This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Sunday's front-page story concerning Utah's current state of dryness (particularly the state's western portion) highlights what should surprise none of us ("Dry as dust: Drought has western Utah in choke hold," Tribune, Sept. 23).
Snowville rancher Dave Eliason wanting everyone to pray for rain reminds me of a drought survival story in the Farmer-Stockman magazine in 2000 by Thad Box, former dean of Utah State University's College of Natural Resources.
Box noted that, as large areas of the agricultural U.S. were petitioning through their governors to be declared disaster areas, "the real disaster may be that we have expected every [water] year to be above average."
He then concluded with: "Years ago there was a drought in the Southwest. People petitioned their ecclesiastical leader to hold a prayer meeting. He reportedly told those gathered, 'We are here to pray for rain. But don't expect too much from the Lord, because by nature this is damn dry country.'"
So it is with Utah — by nature, it's just plain dry.
Steve Wilde
Sandy