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West Cache Irrigation Company papers

 Collection
Identifier: UUS_COLL MSS 361

Scope and Contents

This collection of West Cache Irrigation Company records was processed in May 2011 by University Archivist Bob Parson. It is arranged alphabetically and covers the time period from the company's inception in 1898 to 2004. The bulk of the collection is inclusive of the period 1898-1953. Among other company records contained in the collection are the agreements entered into by the company board of directors, correspondence of the secretary and board, financial records, minutes of company meetings, reports, stockholder lists, and manager's workbooks. Extensive information on construction of the 1998 pumping plant near Cornish is also included.

Dates

  • 1898-2004

Language of Materials

Material in English

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the West Cache Irrigation Company papers must be obtained from the Special Collections and Archives manuscript curator and/or the Special Collections and Archives department head.

Biographical Note

Founded at Trenton, Utah, on September 26, 1898, the West Cache Irrigation Company (WCIC) anticipated taking water from Bear River near Riverdale, Idaho, and conveying it through a canal to irrigate lands on the west side of the river, primarily in the Utah portion of Cache Valley. The company began under the leadership of Charles G. Wood, who served as the company's first secretary-treasurer. Other functionaries included M.W. Butler, as president; and Parley Merrill, George W. Adams, William Bingham and Joseph Wood, as directors.

The company's board authorized the issue of 2,500 shares valued at $10 each, obtained a 20-year bond loan for $40,000 through the Utah Mortgage and Loan Company in Logan, Utah, and secured the necessary 100-foot rights-of-way to construct the over 25 mile-long main canal to Trenton. The company employed Washington Jenkins of Ogden, Utah, as field engineer.

Work on the canal progressed slowly, requiring the construction of three flumes to bridge the expanse over Battle Creek, Deep Creek and Weston Creek before ever entering Utah. The original estimation of $50,000 was soon dwarfed as the company was forced to float an additional $20,000 loan after construction reached Weston, Idaho.

Once entering Utah, four camps: William Dopp's at the railroad siding, Cannon Station (present-day Cornish), B.F. Bingham's in northern Trenton, and B.Y. Benson's in southern Trenton, worked simultaneously to construct the canal through the Trenton Flats. Water was turned into the canal on March 25, 1905, which brought water as far as the southern point of Trenton Precinct.

At this point, the canal divided, with one branch heading southeast to Alto (present-day Amalga) and the other branch heading southwest to Newton. Although construction commenced immediately in 1905 on these branches, financial constraints delayed completion until 1909. Furthermore, many stockholders were forced to mortgage their farms to pay for assessments on their canal company stock. Many, in fact, were forced to sell their stock, so that by 1910 a preponderance of WCIC stock reverted to the control of 25 individuals who reincorporated as a private company under the name of Trenton Irrigation Company. Farmers, many of whom had been involved with the project since its inception, were now forced to rent water from this cartel, often at exorbitant rates. Others simply reverted to dry farming.

Although farmers resented this monopoly, the interests then controlling the waters of the West Cache soon found their dominion unprofitable. In 1912, farmers took advantage of Utah's liberal irrigation district laws, formed the Cache Valley Irrigation District, and secured a $40,000 loan to purchase the water rights and rights-of-way from the agreeable Trenton Irrigation District. In 1923, the district was dissolved and the company was again reorganized as a stock company under its original name, the West Cache Irrigation Company.

Ultimately, construction costs for the canal approached $500,000. Albeit the figure far exceeded the original estimate, the West Cache Canal made possible the development of a thriving agriculture on Cache Valley's west side. The West Cache Canal (its main stem, two branches, and numerous laterals) extends to a length of nearly 60 miles. It delivers between 33,000 and 40,000 acre-feet of water to nearly 20,000 acres of land. More information on the origins of the WCIC can be found in A.J. Simmonds, "Water for the Big Range," Utah Historical Quarterly, vol. 39, no. 3 (Summer 1971), pp. 224-237.

Extent

18 boxes (11 linear feet)

Abstract

This collection contains the business records of the West Cache Irrigation Company.

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The records of the West Cache Irrigation Company were accessioned in January 2011 from the company's secretary, Edward Cottle at Trenton, Utah.

Related Materials

Related information can be obtained from the West Cache Irrigation Company records, 1898-1933, (COLL MSS 97)

West Cache Irrigation Company Secretary's papers, 1894-1919, (COLL MSS 199)

Charles Gilbert Wood papers, 1889-1938, (COLL MSS 191)

Processing Information

Processed in June of 2011.

Title
Guide to the West Cache Irrigation Company papers 1898-2004
Author
Finding aid/Register created by Andrew Izatt
Date
©2011
Description rules
Finding Aid Based On Dacs (Describing Archives: A Content Standard, 2nd Edition)
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid encoded in English.
Sponsor
Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008

Revision Statements

  • 2009: Template information was updated to reflect Archives West best practice guidelines.

Repository Details

Part of the Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives Repository

Contact:
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
3000 Old Main Hill
Logan Utah 84322-3000 United States
435 797-8248
435 797-2880 (Fax)