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Show 46 charged with promoting the settlement of land in Utah, managing the monies derived from the sale of public lands within the state, and selecting potential reservoir sites around the state and reporting on their possibilities to the governor and legislature. 17 Initially, the Board was comprised of five people; the governor, the attorney general, the secretary of state, and two Utah citizens. In 1899 it was expanded to seven members: the governor, the secretary of state, and five citizens. In 1902 the number was reduced again to five members, when two citizen members were dropped. Not surprisingly, the Board of Land Commissioners used water development as a primary means of attracting land settlement. A primary element in this was the board's work with the State Engineer's Office to identify potential reservoir sites and promote their development through private or state funded means. It also made potential sites for reservoirs and farm development generally known, publicizing information that could be acted upon by private individuals or by other state officials. The Board of Land Commissioners controlled the Land Grant Reservoir Fund which grew out of the Enabling Act's grant of 500,000 acres for reservoir development. In practice, this fund was administered by the Land Commissioners to provide start- up money for the development of water resources by individuals throughout the state. Prior to 1907, the Land Grant Reservoir Fund monies could only be used on projects constructed on state lands. That year the law was changed allowing the commissioners to use the Reservoir Fund for projects involving both state and privately owned lands. 18 This change in policy was a recognition that much of the most productive land had already been selected, and therefore most projects would have to involve both state and privately owned lands. The Board of Land Commissioners was also authorized to establish a state farm loan program under which they could invest money from the sale of state land in bonds or first mortgages on improved farms. The law specified that these loans to individual farmers would be used to improve water storage and delivery systems and for farm development in general. This requirement came from the Enabling Act's provision that the reservoir land grant fund monies be used to promote irrigation. 19 State of Utah, Laws of the State of Utah Passed at the Special and First Regular Sessions of the Legislature of the State of Utah, Held at Salt Lake City, the State Capital, in January, February, March, and April, 1896, also the Enabling Act Passed by Congress and the State Constitution Adopted by Convention May 8,1895 and Ratified by the People at the General Election, November 5,1895 ( Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press Company, 1896), Chapter LXXX, pp 238- 251. 18State of Utah, The Laws of the State of Utah Passed at the Seventh Regular Session of the Legislature of the State of Utah which Convened January 14th at Salt Lake City, the State Capital, and Adjourned March 14th, 1907 ( Salt Lake City, Utah: Skelton Publishing Company, 1908), Chapter 13, Section 2, p 15. The change which allowed the Land Commissioners to loan the land grant funds to private companies reads as follows: ... and the State Board of Land Commissioners is hereby authorized and empowered to loan the reservoir land grant fund to corporations or associations within the state of Utah for the construction or completion of reservoirs, whether public or private, at a rate of interest not to exceed five per cent per annum, in such sums, for such securities, and for such periods of time as in its judgement will promote the interests of the state and encourage the const2ruction of reservoirs for agricultural purposes.. . . 19Ibid. |