joseph smith even before brigham young had planned to settle
illinois
the saints in the rocky mountains
on august
6
1842
he made the
fol
lowing prophecy
prophesied that the saints would contiue
contile to suffer much affliction
and would be driven to the rocky mountains many would apostatize
others would be put to death by our persecutors or lose their lives
in consequence of exposure or disease and some of you will live to
go and assist in making settlements and build cities and see the 2
saints become a mighty people in the midst of the rocky mountains
1I
ijohn
john
A
Widt
soe
widtsoe
practice
principles
irrigation
the Princ
tion
iRles
leles
iries of irriga
irriza
new york
the macmillan company 1914 p 556 elwood mead irrigation institutions new york macmillian company 1910 p 42 ralph H hess the
beginnings of irrigation in the united states journal of political
economy
eco
20 october 1912
811
9
9
august
2joseph
ajoseph
joseph smith
6
1842
MS
script history
nuscript
ma
nu
manuscript
of the church
1879
1805
18051879
LDS church historians office salt lake city
27
stephen
goddard recollected thai
thatjoseph
that joseph said the
H
would go to the
latterday
latter day saints
great basin area
prophet joseph mapped out on the floor with a piece of chalk a
diagram of what he called the great salt lake basin or valley and
1
id that the latterday
said
sald
latter day saints would go there
sai
sal
there has been
some do
it
when
not accept
it
as accurate
however
and
there are other instances
appears that joseph smith had in mind settling the saints in the
on
rocky mountains
tion party
be
doubt cast on this recollection made by goddard
some
february
sent to find
be
a
1844 he
20
instructed that an explora-
location in the rockies where
a
city could
built
instructed the twelve apostles to send out a delegation and investigate
vesti gate the locations of california and oregon and hunt out a
good location where we can remove to after the temple is completed
and where we can build a city in a day and have a government of our
own get up into the mountains where the devil cannot dig us out
and live in a healthful climate where we can live as old as we have
1I
2
a mind to
on
february
1I
25
1844
joseph smith also
gave some important
instructions
made
the following prophecy
and prophesied
that within five
years we should be out of the power of our old enemies whether
they were apostates or of the world and told the brethren to record
say
comes
pass
they had forgotten
when
they
need
not
to
that
it
it saying 3
the
referring to this prophecy henry
W
bigler wrote in his diary the fol-
lowing
prophe syed fsicj
prophesied
sic that
in the spring of 1844 the prophet joseph had prophesyed
within five years the church would be located in the rocky mountains
landrew
H
goddard journal
by
stephen
andrew jenson ed
recollection
1897t LDS church historians office
history of the church july 26 1897
salt lake city utah
february
utah
2joseph
ajoseph
joseph smith
20
3ibid
bibid
1844
1844t
MS
manuscript history of the church
LDS church historians office
february
25
1844
1879
1805
18051879
salt lake city
28
beyond the influence of mobs requesting it to be remembered for
persecution had followed the church ever since its organization
martyrdom
martyr don joseph smith crossed the mississippi
finally just prior to his martyrdon
river
and prepared to
at daybreak arrived
start for the great basin
sent orin P
rockwell back to nauvoo with instructions to return the next night
with horses for joseph and hyrum pass them over the river in the
night secretly and be ready to start for the great basin in the
rocky mountains
on the iowa
side of the river
2
apparent
apparant
parant that joseph smith had intentions of seeing the saints
is ap
settle in the great basin region long before brigham young led them there
it
far as brigham
As
young was concerned
it
is the conclusion of
jackson that by 1845 president young had decided the
best location for settlement
would be the
ber
1845
8
that
it
was
3
salt lake valley
brigham young wrote septem-
his intention to send 1500
men
to the
salt lake
valley
two pm general council met
resolved that a
forenoon unwell
company of 1500 men be selected to go to great salt lake valley
and that a committee of five be appointed to gather information re4
same
and
to
report the
the council
lative to emigration
concerning the deliberations made by president young and the church
leaders jules
remy
offers
a
possible insight
at the conference
which was held the 6th
ath of october 1845 under the
sic part of the
unfinished roof of the temple the principal hicl
sicl
preachers spoke of the means of effecting the projected emigration
lon wherein it was
ion
vision
the new patriarch josephs uncle had a vis
revealed to him that they should go and seek for peace in the deserts
of the west before this lyman wight had proposed texas where
1henry
ahenry
enry
brigham young
1850
18461850
bigler diary of henry W bigler 1846
provo
utah p 13
university library
W
9
june
utah
MS
2joseph
ajoseph
joseph smith
1844
22
MS
3jackson3l
jackson
brigham
september
9
1845
1879
18051879
manuscript history of the church 1805
LDS church historians office salt lake city
myth and reality
young
manuscript
MS
p
121
tt
1805 1879
history of the church 18051879
LDS church his
sait lake city utah
salt
torl ans office saltlakecity
tori
historians
29
in fact he had himself gone after his excommunication john taylor
had indicated vancouvers island others were in favor of california
after a long but calm debate wherein they carefully weighed the advantages and disadvantages of each of the proposed places it was
they should go and settle in some valley in the rocky
resolved that
1
mountains
remy gives no source
at anis
tnis meeting
city in
for his information and he himself
he probably was
as given
the account therefore
1855
it
points out that
was the common view
had decided on the rocky mountains as a
As remy
mentioned
ble areas for settlemen
settlement
sett lemen t
are
now
bors
however
constituted were not looked
it
church leaders because
2
a number of
was so
was
not present
this story while in salt lake
may be somewhat
it
unreliable but
of the mormons in 1855 that they
destination before they set out
places were considered as possii
and oregon as they
texas california andoregon
upon as good
possibilities
by the
difficult to live with gentile neigh
only the rockies seemed like a feasible choice
again find brigham young making reference to the rockies as
we
his choice of settlement
on december 31
1845
kimball and 1I superintended the operations in the
temple examined maps with reference to selecting a location for
the saints west of the rocky mountains and reading various works
3
written by travelers in those regions
elder heber
A
march of 1846 president young also proposed
later in
few months
three hundred
great basin
C
4
men
cross the mountains and begin planting wheat in the
however
this expedition did not take place
1jules
greatsaltlake
journey to great
juies
jules remy A journe
salt lake Ccity london
jeffs 15 burlington arcade 1861 p 418
2
2jackson
cjackson
jackson
brigham young
1845
utah
4john
ajohn
john
march
8
1846
D
W
60
p
3
3brigham
december 31
that
MS
1879
18051879
manuscript history of the church 1805
i
ants office salt lake city
LDS church history
historl
historians
lee diaries and official
MS
brigham young university
records of john
D
lee
library provo utah
30
it
also appears that brigham young spoke or wrote to several
individuals of his intention to settle in the great basin
on august
1846
7
president young told colonel thomas
L
for instance
kane of his in-
tention to settle the great basin area
pres young said to col kane with reference to our settlements in
the californias we do not intend going & settling the majority of
our people on the course or near the bay of san francisco but intend settling the greater part of our people in the great basin
between the mountains near the bear river valley & we will likely
make a settlement on vancouver island that is such emigrants that
1
as will emigrate by water
only two days later on august
ident james
K
9
press
president young also wrote pres
1846
s
polk and expressed the same intention
the cause of exile
we
need no repeat
it is
already with you
suf-
fice it to say that a combination of fortuitous illegal and unconstitutional circumstances have placed us in our present situation
on a journey which we design shall end in a location west of the
rocky mountains and within the basin of the great salt lake or bear
river valley as soon as circumstances shall permit believing that
to be a point where a good living will require hard labor and consequently will be coveted by no other people while it is surround2
ed by so unpopulous but
it
that president
would appear
destination
however
fertile country
many
ordinary
young was very much aware of
members of the church were probably
not aware of his decision to settle in the salt lake valley
bably knew of his decision and others
to be the case
mbers
3
may have
ibid
bid
whatever the extent of awareness
august
7
2
3
3jackson
cjackson
jackson
p
122
pro-
among
the church me-
was a
premeditated
1846
brigham young to president james
photocopy of original in washington D C
salt lake city utah
some
only suspected this was
is clear that settlement in the great basin
it
his
K
polk august 9 18469
1846
church historians office
31
decision
church leaders
made by
and one
that
was
probably made as early
as 1845
knowledge off the
study and knowle
great basin environment
mormon
before and after the church leaders had decided upon settling
in the great basin they had studied the information available about the
region and had formed a reasonably accurate perception of the environment
number of sources of information were
A
reports of fremont wilkes bonneville
had ready access to the
others
who had
available to them
they
and
traveled extensively through the western united states
1
rocky mountain area often differed greatly
reports of the west and
androcky
some
described the region as
ever
it
ment
and
was
fertile others
as being a wasteland
generally felt that there were areas suitable for settle-
nearly all trav
travellers
ellers and explorers spoke favorably of the
2
scenery and the climate
perhaps the most accessible sources of information were
publication the emigrants guide to oregon
published reports
and
many
of the valley areas
3
young
2
2jackson
cjackson
jackson
3
and
fremonts
p
university
and spoke of good vegeta-
fremont also spoke reasonably well
Chris
lewis clark
christian
dark chrls
tiant A study of
american far west prior to the exodus 1830
thesis brigham
Califor
california
californian
nial
californial
hastings
bastings
stingis
Ha
hastings referred to the bear river valley and the
great basin area in generally favorable terms
tion in
how-
1972
p
mormon knowledge
february 1846
187
of the
masters
83
830
0
oregon
on and call
hastings the emigrants guide to oreg
cali
fornia with historical note and bibliography by charles henry carey
prince
princeton
princeton
Con
1845
ton
reprinted
conclin
canclin
cincinnati george
clin
0
37 70
ap 36
university press 1932 pp
3637
lansford
W
32
church leaders studied these reports
of the west
western region
heber
C
area
among
themselves
As
and
talked of the
already mentioned brigham young and
kimball examined maps and reports of trav
travellers
ellers in the western
brigham young wrote that he and members of the twelve studied
fremonts journal
saturday 20 beauti
beaucl
beautlfui
ful morning 1I dictated the arrangements for the
beautiful
day
afterwards with a few of the twelve and others heard F D
emonts journal giving an account of his travels to
richards read Fr
fremonte
fremonts
california
1
on december 25
1845
president young and the twelve discussed the western
region
the twelve met in my room for council and prayer after considerable conversation about the western country we united in prayer
george smith was mouth
again on december
P
29
1845
2
president young noted that
pratt read fremonts journal to brother kimball
ordinary
members of the church
and
elder parley
me
also had access to western reports
newspapers and other periodicals such as the niles weekly
sangamon
sangamo
and published much information about the western
4
the church periodicals also published information about the
evening
for instance the eve
ni
i
west
sublette
about bonneville
may 3
1I
1843 and
221bid
4
october
29
1845
1845
published
star published information
the nauvoo neighbor between
fifty articles dealing with
1879
de18051879
manuscript history of the church 1805
LDS church historians office salt lake city utah
ibid
december 25
1845
ibid
bid
december 29
1845
christian
andd morning
and fremont
brigham young
cember 20
3
register
journal the american review the north american review and
others were widely read
regions
3Q
pp
ap
37
41
3741
33
1
the western country
of
available
this av
oftbis
airable information
it
has been said
the significance of the foregoing references consists in the fact
that when condition made a removal from illinois inevitable those
mormons who had read the church periodicals possessed valuable inon
format
formation
L
relative to the land they
california coast
it
and
oregon or the great basin
2
is obvious the information concerning the west
it
that
it
were going to whether
be the
readily available
was
could be obtained by both church leaders and members
salt lake
trav
travellers
ellers they
during the migration of the pioneer company to the
valley the saints also gained further information from
william clayton noted that personalities such as
had already studied
jim bridger and miles goodyear were encountered on the
men spoke
trail
3
these
favorably of the great basin region and helped the saints clar-
ify
i their perception of the area
when the
saints arrived in the salt lake valley they found
william clayton in-
environmental conditions
conditions that they did not expect
dicated in his journal that the saints
great basin environment would
knew
and would not
few
before their arrival what the
offer
them
on
s
anywhere
and
mostly
timber
sight
is
that
in
i
little
the banks of creeks and streams of water which is about the only objection which could be raised in my estimation to this being one of
the most beautiful valleys and pleasant places for a home for the
we
have
be
lacking
found
but
evidently
which
could
timber
is
saints
4
country
a
timbered
not expected to find
there is but
1
history of utah
press 1940 pp
35
ap 33
3335
andrew love neff
the deseret
news
2ibid9
bid
p
1847
to 1869
37
tongs
3william
awilliam
tonts journal
claytons
Clay
clayton
william
william
278 289
274
ap 2742789
2789
274278
deseret news 1921 pp
4ibid2
bid
p
salt lake city
309
salt lake city
the
34
the church leaders and
fair
the region to a
members must have understood the environment of
degree not to expect a well timbered country
the
mormon knowledge
their destination
knowing
of
irrigation
and the environment of
that destina-
tion church leaders were undoubtedly aware that irrigation would be required to raise crops
thomas
F
odea in the the
church leaders discussed the problem of
mormons
cormons
Mor mons
irrigation while in
noted that
nauvoo and
at winter quarters
moreover before migration the mormons had suspected that irrigation
I
might be necessary in their new location and had discussed the pro1
Quarters
at winter quarters1
kin
leonard J arrington in the great basin kingdom
also indicates that the
blem in nauvoo and
1
no
s
g
a
ike odea
1eke
gives
lve
ive
butt 1like
irrigation techniques bu
ilke
ode
2
no doubt church leaders were aware irrigasource for his information
church leaders discussed
tion would
be
necessary from reading fremonts journal
As
a
was
he
spoke
of
while
study
at
fremont
irrigation
in this
lt
c
in california
the other information studied
also indicate the rainfall
irrigation
would
likely
noted
earlier
suttees fort
sutters
by the church
leaders would
not sufficient for cultivation and that
was
be necessary
for successful agriculture
that
church leaders did realize this is evident from an important entry made
by brigham young on
february
26
1847
conversations ensued relative to the journey westward the const
ruction of boats pioneer traveling location seeds irrigation
struction
3
science etc
lthomas
thomas f
chicago press
1957
odea the
p
mormons
chicago
the university of
89
leonard J arrington great basin kingdom cambridge mass
harvard university press 1958 p 41
0
3brigham
brigham young
1847
18471
MS
manuscript history of the church february
US church historians office salt lake city utah
ls
l4s
L
26
35
this statement refers to
a
discussion
specific reference to irrigation
among
made by
church before their arrival in the
church leaders
a
the presiding elders of the
salt lake valley
later another reference to irrigation
is
and
only a few days
leader
was made by a church
while
speaking to the saints willard richards reasoned against moving the en-
tire
all at one time
milesj
miles
sJ to put in a
milesa
mlle
mile
body of church members west
if
crop this spring we
or 600 ms
shall probably be too late as the drought comes on much sooner in
that region of the country than it does here thus you see we will
have to be careful and select a location where we can irrigate
everything that we put into the ground which will doubtless require considerable of labour to build a dam cut races or make
1
troughs sufficient to water a farm of that size
we go 5
these statements
statements of brigham young
and
willard richards
may be
the only recorded references to irrigation made by church leaders before
the lack of additional references
their arrival in utah
be due to the
fact that the subject
may
corn
corrmon place
had become common
or
may
not
whatever
the case the passages above indicate a measure of awareness of irrigation
among
the church leaders
As
final evidence it should
be noted
that
the pioneers immediately began to irrigate
lake valley
deliberate or wait for crops to fail but immediately
this
would
entering the salt
upon
indicate that they
clayton recorded the event
on
knew
irrigation
july
23
they did not
dammed
would be needed
city creek
william
1847
the brethren immediately rigged three plows and went to plowing a
to
of camp another party went with spades etc
little northeast
make a dam on one of the creeks so as to throw the water at pleasure on the field designing
case
to
the
should
land
in
irrigate
rain
9
not come sufficiently
1ibid
bibid
bid
2
2clayton
clayton
march
6
p
313
1847
36
irrigation in the salt lake valley
more concerning
clayton also wrote
this land is beautifully situated for irrigation
many
nice streams
descending from the mountains which can be turned in every direction
1
so as to water any portion of the lands at pleasure
from
this statement
and the success of the
saints at irrigation
appear that they not only realized irrigation would be necessary
also had sufficient knowledge and skill to apply
it
would
but
it
summary
SUMM
the church leaders were well aware of their destination before
leaving nauvoo
great basin
gion and
in fact
they had studied and examined
felt it offered
their study they
knowing
and knew
would
and
through
its
what to expect upon
environment
their
the saints also
require irrigation and were sufficiently
irrigation techniques to apply
lloid
llbid
ib i d
reports of the re-
best location for settlement
essentially
their destination
realized that the region
aware of
them the
maps and
settle in the
had developed a reasonably accurate perception of the
great basin environment
arrival
by 1845 they had determined to
them
CHAPTER IV
DIFFUSION OF
irrigation
irrication
irritation
A
it
although
TO THE MORMONS
hypothesis
has been shown that the
latterday
latter day saints
and
their
leaders were aware of the principle of irrigation the question of the
origin of their information remains unanswered
ssible to
a
state categorically
where the mormons obtained
reasonable hypothesis can be inferred
if not entirely
ber of possible sources and routes of diffusion
it is
although
their
impo-
knowledge
proven
may be examined
A
num-
some
of which are more important than others
diffusion from the spanish
it is
the mormons
hypothesized that the diffusion of irrigation knowledge to
came
primarily from the spanish particularly from the santa
fe region and vicinity
this diffusion occurred primarily
the mormon battalion
santa fe trade and
by way
of the
the santa fe trade
the santa fe trade
may
have been the single most important medium
cormons
Mormons
along which irrigation knowledge diffused to the mormons
a
flourishing trade developed between santa fe
and independence
somewhere between 70 and 320 men a year made the
cities until
1
1846
thomas
p
after
trip
1822
missouri
between these
the following description of independence gives an
54
37
38
indication of the magnitude of the trade
by 1842 independence had become second only to st louis as a river
was the starting point of both the santa fe and oregon
port for
it
each spring greater numbers of emigrants were setting out
for the northwest and each year the traffic over the santa fe trail
was expanding
at the height of the spring season the town was
trails
overrun with emigrants river men trappers buffalo hunters traders
and teamsters fighting over the scant grazing for their thousands
1
of horses mules and oxen
the traders
santa fe
explorers
saw and noted the
and frontiersmen who made the journey to
irrigated fields of the area
william beck-
nell conducted the first trading expedition to santa fe in the early
18201s
1820s
2
he noted in
corn
rice
his journal the following
and wheat are
their principal productions they
have very
few garden vegetables except the onion which grows large and abundantly the seeds are planted nearly a foot apart and produce onions
from four to six inches in diameter
their atmosphere is remarkuncommon
mimon
nimon except in the months of july and
ably dry and rain is unco
unconimon
august to rem
edy this inconvenience they substitute with tolerremedy
decena from the mountains
able advantage the numerous streams which decend
dy damming
by
darning them up and conveying the water over their farms in
daming
ditches
in
3
another traveller on the santa fe
1825
trail
M
marmaduke
M
noted
in his journal the use of irrigation at santa fe
regards the face of the country it is in general remarkably
poor and sterile as not any kind of grain or vegetable can at any
season of the year be raised without being watered by water from
As
ralph
1963
p
moody
212
the old
trails
west
new york
thomas
2
Y
2hiram
shiram
hiram martin chittenden the american fur trade of the
vols new york rufus rockwell wilson inc 1936 25010
2501
33thomas
bthomas
lick
ical
0
crowell
far west
2
thomas becknell
the journals of capt thomas becknell from boones
to santa fe and from santa cruz to green river missouri histor78
review francis A sampson ed 4 january 1910
11
0
39
canals taken from springs or the rivers which run through the coun-
try
1
traveller
perhaps the best know
josiah gregg
times
trader
and
on the
santa fe
between 1831 and 1840 he traveled the santa
later
also wrote
he
dished
lished in 1844
2
a book
trail was
fe trail four
about his experiences which was pub
in his book he noted the use of irrigation at santa
fe
the necessity of irrigation has confined and no doubt will
continue to confine agriculture principally to the valleys of the
3
constant flowing streams
he
acequia
also noted the use of the spanish ac
equia
mother ditch suffices generally to convey
water for the irrigation of an entire valley or at least for all
one acequia madre
the fields of one town or settlement
4
irrigation to give
gregg goes on in his discussion of
acequia
equia its repair
tailed account of the ac
techniques of irrigation
no doubt the
and use
a
and
brief but
de-
other spanish
5
explorers and traders
who
returned to the western
frontier of the united states spoke of their observations and explained
the use of irrigation to others such information would have been of
great interest
and
also would have widely diffused along the frontier
region by word of mouth
am
1m
M
M
marmaduke
missouri historical review
2
norman
xvii
xxii
santa fe
F
A
trail
M
sampson ed
marmaduke
M
6
Corm nerce of the prai
pral
prairies
josiah gregg commerce
oklahoma
university of oklahoma press
3ibid
bibid
ibid
4ibidl
bid
51bid
bibid
5ibid
107
p
pp
ap
107
108
107108
october
max L
1954
journal
1911
moorhead ed
pp xix
ap
10
40
that there
great interest in the santa fe area is evident
attention given the subject
from the
icals
was
by both
city
front
nier periodfrontier
tier
and
these newspapers and magazines further helped to diffuse infor-
mation about santa fe
for instance the
niles
weekly
articles dealing with santa fe neil N
analysis of the register found this to be the case
lished
many
register
pub-
luxon in his
the santa fe traders furnished many news items in the twenties
most of them were factual ones about the
and again in the forties
goods traded or were descriptive of the southwest 1
the north american review also published articles dealing with
ea
area
the santa fe ar
for instance an article in
1845
specifically points
out the use and need of irrigation at santa fe
agriculture owing to the necessity of frequent irrigation is
principally confined to the borders of the few streams where water
can be found throughout the year nor can it be expected to flour2
ish in the absence of the means of transportation
other periodicals also carried reports and descriptions of irir
rigation at santa fe
becknells
and marmadukes accounts of
as quoted in this study were also published by the missouri
sencer
it
that information about santa fe including details
would appear
was
available
on
ineil
neil
nell
neli norval luxon niles
century
the nineteenth cen
1947
intelli
3
irrigation
about
irrigation
the frontier
traders
and
explorers
register news magazine of
louisiana state university press
weekly
baton rouge
235
p
particle
2article
article
articie
0
VII
broaders and company
201
202
1965
201202
the north american review
revie vol
1845
reprint
ed
new york
AMS
boston otis
press inc
60
9
3
francis A sampson the journals of capt thomas becknell from
green
cruz
to
and
from
santa
santa
to
fe
river missouri
boones lick
historical review
marmaduke
journal
4
santa fe trail
january 1910 65
missouri historical review 6 october
M
M
1911
1
41
brought back the information and
it
was
diffused
by
periodical and
by
word of mouth
for twenty years the latterday
latter day saints had been
the saints had even lived in independence for a short time
lishing
still
nauvoo they were
after estab-
only a short distance from this terminal
this provided the church leaders
of the santa fe trade
frontier
on the
and members an
ideal location to acquire information relative to irrigation as
even
place in the spanish southwest
it
posely sought
its
area
would be
if
it
the information were not pur-
f i cult not to hear or read of the santa fe
dlf
dif
difficult
1
people and customs
not only were the saints near the santa fe trade but they
it
have also taken
part in
sters
evidently went to santa fe to trade for the church
henry
and some
some
may
church members may have been team-
bigler recorded in his journal
W
took
a meeting with such a
trader
this afternoon we
as
fs ilc
i c he had left
met a brother mckinzy returning from santa fee
nauvoo sometime last spring as 1I understood to go
on a mission to trade for the church and is now on his way to council
1
bluffs
this passage
indicate that direct contact with santa fe did exist
would
and no doubt knowledge of
leaders and members
the
irrigation techniques diffused to church
by way of the
santa fe
trail
battalion
mormon
other contact between the church leaders and santa fe
lished
by
the
mormon
battalion
was
estab-
these five hundred volunteers were
mustered into the army of the west to defend santa fe during the mexican
war of 1846
1henry
ahenry
enry
25
1846
MS
they traveled extensively through the southwest and
bigler
1850
diary of henry W bigler 1846
18461850
brigham young university library provo utah
W
august
42
notes in personal diaries of irrigation methods being car-
several
made
ried
at santa fe
on
and the
vicinity
one of these
soldiers henry
G
boyle wrote the following
there are considerable many spaniards or rather 1I may say mexicans
living on this river thier tsic3
sic mode of living & farming
is
singular enough to me but they seem to get along & seem to be
happy enough
sic land for cutlivation bici
thier frici
is enclosed
sici
fsici
sic
on acount
by ditches hedges & adoba sic walls
account isial
of
the
sici
isicl
bici
dry seasons in this country they have to irrigate all this farming
land thier jsic3
sic vineyards orchards which is done by leading the
water from the river through ditches through all their grain &
1
every thing else that is raised or produced
T
sc
&
samuel
rogers also noted in his journal the irrigation methods being
H
used in the santa fe
vicinity
in this country the settlers occupy the vallies sic near the
streams so that they can lead the water upon their fields and
gardens
thus irrigating the land
members of the
this
of the santa fe area
family friends
battalion
saw
2
first
knowledge could
and church
leaders
by
hand the
irrigation practices
easily
have been diffused to
letter
or word of mouth
ever a more direct means of diffusion probably occurred
after reaching santa fe
were
instructed to continue
on to council
certainly then church leaders
A
boyle
1855
1830
18301855
october 24
provo utah
5
2samuel
ssamuel
samuel
MS
holister rogers
1886
1840
18401886
october
provo utah
12
individuals
perhaps they were even made aware
later
autobiography and diary of henry
1846
1846p
1846
the
bluffs carrying dispatches
of irrigation methods used in the santa fe vicinity
G
few
left
were able to receive news and information
about the brethren in the battalion
henry
before and
detachments of sick and disable men
battalion to proceed to pueblo for the winter
how-
MS
brigham young university
twelve of the
G
boyle
library
journal of samuel holister rogers
brigham young university library
43
battalion overtook the pioneer vanguard
on
july
before their arrival at the salt lake valley
irrigation
4
several weeks
1847
again information about
diffused to the church leaders
may have been
other direct communication with the battalionat
battalion at santa fe also
mail
occurred
etc
money
was
duals acting as messengers
dividuals
divi
sent
by mormon
soldiers
for instance john
D
by way of
lee
was
sent
inby
church leaders to santa fe to collect the pay of the battalion members
he spent ten days in santa fe and noted in
was
his journal that irrigation
practiced
they raise some wheat squaw corn onions red peppers squashed & c
they cultivate the valley only and are under the necessity of water2
ing all the stuff they raise
young
president
he
quarters
to
reported
to
returning
winter
later after
pres
youngs presant unicl
7
1
met
at
in council
at I
sic B young
knicl
kimble G A smith W woodruff A lyman 0 pratt egan
pres young requested me to give a ahistory
history of my
and myself
journey to santa fe bici
sici1I which 1I did they appeared much interested at the history of the country manners and customs 3 of the
mexicans our own prosperity deliverance and protection
H
C
lee probably also described the irrigation methods he
saw being prac-
ticed at santa fe
regarding the
members of the
red
mormon
battalion several things
battalion
ed around santa fe
applied
eppli
there
1
saw
was
first
hand
may
irrigation
thus be infermethods being
contact between these brethren and
later on the mormon trail therefore it is very likely that additional irrigation knowledge diffused
church leaders at council bluffs and
1clayton
clayton p 282
22john
ajohn
john
john D lee di
and
of
records
official
diaries
arles
aries
provo
young
MS
5
brigham
1846
university
utah
october
1
.3
3
charles
4477
184647
18464
charles
charies kelly ed journals of john D lee 1846
21
ap 20
2021
salt lake city western printing company 1938 pp
4
D
lee
and 1859
44
from santa fe by way of the
dn to the church leaders before the
battalion
Battali
saints arrived at the salt lake valley
other sources of diffusion
other sources of information about irrigation were also available to the church leaders
these were of less importance than those
already discussed but were no doubt additional sources of knowledge
the mississippi saints
saintts
the mississippi saints were one source of diffusion which followed essentially the same route as the mormon battalion
members were led by john brown from
these church
mississippi to fort laramie in
in hopes of intercepting the main body of the saints moving west
the main body of the church did not
and spent the
group went south
this
if
group of
saints
saw
move
west
winter at pueblo
1847
it
in the surrounding country
it
is likely that
1I s
1
way
practiced at pueblo and
john brown went on to winter quarters
it
young and the vanguard group
went west with brigham youngand
he reported to the church leaders on
and
is likely
his experience with the mississippi
at fort laramie the pioneer vanguard
the mississippi saints who joined them
saints
since
the mississippi
irrigation being practiced along their
not they certainly had opportunity to see
later
until
1846
was
also met
by
several of
men soon come down from the fort which is about two miles
from here and made themselves known as a part of the mississippi
company from pueblo
caused us
they have been here two weeks
much joy to meet with brethren in this wild region of country and
2
also because we should have some news from the brethren in the army
several
it
1clayton
clayton
2ibidt
bid
p
p
165
207
45
this again
was an
opportunity for the church leaders to gain additional
insight into irrigation procedures from
1I
rigation practiced first
men who had
probably seen
ir-
hand
general knowledge
knowl
another source of information about irrigation that is usually
overlooked
may be
general
labeled 11gener
al knowledge
As
pointed out in the in-
duction of this paper irrigation has been practiced for hundreds of
tro
troduction
years in
mbers
as
many
parts of the world
it
is unreasonable to think that me-
of the church had never heard of such a widely used and ancient art
certainly there
irrigation
days who
at least
particularly have
hae
and was so
fore
it
term
had a general understanding of
interested in the bible lands
some
this should
and missionary work
there-
general knowledge of irrigation was had by
members of the church
irrigation
irrigation
been true in a church which highly regarded learning
is felt that
individual
were learned and educated men in those
by church
this is evidenced
leaders and
members
by the use of the
several passages al-
ready cited indicate that the presiding elders of the church and members
of the
mormon
writings
how
battalion
were
familiar with the term
and used
it
in their
widespread such knowledge was is impossible to estimate
the diffusion of this information to individuals is difficult to trace
nevertheless
it
seems to have
existed
46
orson hyde
IN vowm0ow
another source of information about irrigation
an apostle of the church
mormons to come
called as
a
was undoubtedly one of the
into direct contact with irrigation
missionary in
visit
in fact he
1840
orson hyde
was
elder hyde
first
was
to
cities
of london amsterdam constantinople and
jerusalem and also other places which they may deem expedient
to converse with the priests rulers and elders of the jews and
1
obtain from them all information possible
he
the
visited egypt syria
and lebanon
and had
opportunity to see irriga-
while in jerusalem he ob-
tion being practiced in several locations
served and noted the use of irrigation
plenty of water there for baptizing besides a surplus
to the
quanity
juanity sent off in a limpid stream as a grateful
tribute
2
thirsty plants of the garden in the valley
1I found
it is
possible that elder hyde gave a
rigation techniques
when he
returned
detailed description of ir-
more
home
in
1842
indians
another early source of information
indians
it
is possible that
settlements and irrigation
church
there is
some knowledge
may have
oliver
of the spanish southwest
diffused from the indians to the
no way of confirming
noted that one missionary
the western
may have been
this hypothesis but
cowdery
it
can be
learned of a tribe of navajo
indians living only three hundred miles west of santa fe
3
perhaps
times and seasons commerce illinois april 1840 p0 86
orson hyde to the brethren of the twelve trieste january 1
20rson
jerusalem
1878
18051878
1842 as quoted in joseph S hyde comp orson hyde 1805
ap
nauvoo salt lake city
np 1933 p 17
joseph smith history of the church of jesus christ of latter
H
B
day saints period 1I with an introduction and notes by b0
roberts
news
1902
6 vols
1182
lake
deseret
city
salt
0
47
missionaries also gained information concerning santa fe
itself
samuel brannan
one
other minor source of information
brannan conducted a group of
san francisco
may be
latterday
latter day saints
had opportunity to see
considered
samuel
by sea from new york to
irrigation being practiced in the
As
already
pointed out the saints
Sut ters
fort
later at sutters
lers
themselves practiced some minor irrigation in california As a result
vicinity
and
aquainted with
brannan should have been well acquainted
left
san francisco
and
irrigation
in
1847 he
green
young
gham
the
intercepted frigham
aham
at
river
fri
i
after dinner the brethren
commenced making two
rafts
one
for each
and while afterwards elder samuel brannan arrived having
davison
di
divison
vison
1
come from the pacific to meet us obtain council etc
his main purpose
fornia
was
he did not succeed and
feasible that
it
it
later returned to san fancisco
he may have provided
gation having seen
rigation
rt gatlon
it
to convince president young to continue to cali-
is
additional information concerning ir-
practiced in the san francisco area
however
is not possible to confirm this idea
summary
summ
several possible sources of information concerning irrigation
were
available to the church leaders and
members
knowledge of
irriga-
tion likely diffused from the santa fe area to the frontier and thus to
mormons
Mormons
the cormons
it
also appears that
of the general milieu of the day
mormons
some knowledge
it
of irrigation was part
would be very
surprising if the
hadnt utilized it
the
maps on pages 49 and 50 show
iclayton
clayton
p
281
possible routes of diffusion
48
map 2 shows
fe area
santa fe
the major source of irrigation information to be the santa
the route of diffusion from this region centers around the
trail
fe traders
which was used by both the mormon
map 3 shows
battalion
and the
the minor routes of irrigation diffusion
illustrated
difficult if not impossible to trace in detail
routes were of less importance and
some as
by the map
santa
these
are
major
f usion
dlf
dif
diffusion
routes
W
mormon trail
santa fe trade
mormon battalion
I1
0
minor
f usion
dlf
dif
diffusion
routes
mormon trail
mississippi saints
JN
N
J
r
0
samuel brannan
general knowledge
orson hyde
indians
r
CHAPTER V
irrigation
DIFFUSION OF
FROM THE MORMONS
whatever brigham youngs contribution
it
rigation farming
was confined to
a statement could not be
nor can
it
own
to
such
the contributions of
be
once firmly
established
became the primary source
irrigation diffused to other areas of the western states
through cooperative effort
ditches and
dams were
for which they
built
tion in utah gave the saints
methods
a
greater
in the next
tical application spread
as far east and west as
as
As
2
acres were being artifically
artificially watered
early as
california
canals
1850 more
than 16000
the rapid development of irrigaand more
practical
fifty years this
far north
diffusion of irrigation
became well known
valleys in the immediate vicinity
and the
of the great salt lake were irrigated
direct
and people
said that the great effect and influence of these
be
day saints
in the rocky mountains the latter
latterday
irrigation
1
ir-
irrigation farming cannot
contributions has been confined to utah alone
from which
to
he made any
state
further from the truth
latterday
latter day saints
brigham young and the
denied
his
if
knowledge of
knowledge and
its
prac-
and south as canada and mexico and
and colorado
was of two
basic types
typesdirect
direct and in-
ples
principles
direct diffusion of irrigation princl
princi pies
was accomplished by
the mormons themselves as they personally took the practice of irrigation
idaho
1steinel
feinel
te inel p 184
teinel
0
2alfred
aalfred
gol2e
golee
alfred
aifred R gol2fe
colze reclamation in the united states caldwell
6
p 60
on printers ltd 1961
caxton
the cax4
51
PAP 4
state
of
deseret
53
the
esthe
isthe
it is
ide of utah
directly to areas outs
outside
most
significant
cant
signa
signf
and eas
oly
ely
aas
easily
indirect diffusion of irrigation principles occurred
traced ddiffusion
lon
if fus ion
non mormons came into contact with mormon
as nonmormons
irrigation
this diffusion
the practices they saw to other regions of the west
followed many variable routes
is
and
more
and then spread
difficult to trace
direct diffusion
essentially
what
is termed direct diffusion in the study refers
to the colonization program that was so energetically pursued
young and
his predecessors
by the
by brigham
turn of the last century valleys
of many western states had been colonized and irrigated by
neers and even areas of mexico and canada had received
mormon pa
pio0
p1
1
mormon
settlers
eventually the saints applied for statehood and proposed state boun-
all of their settlement area
u ded nearly
daries which would have
includednearly
included
incl
have inci
can be seen from
map
four the
the intermountain region
and the
great plains
to colonize alaska
united states can
carl
3
2
upshur county texas
college
was
today the
still
1949
state
settlement
it
hearne
R
new
be
would have encompassed much of
was even made as
also once rumored that
mormon
traced by
As
far east as texas
mormons were going
cultural region in the western
its distinctive
the history of the
mormon
landscape features
colony of kelsey
masters thesis east texas state teachers
2
2richard
arichard
richard H jackson mormon perception and settlement of the
great plains image of the plains ed brian blouet and merlin lawson
press
forthcoming
of
nebraska
university
nebraska
lincoln
33frank
afrank
review
frank
A
25
april
4
4dD
ad
W
golder
1920
the purchase of alaska
414
american
historical
meinig the mormon culture region
strategies and pat1964
annals of the
18471964
terns in the geography of the american west 1847
191
220
191220
association of american geographers 55 june 1965
4
54
four periods of
mormon
colonization
may be
recognized
recognizedO three
of these periods occurred under brigham young and the fourth after his
the
death
first
period of colonization encompassed the years from
during this time one hundred towns were established
to 1857
these were in utah but settlement was also
of
fort bridger fort supply the
1
and san bernardino
however
in
salmon
1857 an
1847
most of
in the outlying areas
made
river carson valley las vegas
event of considerable geo-
graphical significance occurred as these outlying settlements were aban
2
arrival of johnstons army
this contraction
colonization pattern is especially important when con-
doned
boned due to the expected
of the
mormon
sidering
si dering the fact that several of these outlying settlements were never
re
reestablished
established
1867
3
during the second period of colonization from 1858 to
135 towns were
established
most
again mo
st of these settlements were
in utah but a number were also established in nevada and arizona
third period of settlement
127 new
settlements
a
from 1868 to 1877
new
establishment of
great number of which were outside of utah
1877 brigham young died having
after his death
saw the
directed a total settlement of
settlements continued to
be
established
the total number of colonies founded during
imately 1912
the
in
360 towns
up to approx-
all four
per-
iods was well over four hundred
1milton
amilton
milton
mllton
the deseret
R
news
utah in her western setting
1943
360
pp
ap 359
359360
hunters
hunter
press
29
salt lake city
johnstons army or the so
called utah expedition refers to
socalled
united states troops sent to utah by president buchanan to put down a
supposed mormon rebellion
the expedition was led by general albert
johns ton in 1857 to 1858 the revolt was shown to be non
johnston
and
nt
existent
nonexistent
existe
no blood was shed
3
meinig
sunter
hunter
mormon
pp
ap
culture region
362
363
362363
p
201
4
55
the significance of the
fact that the
settlers
mormon
mormon
colonization effort lies in the
took with them knowledge and experience in
irrigation to the surrounding western states
irrigators in
areas
many
and
they were
contributed greatly to the irrigation
knowledge and experience of nearly every western
mormons
cormons
Mor mons
ssaid
of
id
the
sald
al
cities
first
the
among
it
state
has been
0
flourished throughout the area and they
are found today in arizona idaho nevada and california and to a
lesser degree in other western states their influence on the culture of the west is another story but the experience with reclamation that was achieved at salt lake was put to good use through
the mormon settlements so that western irrigation flourished and
mormon
and towns
prospered under
mormon
to examine the
1
guidance
mormon
influence on irrigation in the west
a
systematic state by state approach is in order
arizona
first
the
the
mormon
mormon
battalion
most of the
arizona to california in
the
contact with the arizona region
salt lake valley
1846
battalion
later provided
mation concerning the arizona region and
thirty three
thirtythree
initiative
tive or
intiative
intia
upon
homes
members made the
members
a
wealth of infor-
its possible colonization
this
however
request of church authorities eventually
irrigation in arizona
was only a temporary
1go1ze
golze
goize
boize
2
james
p
H
and
of the battalion either on their
in arizona and applied their knowledge of the area
mormon
trek across
before joining the main body of saints in
no doubt they
irrigation
was through
first
began as early as 1851
settlement
3
made
their
hand
tubac
at aubac
permanent settlement
9
mcclintock
the manufacturing stationers
3ibid
bibid
bid 56
mormon settlement
inc 1921 p 35
own
in arizona
phoenix
56
did not begin until later
and did not reach a peak
until the late
1870s and early 1880s
generally speaking the
mormon
the north and gradually moved south
irrigation of arizona
first agriculture practiced
the
airzona was that done by the
in northern vairzona
mormons
littlefield
1
on the
virgin river in
1864
salt
little
dams
now
colorado area
gila rivers
and
eventually arizona
near the mexican border
at beaver
irrigation later spread
through northern arizona and then south to the
from here settlement expanded to the
began in
and
later
became one of the more
settlers entered
in all of the arizona settlements irrigation was of primary
importance canals ditches and dams were all used to reclaim the
arizona soil while indian and spanish methods and systems of irrigaheavily colonized states that
mormon
tion had dominated the limited agriculture of arizona for
mormon
mormonamerican
american
many
years
techniques eventually overtook these older systems
2
these newer irrigation economics greatly aided the development of arizona
particularly central arizona
given a great deal of credit for the
in
important
summary mormon
in this area the
areas prosperity
reclamation in arizona
irrigated acreage
mormons have been
was extended and
was widespread and
older spanish irrigation
systems improved or overshadowed by mormon cooperative
following passage best describes the
1ibid1
bid
3ward
award
ward
vols
phoenix
R
p 117
pe
adams
mormon
record publishing company
efforts
the
contribution
bhutchins
2hutchins
utchins
history of arizona
3
p
ed by
1930
279
richard
2283
83
E
sloan
4
57
the agricultural growth of arizona was given great impetus by the
mormon settlements which began about 1876 and which introdued
dued a
introduced
intro
new set of irrigation institutions into the territory 1
colorado
the diffusion of
irrigation to colorado occurred in
mormon
general areas
the san luis valley and southwestern colorado
areasthe
san
luis valley the
mormons were
a number of mexican
mentioned
in 1840
sive in their efforts
families
and
in the
first to irrigate As before
had first begun irrigation there
irrigatory
first irrigators
though not the
2
not the
two
the mormons were more exten
eventually the spanish and mexican influx
influ
ence was considerably lessened
3
seventy two
seventytwo
the san luis valley in 1878 from pueblo
settlers arrived in
these settlers were not from
utah but rather from georgia and alabama
they were led by elder john
morgan
and had been
at pueblo since
1877
4
mormon
brigham young had advised
settle these southern saints at a site where abundant
5
i
water could be obtained for cheap irrigation
gatlon
after locating in the
irrl
itri gation
san luis valley the southern saints were strengthened by the arrival
of ninety more settlers from manti utah sent by president young
since the southern saints had little or no knowledge of irrigation the
6
arrival of the manti saints was of special importance
elder
morgan to
1
hutchins
1
278
p
92
judson harold flowersjr
flowerjr
jr mormon colonization of the san luis
flower
1900
18781900
valley colorado 1878
masters thesis brigham young univer-
sity
1966
p
139
3
hutchins
hutchins
281
p
4
david william lantis the san luis valley colorado sequent
rural occupance in an intermountain basin phd dissertation ohio
ohl0
ohi
240
ap 201
201240
state university 1950 pp
1
5
flower
p
23
glantis
lentis
lantis
p
206
58
by 1881 the landscape of the san
luis valley
had been
altered
considerably with forty thousand acres of land under cultivation and
six
towns
1
settled
eventually nine
communities were established
mormon
considerably greater acreage irrigated
settlers also
had dispersed throughout the valley settling individual sites without de
2
finite community structure
many canals and ditches were constructed and irrigation carried
and a
out on a respectable scale
money
had
tion works
the
some mormon
the main problem encountered
was
lack of
sufficient funds been available to finance additional irrigamormon expansion in the valley would have been much greater
mormons were
also the
first
to see the need for reservoirs in the
but again money for such projects was not available
nearby mountains
despite these restrictions the
mormon
3
settlers contributed greatly to
the irrigation development of the valley
I1
other
mormon
irrigation development occurred in the
weber valleys of southwestern colorado in the san juan
mancos and
river drainage
the
first
was
able to rent a farm in the mancos valley because of his irrigation
settler to
mormon
knowledge and experience
come
to the area was joseph
he farmed
there in
S
smith
he
1880 and moved to the weber
settlers came canals and ditches gradually
ally
aily
especially
extended and a reservoir was built the weber valley was aspeci
especi
suited for irrigation and extensive farming of which the mormon settlers
valley in
As more
1881
I1
settlement continued past
took advantage
was
still later in
established
bibid
1ibid
bid
3
3land
aland
lantis
iss
226
p
pp
ap
227 208
2279
1905 the
1901 when
the town of kline
red mesa area was also settled
flower
pp
ap
62
118
62118
59
families
by mormon
who
eventually a reservoir
the
mormon
important than in
recognized the irrigation
also built in this area
was
influence
many
on
and was of
1
irrigation in colorado
was
probably less
other western states being basically confined to
the southern part of the state
occur
possibilities there
nevertheless
considerable importance on
mormon
a
irrigation did
local basis
idaho
the diffusion of
june
1855
18
1942
irrigation ditch
on june 27 the
and corn
first
began on
with the establishment of the salmon river mission or fort
ceeded to build an
2
19422
irrigation experience to idaho
almost immediately after their arrival the
lemhi
leahi
the
mormon
pattee creek
this
crop was watered
still
and may
be
and
same
mormon
settlers
plant peas potatoes
was
pro-
turnips
diverted into the ditch and
ditch
still
was
in use at the present time
in use as late as
during that
first
year at lemhi
leahi extensive acreage was not irrigated due to the lateness of
3
the season
but in the following years fort lemhi
leahi became the
of substantial irrigation enterprise in idaho
established
by new
was
iwas
two
miles south of fort lemhi
leahi
by brigham young
colonists sent
another fort
was
area
also
and both were strengthened
in 1857
unfortunately lemhi
leahi
tonts army
abandoned in 1858 due to the approach of Johns
johnstons
indian attacks
first
and severe
4
ijohn
john franklin palmer mormon settlements in the san juan basin
masters thesis brigham young university
of colorado and new mexico
86
1967
ap 55
5586
19670 pp
am
2m
M
history of southeastern idaho caldwell idaho
138 320
ap 138t
the caxton printers ltd 1942 pp
3
W
J mcconnell early history of idaho caldwell idaho the
47
ap 46
caxton printers 1913 pp
4647
D
beal
A
0
beai
beal
seal
pp
ap
142
144
142144
0
60
mormon
irrigation in idaho
mormon
of
when a small group
was
settlers
re
reestablished
established april
founded the town of
quickly put into use canal and ditch systems
lin lies in the fact that it
first
idaho and thus the
temporary
irrigation
and lemhi
leahi
2
and
was the
valley were settled
irrigated
and
irrigation purposes
made
during the
and
its
same time
became
was used to
period
important
4
was so
irrigate
mormon
gradually spread northward during the 1870s and 1880s
present day idaho falls
laprai
at lapwai
152
extenand as
eagle rock
and the surrounding area came under mormon
flux of settlers during the years
pp
ap
the
settlement
rigation during the 1870s while the snake fork area experienced
1ibid
bibid
bid
settle-
streams were tapped for
in fact irrigation in this valley
result dry farming eventually
only
the bear river valley and bear lake
sive that all available water in the area
a
per
menant settlement made in
permenant
saw the expansion of mormon
malad valley came under colonization
3
and
the importance of frank-
settlement had previously been
during the 1860s
1860
franklin
to develop a complete irrigation
irrgation
irr gation system
the following years in idaho
ments northward
first
1
14
1883 to 1884
ir-
an in-
rexburg serving as
with redburg
320
ac
2cC
J brosnan history of the state of idaho new york chicago
ap 82
83
and boston
charles scribners sons 1918 pp
8283
3
3russell
brussell
kussell R rich history of the latterday
russell
latter day saint settlement of
masters thesis brigham young university 1948
the bear lake valley
p 32 and leslie L sudweeks
early agricultural settlements in
28 april 1937
southern idaho the pacific northwest quarterly
arter
147
145
145147
4
glade
lade F
thesis brigham
early history of malad valley
p 96
1960
university 1960t
howell
young
masters
61
the center of development
oscar
speaking of idaho as part of the northwest
winther
0
said
reaching signiffarreaching
this pattern established by the mormons was of far
icance to the pacific northwest inasmuch as the saints migrated
into the snake river region to which place they brought with them
and made use of the irrigation codes and methods of operation suc2
great
cessfully
cess
fully devised in the
salt lake region
the mormons then brought to idaho the first permanent irrigation
and
in the years that followed they contributed in
settlement
to irrigation and expanded their influence northward
was one of
by 1914 idaho
staces
the most extensively irrigated spaces
stac es in america
least partial credit
fo
forr
many ways
3
that achievement belongs to the early
and
at
mormon
settlers
nevada
although there was
some
settlement eventually
saints in eastern nevada the initial
mormon
irrigation
nevada
was to
a
trading post which
1
1893
1883
18831893
2
knopf
diffusion of
first
S
beatie arrived from
site overlooking the carson valley
became known as
the
mormon
western
station
and founded a
4
A
year later in
earl ricks mormon settlement of snake river fork country
ap 37 51
masters thesis brigham young university 1950 pp
normon
oscar osburn winther the great northwest new york
1955
3hiram
shiram
hiram
p
300
of idaho
french history of
the lewis publishing company 1914 1365
4
latterday
latter day
nevadas western and southern valleys
captain joseph demont and hampton
1850
salt lake city at
A
and most important
or the carson valley area was settled
in
made by
T
russell
R
versity of nebraska
history
elliott
press
1973
pp
ap
2
vols chicago and
alfred
new york
off nevada lincoln nebraska uni50
51
5051
62
1851 john
and began
reese
salt lake with supplies
came from
planting and irrigating
1
bought the stati
ony
station
stalion
stallon
ont
stations
stationt
eventually he
watermelons turnips
raising wheat barley corn watermelons
his efforts at farming the first
by a white man
others coming from utah to settle the area
mon
was
and
successful in
other vegetables
2
in nevada resulted in
after
1855 a number
of mor-
families established themselves in washoe valley jacks valley
eagle valley and carson valley
vailey and built irrigation works to sustain
their agricultural
economy
3
brigham young sent orson hyde to the region
effective control of the area
to having a substantial and successful
established church organization
and he
the settlers were well
agricultural
despite
on the way
economy when the
and
outer settlements were recalled in
their irrigation
mormons
Mormons
the removal of the cormons
4
1857
5
work and influence
remained for others to use and copy
in southern nevada
las vegas in
muddy
river
6
1855
it
in
1864 mormon
this
first
construction of ditches and canals
money were expended
mormon
each new community was surveyed and
As
along the muddy river one of the
and
colonization also took place
in southern nevada where the
was here
was most pronounced
colonization and irrigation began at
mormon
considerations
at
on the
influence
settled
was the placement
times considerable work and
in surveying and constructing the irrigation systems
especially true of the lower valley as opposed to the upper
was
valley which did not require construction of
1
thompson and west
29
juanita brooks
uarte
ical society quarterly
3
elliott
brooks
18
31
the mormons in carson county
spring 1965 11
116
115
115116
pp
ap
p
8
p
large canals
dams and
and brooks
elliott
pp
ap
pp
ap
nevada
histor-
19
20
1920
116
115
115116
6ibid
bibid
bid
t p
54
4
63
163
463
the mormons foresight enabled them to grow grain cotton
however
the irrigation
and even sugar cane
falfa corn orchards vineyards
al-
systems proved to be adequate except in times of severe drought such as
in
even then
1869
the
settlers helped alleviate the
problem by build-
ing a new canal three miles long and six feet deep in only five days
1
settlers had come to the muddy valley to warrant
irrigation company to protect water rights and in-
by 1895 enough
the formation of an
sure proper water distribution
today
thanks to the foresight of the
early settlers the irrigation system remains adequate
success
and
irrigation
a
2
new mexico
there are three broad irrigation regions in the state of
mexico
the
mexicothe
eastern plains the central valley of the rio grande
3
the western plateaus
new
and
spanish and mexican irrigation greatly affected
the irrigation development of the
first
two
regions
but never affected
the western plateaus to any great extent due to their remoteness and
hostile indians
4
it
remained for mormon
irrigation
development of
this region
it
is likely that
mormon
settlers
interest in
to influence the
new mexico as a
region for
settlement and missionary activity dates back to the experience of the
pearson
starr corbett
masters thesis brigham
2
young
history of the
university 1968
A
muddy mission
98
pp
ap 93
9398
years
barabell
2arabell
muddy springvile
comp
100
on the mu
Spring vile
arabell lee hafner
a328
28
327
ap 3273
327328
utah art city publishing company 1967 pp
i3history
history of new mexico its resources and people 2 vols los
angles chicago and new york pacific states publishing company 1907
1992 4
palmer
p
76
76
64
mormon
sites for settlement
battalion
work were noted by
battalion
and
their
and
members
opportunities for missionary
knowledge and experience
abers
were a source of information to other me
members
mbers of the church
the main region of
va
valley
iley
the san juan vailey
new mexico
colonized by
the western edge of
but was of less importance
new mexico was
mormon
settlers
the san juan basin
first
were not the
3
anglo
angloamerican
american
settlers
who
some
to irrigate the land of
arr
arrived
i ved before the
1
extent
mormons
it
however
experience and greater impetus to irrigation
knowledge and past experience to
dam
first
prehistoric indians in the san juan region
irrigated the san juan area to
who gave
settlers was
2
also settled
the san juan settlements were established
during the 1880s and eventually numbered six
si x
the
mormon
1
were the
also had
was the mormons
they used their
establish canals ditches
and even a
4
fortunately
supply
mormon
irrigation
was aided by an adequate
water
the san juan river and its tributaries constitute the greatest
all the surface
water source available in new mexico with five eigths of
basino
water in the state passing through this river basina
basin
As a
H
result of abundant water
and mormon
5
irrigation technique
foster history of mormon settlements in mexico and
masters thesis university of new mexico 1937 p 99
mannie
new mexico
221bid
83
ap 66
6683
ibid pp
3
3history
history of new mexico
4palmer
jpalmer
paimer
palmer
pp
ap
7
pp
ap
865 and palmer
864
864865
p
29
75
52
5harland
charland
harland bartholomew and associates preliminary report
economy population land use major streets and central business
new
farmington
mexico
st louis 1967 p 4
district
4
65
this part of
the
mormon
new mexico was
contribution
ed
stabilized
stabilised
stabililed
stabilis
was an
and increased in value
thus
important one in this area of new mexico
wyoming
in
wyoma
ngmormon
ng mormon
wyoming
wyoml
the bridger valley
area settled
was
star valley area
irrigation occurred in three
main regions
the star valley and the big horn basin
the bridger valley in the early 18501s
1850s
finally the big horn basin
and
process of settlement the
mormons
first
next came the
settled
darlng this
daring
brought to these three separate areas
of wyoming their irrigation knowledge and
having passed through
was
the
edger
bridger
fort bri
abilities
on the way to the
great salt
initially
lake valley brigham young later tried to purchase the fort
fort bridger the
1
mormons established fort supply only twelve miles away
near this fort
a two hundred acre field was planted and irrigated
this was the first
agriculture and irrigation of any consequence carried out in the state
the purchase attempts were unsuccessful
of wyoming
2
in
1857
settlement of bridger valley
johnston
the coming of johnstons
army
3
saints returned to the area
ments were established
publishing
2
ment
linford
company
1941
1947
was abandoned
when the army withdrew a few
more
valley occurred later in the 1890s
1velma
avelma
veima
velma
unable to buy
with
of the
substantial settlement of bridger
eventually three
mormon
settle-
canal and ditch irrigation was very important
Wy
wyoming
omina
p
127
frontier state denver
the old west
jacke newton crawford wyoming first agricultural settleap 59 103
masters
master thesis university of wyoming 1935 pp
3
glinford
3linford
linford p 330
66
to these settlements since the bridger valley is of
little
use agricul-
as pasture
turally Wwithout
ithout irrigation except aspasture
mormon
colonization and irrigation of the star valley occurred
during this period eleven communities were
between 1879 and 1891
established six in the upper portion of the valley
lower
2
and
five in the
and dams were used almost immediately upon
canals ditches
the arrival of the mormons in the valley and as each new town was set-
fortunately nine principle streams provided an abundant water
tled
and assured eventual
supply
in
greybull river
irrigation in the big horn basin
mormon
1893
4
prosperity
3
in fa
ct
fact
it
irrigation features
was the
nities which attracted the mormons to this region
migration to the area
was
1900 the church had given
in that
same
built
and
opportu-
in the beginning
not sponsored by the church leaders but by
its sanction
S in
he ba
to the colonization of the
basin
L
year additional settlements were opened and construction
on the sidon canal begun
6
began on the
the canal
was dug even
before homes were
soon the land around several mormon settlements in the big
jerry
twitchell history of latterday
latter day saints in bridger
ap
masters thesis brigham young university 1959 pp
F
valley wyoming
103
72 98
58 71
51
98103
7172
5158
glinford
2linford
anford
331
ap 330
330331
inford
in ford pp
3aray
3ray
ray
star valley
pp
ap
M
hall
wyoming
131
128
128131
history of the latterday
latter day saint settlement of
masters thesis brigham young university 1962
A
4
A
charles A welch history of bighorn basin salt lake city
deseret news press 1940 p 49
5
disse retation
rtation
charles lindsay the big horn basin phd dissertation
192
ap 164 191
191192
university of nebraska 1930 pp
elch
7welch
awelch
eich p
84
5
67
horn basin was being irrigated three to five miles in every direc1
tion
the
mormon impetus
to
irrigation in
three times in three separate areas
and
ability occurred
and continued to
a
mormons were the
substantial
wyoming has been
direct diffusion of experience
1 rst to irrigate
ffirst
1
contribute to irrigation expertise right
wyoming
soil
up to the
turn
of the last century
washington
oregon
montana
texas and california
diffusion of
ntana by
mormon
it
is possible
families settled in these areas and in a small
aided to diffusion of irrigation principles
were established in these three
there
and mo-
irrigation to washington oregon
the direct means of colonization did not occur
that individual
way
mormon
was a minor mormon
however
no
colonies
1901
the town
states
influence in texas
in
officially organized as a mormon settlement irrigation
2
was carried on
but just how much this influenced others in the area is
not known mormon irrigation in the whole of texas was very small and
direct diffusion of irrigation knowledge and methods by colonization
of kelsey
almost
was
nil
in california as has already been mentioned
mormons
irrigated in the san joaquin valley before the
saints arrived in utah
main body of
only one other major mormon attempt at
1
york
a small group of
irrigation
3
wyoming
and
ch
chicago
wvori
vols
icago
frances birkhead beard ed wvomi
icaco
eat
bas
the american historical society inc 1933 1510
2hearne
ohearne
hearne
pp
ap
11
51
1151
new
68
this was at san bernardino
irrigation practiced
in california took place
established
was
and
here
a
colony
arrived they almost immediately began the construction of ditches to water their garden spots and grain fields
while they made no concerted effort at irrigation they dug a number of open ditches and brought considerable area under irriga1
tion
when the mormons
san bernardino was
recalled
later
johnstons
due to the approach of
left other settlers
this
abandoned when the outpost settlements were
was the
used the
irrigation
after the
army
mormons had
constructed
works they had
2
extent of direct diffusion or colonization in california
since san bernardino
was never
re
reestablished
established
cormons
Mormons
by the mormons
canada and mexico
the north and south extent of
trated
by
the diffusion of
both countries the
mormon
mormon
influence is well illus-
irrigation to canada
latterday
latter day saints
and mexico
were able to make a
in
contribution
to irrigation development
settle in alberta canada arrived in april
3
ston
bardston
cardston
of 1887 at a place called lees creek later known as Card
this
was the beginning of mormon colonization and irrigation in alberta which
the
was
to
first
last past the turn of the century
and
mormon communities
mormon
of a number of
county
mormons to
the
11L A ingersoll ingersolls
ingersoll
1769 1904 los angeles
1 A
17691904
result in the establishment
colonization also repre
depre
century annals of san bernardino
ingersoll
1904
p
225
21bid
bibid
2ibid
3melvin
emelvin
meivin
melvln
melvin S tagg A history of the church of jesus christ of
1963
phd dissertation brigham
18301963
latterday
latter day saints in canada 1830
young
university
1963
p
105
69
sents the ffirst
arst
irst construction and use of irrigation works in alberta
the early irrigation done by the
and was very
done in utah
successful
mormons was
in
1898
similar to that
recognition of their
irrigation abilities was given them farsighted officials of an alberta
ilroad company offered them a contract to construct a ninety
mi
ilroad
ty
mile
mlle
railroad
nine
ninetymilelong
tyml
tymi
le- long
raim
ral
canal designed to irrigate an extensive acreage
fifty years
the mormons were given this contract was the
experience they brought with them from utah
fully built with the
mormon
one reason
2
the canal
cited
of irrigation
was
success
people providing the main impetus
other contributions were also
made by
why
3
the mormons in canada
using their knowledge and experience in irrigation they helped to build
the agricultural economy of alberta
tive canadian
mormons today
4
and have helped bring
to other regions by pressing for irrigation legislation
irrigation
was
initia-
5
in
irrigation
summary
unquestionably the most important contribution of the
to western canadian agricultural development
mormons
own
are located in the heart of the most pro
irrigation projects in canada
eductive
ductive
partly because of their
16
irrigation in mexico was the direct result of church missionary activity in that country brigham young instructed missionaries
mormon
sent to mexico to report any areas suitable for settlement
1912
ileo
lleo
leo thwaite alberta london
7
As a
george routledge and sons
230
p
agg
tagg
p
3lawrence
alawrence
lawrence
result
ltd
179
1902
18871902
lee the mormons come to canada 1887
21
pacific northwest quarterly 59 january 1968196821
6
5
4nagg
gagg
tagg p 197
ee p 20
ebido
bid
ibido
lee
7
city
B
co
mexico
thomas cottam romney the mormon colonies in mexi
the deseret book company 1938 p 39
salt lake
70
ten colonies were eventually established between the years 1885 and
so important was
1912
irrigation during the founding of these colon
empted actual sett
lemento
preempted
ies that plans for irrigation sometimes pre
settlement
with their experience and industry
irrigating
systems
that
the mormons soon established good
were an example to the native people of what
so successful were the mormon
could be done
agricultural pursuits that
they often entered their produce in exhibitions in
i n mexico city
i
usually
won
As
the grand prizes
in
many
has been called an
the mormons brought to mexico a
and experience
efficient
and
3
western states
greater understanding
2
in irrigation which led to what
and economical system of
irrigation
4
indirect diffusion
diffusion of
mormon
irrigation
knowledge and experience was not
limited to the direct means of colonization
at first
from the
although somewhat isolated
rest of the united states the isolation did not last
soon other avenues were open for the flow of knowledge from utah to the
surrounding areas and states
express
freighting companies overland mail
pony
telegraph newspapers and railroad were all eventual strands
and routes of
communication and transportation
diffusion
ties revealed
the progress which had been made in utah
first
hand
the
mormon
visitors could see and study
success with irrigation and it was not long
before irrigation
1rrigation knowledge was commonplace throughout the west and the
rest of the united states to trace all the possible diffusions and
their routes would be impossible instead it is the purpose of this
foster
3
3foster
efoster
foster
pp
ap
pp
ap
37
65
3765
2romney
romney
pp
ap
122
121
121122
58
56
5658
4
4romney
romney
pp
ap
97
96
9697
0
71
section to point out the
many
possibilities for diffusion of
mormon
irrigation
and to give two examples of what has been
diffusion
these examples are the diffusion of irrigation knowledge
from utah to
california as
a
result of the gold rush
labeled indirect
and the
diffusion
of knowledge from utah to colorado as a result of horace greeley and the
union colony
the gold rush and irrigation
Irria tion
diffusion
As was
mentioned before
knowledge from utah to
a
direct diffusion of irrigation
california through colonization
perhaps more important
octant was the flow of
imp ortant
ited
1
the california
trail
was very lim-
irrigation
during the days of the gold rush
knowledge over
widtsoe gives
the following description
soon after the founding of irrigation in the great salt lake valley
gold was discovered in california most of the tens of thousands
who flocked to the goldfields
gold fields passed through utah and salt lake
with irrigation many
city and thus became in a measure acquainted
i
of these emigrants upon their arrival iinn california found irrigation agriculture more profitable than gold hunting others rich
or discouraged returned to their homes in the east and told not
only of the gold fields but of the conversion of the heartless
desert into a fruitful garden by the intelligent will of a courageous people
the stories of the travelers gained currency until the
whole country knew a little of
of the practice and possibilities of
irrigation in the great west
other authors have also acknowledged this flow and spread of irrigation
knowledge due to the
york
california gold rush
2
john A widtsoe
Widt soe the principles of irrigation practice new
company
p 457
Mad
1914
macmillian
the mac
Millian
2
george thomas the development of institutions under irrigation
irri&ation
irritation
new york
15 E H carrier
ap 14
1415
the macmillian company 1920 pp
1400
139
140
ap 1391400
139140
the thirsty earth london christophers 1933 pp
72
As
national attention
irrigation also
was focused on
began to receive widespread
49erts
49ers help diffuse
mormon
california
publicity
and the west
not only did the
irrigation practices to california but they
also helped introduce the entire nation to the practice of irrigation
the union colony and
irrigation diffusion
mormon
colonization
was
not the only type of colonization to
operate in the western states
after the utah demonstration of the feasibility and profitable
results of irrigation projects were launched in all parts of western america independently or based on the utah or the early span1
expert
ish experience
experi ence
1
of these other colonization attempts which were based on the
mon
mor-
experience the most well known was the union colony at greeley
this successful colony eventually
colorado
correctness of
mormon methods
proved the soundness and
2
the development of the union colony began with horace greeley
the decade of the sixties saw the development of an enthusiastic
movement in behalf of irrigation
this movement apparently received
of a trip made by horace greeley across
its main impetus as a result
the continent in 1858 on this trip greeley had come into contact
and was much impressed with the mormon irrigation system
shortly
after his return he printed several articles in the new york tribune
i
on irrigation farming
in 1869 M C meeker the agricultural editor of the tribune proposed to establish a colony in colorado which
would be based upon
3
irrigation3
irrigations
irrigation
here again is an indirect source of diffusion
the newspaper
Widt
soe success on irrigation projects
widtsoe
wiley and sons inc 1928 p 4
john
2
states
A
i
pr
1 n c gies
Widt soe principles
widtsoe
p
new
york
460
john T ganoe the beginnings of irrigation in the united
valley
mississippi
alley
ailey
aliey historical
missias ip pi Vvailey
mississ
ist orical review 25 1938 69
istorical
john
73
eventually greeleys experience and writings led to the planning
it
it
should be noted that
of the union colony
however
meeker who became the
real driving force behind the founding of union
set out in
he himself
colony
irrigation system
1869 to
meeker never made
visit
it
utah and study the
wyoming
M
C
meeker
general
were also joined by
visit
mormon
1
however
after the
of planning a location committee was sent west to
investigate possible locations for the colony
of
C
M
to utah on this particular jour-
ney as he was stopped by snow in cheyenne
initial stages
was
H
T
R
cameron
A
west
the committee consisted
and a mr
fisk of toledo
they
meeker and the location committee did
utah
they all went on from here to utah and mr west who had been there
before and had relatives and acquaintances made the rest acquainted
and the leading mormon dignitaries of church and state treated them
with much consideration and gave them all the information they could
about crops fruit culture irrigation etca
etc2
in utah they gained a great deal of information including valuable understanding of irrigation procedures
founded
and
in
many ways
later
imitated the
union colony
mormon systems
at greeley
was
of cooperation and
gatlon
gation
irrigation
arri
irri
irrl
1
further diffusion of
mormon
irrigation
knowledge and methods
occurred later when several other colonies were founded copying the
union colony methods
the success ultimately attained
by the
greeley colony and the wonde-
mormon
shown
by
communities which have spread from
the
results
utah north into idaho and wyoming and south into arizona have
attracted public attention and have greatly stimulated the colony
idea As a consequence many organizations have been formed for the
rful
ld boyd A history
greeley and the union colony of colodavid
davi
16 39
rado greeley colorado the greeley tribune press 1890
2ibid
bibid
bid
.11
p
41
74
purpose of bringing people in urge
large bodies from the eastern states
and even from europe and placing them upon small farms located near
1
common
each other and supplied with water from a
ditch
Long mount
of these colonies were the chicago colony at longmount
some
colony at colorado springs
agricultural colony at fort collins
ony
can be reasoned mormon
at greeley
and
2
southwestern colony at green city
As
fountain
irrigation diffused to the union col-
and from here to a number of
in the
other colonies
irrigation
spreading the principle widely through the united states
pro
process
cess the public attention was drawn to the study of
summary
summ
the diffusion of
by means of
direct
and
mormon
indirect
irrigation in the western states occurred
important in spreading irrigation
was the most
this diffusion
by showing the
extent of
mormon
sixty five year period from
tion during the sixtyfive
pose of the
map
is to
tion both successful
that
mormon
states
by
irrigation
direct diffusion
of the two
methods
five best summarizes
map
ga
irrigacolonization and irrl
1847
1
to 1912
fullest extent of colonization
show the
and unsuccessful attempts are shown
was
since the pur-
diffused to
a
it
and
irriga-
is evident
great part of the western
direct colonization
although not as important as direct diffusion
indirect diffusion
irrigation did affect practices in the western states many
different indirect routes of diffusion developed as transportation and
of
mormon
communication links were established with utah
au
1uU
1900
1902
it
is impossible to
bureau of the census twelfth census of the united states
government
ag
VI
washington
printing office
agriculture
the
vol
iculture
inculture
p
S
801
22widtsoe
princl
soe princi
Widt
principles
widtsoe
p
461
75
trace all such diffusions but the
farreaching
far reaching effect of
mormon
two examples
offered illustrate the
irrigation
1I
9
76
maiv
matl
mail
5
of mormon colonization
I irrigation
and rrigation 1847 1912
sltes
sites
1
CHAPTER VI
INFLUENCE AND STATUS OF PRESENT DAY
MORMON
irrigation
indications of past diffusion of
still
may
i
n western
be noted iin
early day technology
mormon
as a
and
first
was the
however
in their origin
thus
long since passed
first
still
be observed
in the landscapes of
the dominance
mormon
by americans
to a degree
are
and
still
to develop water codes
were
some
effi-
and much of the
their influence in this aspect of irrigation remains
irrigation developments that
of the
more
nevertheless
developments and contributions
mormons were
much
better
large scale reclamation done
for instance the
ern water law
may
systems
pre empted
development has been preempted
result their
with us
mormon
irrigation in the west has
latterday
latter day saint
irrigation
irrigation
and custom has been replaced by
cient methods which are not
of
irrigation in the west
mormon
a
typically
part of westmormon
also
western areas
water law as an indication of diffusion
although
before utah
mormon
some
western states off
1 cially
bially adopted water codes
officially
i
1 tst
the ffirst
rst development of american water law occurred in the
settlements
i
often principles of water law were recognized and
used among the mormons by custom before becoming law
1
the passage of
dwells
1wells
welis A hutchins water rights laws in the nineteen western
weils
wells
states washington natural resource economics division economics
research service united states department of agriculture 1971 p
163
77
78
water law was therefore not necessary until a later date
since the
mormons developed
water codes based upon an arid
region the eastern doctrine of riparian rights
region was not acceptable
result the
As a
principle of prior appropriation
2
based upon a humid
mormons developed
the basic
widtsoe notes the importance of this
development
the utah pioneers laid down the fundamental principle that since in
an arid country the use of water for irrigation is the most important concern of the people the doctrine of riparian rights must be
per use of water in irrigation must constitute
abrogated and the proper
the fundamental claim of the individual upon the use of the freely
flowing waters of the state this doctrine which now seems axiomatic represents a great contribution to the conquest of the arid
west by
irrigation
3
the principle of prior appropriation diffused widely in the west
today nine of the eleven western states
their
laws
two
states california
incorporate this doctrine into
and arizona
use both the doctrine
of riparian rights and the doctrine of appropriation in their systems
since early times the water laws of these states have
4
become very com-
plex and have been developed to meet the needs of each particular state
however
the principle of appropriation is the prevailing western
do-
ctrine
partial credit
may be
given to the mormons for helping establish
prior appropriation as the basis of water
law in many western
states
1riparian
riparian rights refers to the right of a land owner to use the
water on and under the surface of his property however the owner may
only use the water and not deplete it to the extent that other right owners would be injured
2
2prior
prior appropriation assumes that surface and underground water
belongs to the public but that individuals may establish prior claim
to the use of the water prior claims may deplete the water source even
to the detriment of later claims
3
3wi
cwi
soe
Widt
widtsoe
ldtsoe
success
pp
ap
23
2 3
4
awest
4west
west
pp
ap
33
24
2433
79
the california gold miners played even a greater role in estab-
however
11
shing
lishing
1
the minersversion
miners version of prior appropriation
this doctrine
spread more quickly to areas of the northwest montana wyoming
and
other western regions because of mining activities in these states
nevertheless the
mormons were
first
the
prior appropriation to agriculture
to apply the principle of
result they also contributed
to establishment of this doctrine in the western states especially as
it
As a
applies to agriculture
indication of diffusion
mormon methods as an
irrigation characteristics
typically
which are
mormon
are
still
i
faintly recognizable in several states bordering utah
and
irrigation features
mormons
Mormons and
with the cormons
in early
mormon
a stream
part of the cultural landscape associated
irrigation features
some
were
particularly
common
reclamation
the early
towns of utah
were
these methods
mormon
irrigation systems as characterized
one or two major canals leading from
typically began with
in a canyon or further
by the small
up the
valley
the canal or canals were
subdivided into ditches serving different areas of the valley which were
further subdivided to serve individual farms
laterals
took the water
to the fields where furrow or flood irrigation was practiced
ristically the ditches in
tion
still
mormon towns were
small and of
characte-
dirt construc-
roadside ditches used to flood lawns or water gardens were and
are very typical of
hutchins
pp
ap
mormon
165
160
160165
irrigation
2870
287
other
mormon
cultural
80
landscape features such as early housing hay derricks
etc
part of the early
were also
the
tures which characterized early
outside of the state
star valley of
basin of
wyoming
new mexico
ments of the mormon
tures
in
mormon
settlements in utah
many
also
of the small communities of the
the san juan
the san luis valley of colorado
southern nevada
may
ele-
and southern idaho show many
cultural landscape including similar irrigation fea-
areas the original irrigation system constructed by early
some
has not been greatly altered
settlers
mormon
landscape
cultural landscape elements including irrigation fea-
same
be obser
ed
observed
mormon
poplar trees
present
day status of
presentday
in the early years of
mormon
mormon
2
irrigation
settlement irrigation
accomplishment for which the mormons had no equal
As
was a premier
irrigation dif-
fused however other areas of the west experienced more rapid irriga-
tion development
and soon utah was overtaken
ted
irrigated
in amount of irriga
irriza
acreage and in technological development
statistics
of irrigated acreage in the west before 1889 are very
mat ions
approximations
scarce and at best only approxi
lons
in the spring of
mormon
this figure
1richard
arichard
richard
american west
march 1971
2
1974
june 4466
it
would appear
less than one year after the arrival of the
settlers that five
by 1850
16
1848
however
thousand acres were under
had increased to 16000 acres
3
that
first
irrigation in utah
irrigated acreage
mormon
Fran
francaviglia
glia
central hall houses in the
francavi
francani
centralhall
cavi
annals of the association of american geographers 61
V
i
71
65
6571
observation in the field san juan basin of new mexico may 1324 1974 and san luis valley colorado
southern idaho may 22
2224
1974
3golze
golze
goize
boize
pPO 6
81
in utah steadily increased and
canals
by 277 major
a
by 1865 153949
total of
a
significant achievement
and
1044
acres were being irrigated
miles in length
1
represents
presen
re
represent
ts
this represen
substantial irrigation development
by
the total acreage estimated to be irrigated in the entire area of
1870
the western states ranged from only 250000 to 300000 acres
92
irri-
gated acreage in utah accounted for more than half the total irrigated
acreage in the western states in that year
little irrigation
there had been
3
1870
this approximate date
tion in the west
dominant
in
it
1880
tion
showed
in
1889
that
a
first
the
by
however
more than one
census of
this time irrigation
had widely
million acres under irriga
irriza
irrigation
total of 3631381 acres
was conducted and
were being
three states california colorado
utah in total irrigated acreage
one
irriga-
mormon
5
1889q
million acres in 188
development continued
at
success
widtsoe
widt soe
irrigated in the west-
a
and montana
had surpassed
more than
irrigated
irrigatedmore
california alone irrigatedmore
after the turn of the century irrigation
rapid rate the 1969 census showed that only
p
33donald
adonald
4
2golze
golze
goize
boize
p
11
donald M baker and harold conkling water supply and
tion new york john wiley and sons inc 1930 p 7
4
it
of this amount only 263473 acres were being irrigated in
ern states
utah
height of
is estimated that rapid irrigation development
in the west had resulted in
4
was perhaps the
the 1870s progressed utah continued to be the
As
irrigating region
diffused
development outside utah up to
golz e
utilizautilizaa
11
p
aus
5us
US
bureau of the census eleventh census of the united states
government printing office
1890 agriculture by irrigation washington
1894
pp
ap
1
22
33
157
218
82
nevada and new mexico had
not surpassed utah inn total irrigated acrei
age
there are several geographic factors which likely contributed
to
utahs loss
first
of dominance
of
all rapid population increases
in states outside of utah created a need for more irrigated land
ond
states simply
a number of
critical
and perhaps most
many
was the
united states
third
availability of water
in this aspect
result
utah irrigated
states fared better than utah
only 1349000 acres of the
suitable farming area
had more
sec-
As a
by 1971
fifty million irrigated in all
of the
2
although the mormons in utah pioneered in irrigation engineering
they have been surpassed in modern irrigation technology
states level
the best index of each
perhaps
of irrigation technology is the
percentage of sprinkling irrigation in
i n each state
i
sprinkling systems
are perhaps the most widely used modern irrigation development
method of
irrigation increases the yield per acre while using less
it
water per acre making
tion
the
this
map on
sprinkler use
states in this
one of the most
efficient
means of
irrigairrl ga
1
page 83 shows the location of areas with the heaviest
the
map
also indicates that utah ranks ninth of eleven
form of modern technology
other indexes
may be
behind the other western
rule dirt ditches
1
but
it is
evident that utah lags
states in irrigation technology
and canals
and a lack of modern
used
reliance
on
As a
general
older methods of irrigation
irrigation equipment characterize
much
of the
1969 1IirriUS bureau of the census census of agriculture
rr 1
gation washington government printing office 1973 p xiv
2awest
2west
wesc
west
p
9
90
0
03
sprinkler irrigation as a
rrigation
of votal
total irrigation
1I
D
io
20
10
1020
20
84
arming
irrigation ffarming
done in utah and
outside of the state
a
small farms
also in areas of
mormon
1I
nf luence
influence
lack of capital marginal land
and
general inability to change older established irrigating rules and sys-
tems seem to be the reasons
nology and progressiveness
of small
mormon towns which
needed to
for utahs lower status in irrigation tech-
the situation contributes to the decline
in turn discourages capital investment
rectify the situation
summary
summar
present
day indications of diffusion
presentday
states
do
exist in the western
remnants of early mormon colonization and the impact of mormon
water law development are proof of past diffusion patterns
mormon
gation
irrigation is
it is
no longer the dominant
however
influence of western
irri-
instead of leass importance in total acreage and in tech-
no
nological
logical development
VII
CHAPTER
SUMMARY
irrigation
has played an important part in the development of
the western states
mormon
its
beginnings have often been associated with
settlement in the great basin in
its inception
in the west long before that date
culture groups in the southwest were the
now
the western united states
attemptsso
the indian attempt
irrigation had
prehistoric indian
however
1847
first irrigators
in what is
spanish irrigators followed and expanded
under the spanish
arizona and california were irrigated
areas of texas
A
new mexico
number of anglo
angloamerican
american
practiced irrigation in isolated instances throughout the west
traders
ssionaries
sion
aries
practiced irrigation
and mountain men
also
mi-
on a small
scale in areas of washington oregon idaho colorado and in other
western regions
eventually the soil of nearly every western state
irrigated to
extent before the
some
before the
mormons came to
mormons
region
began
arrived in the great basin
the rocky mountains they had studied
several possible sites for settlement
illinois
was
before the exodus from nauvoo
church leaders had decided to
settle in the great basin
they had studied the area and formed a reasonably accurate per-
ception of
its
environment
they would
church leaders also realized that theywould
probably need to practice irrigation to sustain an agricultural economy
while the mormons understood the basics of irrigation agricul-
ture the origins of this knowledge are unclear
85
it
is unlikely that
86
irrigation
knowledge diffused to them from the spanish southwest
it
some
understanding of irrigation was part of the general
milieu of the day
the circumstances of the time and the location of
also appears
the mormons
made such
irrigating information readily available
and a
diffusion of that knowledge probable
further diffusion this time from the
western united states
gatlon
gation
experience in irrl
irrigation
of irrigation to
many
ng
after gaining
gaini
baini
also occurred
I1
mormons to
I1
some
areas of the
practical
colonizers began to take the practice
mormon
areas in the western states canada and mexico
between 1847 and 1912 mormon
irrigation systems
were
built in hundreds
this direct mormon influence in many
states gave impetus to later irrigation developments As the isolation
of the great basin was broken down further diffusion of mormon irriga-
of locations throughout the west
tion took place
by
lines periodicals
indirect
and
means
transportation lines communication
individuals soon
made
the knowledge of mormon
irrigation available all over the united states
the
mormon
western states
today
mormon
influence
still
lingers in the irrigation of the
but the dominance ofutah
of utah in irrigation has passed
irrigation in utah is
i s of less importance in terms of total
i
acreage and technological development
mormon
influence and diffusion
may be
nevertheless
remnants of past
faintly recognized
bibliography
bibliography
books
ward
adams
history of arizona
R
ing company
4
baker donald M and conkling harold
new york
john wiley and sons
M
history of southeastern idaho
caxton printers ltd 1942
0
utilization
caldwell
idaho
the
chicago and new york
1933
history
greeley and the union colony
colonv
colona of colorado
greeley colorado the greeley tribune press 1890
david
A
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chittenden hiram martin the american fur trade of the far west
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chicago and new york
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11
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90
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niles rouge
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louisiana state university press
luxon norval neil
1947
mcclintock james H mormon settlement in arizona
1921
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early
farly history of idaho
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phoenix
caldwell
the caxton
idaho
1913
the early history of irrigation in colorado and the
doctrine of appropriation A hundred years of irrigation in
colorado denver and fort collins the colorado water conservation board and colorado agricultural and mechanical college
mchendrie
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1952
mack
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the state
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moody
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1965
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new york
thomas
new york
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the macmillian
0 the state of washington
history of
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salt lake city
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seattle
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mormons
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Mormons
chicago
1805-
edited and annotated
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barkmen
Par kmen
francis the oregon trail
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no information given about original
new york
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historical publishing
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remyyf
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thomas cottam the mormon colonies in mexico
the deseret book company 1938
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semi
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chicago and new york the lewis publishing company 1913
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new york
Con guest of arid america
smythe william E
the conquest
the ma-
smith joseph
cmillan company
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1905
history of agriculture in colorado fort collins
the state agricultural college 1926
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stone wilbur fisk ed history of colorado
S J clarke publishing company
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4
early irrigation in the western states
university of utah 1948
salt lake city
george
thomas
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thomas
H
introduction
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north
history of nevada 1881
F myrick
thompson
oakland california
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1881
1958
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george routledge and sons
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1846
early
17481846
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thwaites reuben gold ed garly
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30
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thwaite leo
tucker ephraim
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london
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history
historyof
fairfield
buffalo
washington
charles A history of bighorn basin
new press 1940
welch
A
np
ap
wilgus
W
H
E
salt lake city
ed
macmillan company
1844
deseret
lincoln nebrasnew york
the
1914
pro
success on irrigation
acts
cts
irr i&ation projects
sons inc
1928
wilkes
vols
1970
irrigation handbook and directory 1972
ka
irrigation data inc 1972
soe john A the principles of irrigation practice
Widt
widtsoe
west
1912
new
york
john wiley and
charles narrative of the united states exploring expedition
5 vols
philadelphia C sherman 1850
winther oscar osburn
knopf
1955
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new
york
alfred
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arneson edwin
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barry J neilson
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the history of irrigation in the state of washington
276
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259
259276
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the mormons in carson county utah territory
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annals of the association of american geographers 51 march
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golder frank
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the purchase of alaska
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411
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A study of mormon knowledge of the american
christian lewis clark
30 february 1846
1830
unpublished
far west prior to the exodus 18
masters thesis brigham young university 1972
corbett
pearson
starr
history of the muddy mission
masters thesis brigham young university 1968
jacke newton
crawford
blished
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1900
18781900
colorado 1878
young
foster
first agricultural
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wyoming
unpublished
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unpu-
1935
colonization of the san luis valley
unpublished masters thesis brigham
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11
1966
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in mexico and new
history of mormon settlements inmexico
unpublished masters thesis university of new mexmexico
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1937
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latter day saint settlement of star
unpublished masters thesis brigham young
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M
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population land use major streets and central business district
farmington new mexico
st louis missouri june 1967
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unpublished masters thesis east texas state
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1949
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unpu1857
18461857
ornia 1846
the mormons in calif
california
flora belle
blished masters thesis university of california 1929
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Mor mons
the mormons
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1840
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osophy
11
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1969
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i
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unpublished phd di
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lantis david william
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1950
lindsay charles
the big horn basin
university of nebraska 1930
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unpublished phd dissertation
mormon settlements in the san juan basin of
john franklin
unpublished masters thesis brigham
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university
young
1967
history of the latterday
latter day saint settlement of the
unpublished masters thesis brigham young
bear lake valley
university 1950
rich russell
R
history of the church of jesus christ of latterday
latter day
1963
unpublished phd dissertation
18301963
saints in canada 1830
brigham young university 1963
tagg melvin
A
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twitchell jerry
F
wyoming
1959
day saints iinn bridger valley
history of latter
latterday
unpublished masters thesis brigham young university
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1850
18461850
diary of henry W bigler 1846
young university library provo utah
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MS
MS
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18321855
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the
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latterday
latter day saint
church historians office salt lake city utah
jensen andrew ed
95
lee john
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john
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1
an
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brigham young university provo utah
rogers samuel holister
MS
it
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mso
1879
18051879
ms9
manuscript history of the church 1805
ity utah
latterday
latter day saint church historians office salt lake city
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latterday
latter day saint church historians office
utah
brigham
1879
1805
18051879
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if
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copy of the original in washington DC
latterday
latter day saint church
historians office salt lake city utah
Is
public documents
U
U
U
S
S
S
bureau of the census
department of commerce
of the united states
1890
department of commerce
of the united states
bureau of the census
1900 agr
inculture
agriculture
iculture vol
by
bureau of the census
1969 irrigation vol 4
department of commerce
culture
agriculture
eleventh census
irrigation
twelfth census
6
census of agri-
THE MORMON ROLE 1
IN
irrigation beginnings
IN THE WESTERN STATES
kelly
AN
AND
historical
diffusions
GEOGRAPHY
harper
C
department of geography
MS
degree
august 1974
ABSTRACT
irrigation has played an important part in the development of
the western states
its beginnings have often been associated with the
mormon settlement in utah
however irrigation had its inception in the
west long before the mormons came to the great basin in 1847
the spatial extent of irrigation before this date included limited acreage in
nearly every western state
before their arrival in the great basin the mormons had become
acquainted with irrigation methods knowledge of irrigation had diffused
to them primarily from the spanish in the southwest thus they were well
prepared to begin their irrigation enterprises in the west after estab13
shing the practice of irrigation securely in utah this region then
lishing
served as a source area from which irrigation methods then diffused to
other western areas
1
eventually the status and influence of mormon irrigation waned
in more recent years utah has fallen behind other western states in total
irrigated acreage and in the application of new irrigation technology
COMMITTEE APPROVAL
f
uv
N
1I
jackson
jacks ohi rorkrti
coranmttee
t tee chairman
richaird
richird
H
alan
grey committee
H
kober
rober
kobert
robert
L
V
t v
me
mero
merd
er
ament Ch
layton department
depar tment
chairman
chabran
airan
chairan