The Delta independent., 1890-04-22


April %, ut 1880 p. M.
To The Farmers of Colorado Dho h,igG.e
Their Lands:
The time has come when the farmers of
Colorado who rrigate their lands must do
something definite and practical to save, in
crease and economically Use the waters OF our
natural streams, and also to preserve their
vested constitutional rights from the nggres.
sions of corporations and others. To do this
requires thoughtful consideration of what our
needs are, and practical application of ways
and means to supply and apply the remedies.
Expcrianee, that dear hut effective school,
has taught us that our irrigation laws need
pruning and amending, that the rights of
the people, the actual users of water for
irrigation. shall be clearly defined and legally
guaranteed, and that incorporated ditch or
canal companies he confined to their legiti-
mate sphere of common carriers under the
control of equitable and lawful legislation.
Additional and absolutely necessary is leg
islntion aud appropriation OF money for
water storage,-the storage of water, not for
individuals or corporations to sell to the
people; for it is not and cannot be theirs for
that purpose but by the state for the use of
the people, of the state in accordance with
the provisions of our Constitution.
How this is to be done is for the General
Assembly TO say. The means of getting the
money for doing it is provided for out of the
fund arising frem the said of Internal In
provement lands, and it is for the voters in
the agricultural counties to say whether they
will send to the next General Assembly
representatives who are qualified to vote
intelligently and tavorably on this question,
or whether they sent for the purpose of
drawing a salary or chiefly to elect an United
Suites Senator.
The farmers, tlairymen, gardeners, and
horticulturists of Wheat Ridge aud neigi,bor-
ing lucaltes of Jefferson County adjoining
the city of Denver, feeling keenly the OPP
presSive action of corporate power, in the
cnrtailinent of their vested rights in the use
of water for irrigation, have formed an
association to agitate the question of water
storage and its distribution, and knowing full
we'll that other portions of the state are
equal sufferers with MS, AMI are willing and
anxious to make this agitation a common
cause for legislation aud redress,-we !ormu.
late and issue this address that it may inspire
and encourage others to join with us in the
accomplishment of this much desired object
1t is desired that the various methods of
water storage be considered. There is reser-
voirs in the mountains and on the plains
there is the preservation of our mountain
forests, or their destruction as suggested by
Major Powell; there is storage by freezing of
water in winter in the suicies and glndes
and on mountain les ut high attitudes and
there is storage by leading the waters of our
natural streams bv bitches from their channels
on to the mountain sides aud slopes and to
the little parks and .lales, in the winter time
and early spring aud during fool time, 50
that the surplus water mt these times can
soak into the earth and by underground
channels cause perennial springs in the vnl-
leys, and thus again throughout the droughts
of summer and fall reach the main strennIs
avoiding the wistes of food and evaporation
And there may be other means aud methods
sugg..t-d and devised.
With the hope that this address will
attract til. serious consideration of the farm
ers of Cot 'rad and Cause the organization of
sinai ,r assoc ttions tn roughout the state; we
also ask the assistance of that great power,
the r-.s by its publication.
Rcxoir"i. That the Secretary be Instructed
to supply acn,y of this address to the daily
press of Denver, the Coioru,lo F,umer, Field
and Farm, an ! the newspapers of Jefferson,
Boulder, Larini-r, Weld, Douglas. FL Paso,
Pueblo, Fremont, and other counties of the
stat interested in water storage, with the
request that they publish it.