La Junta tribune., 1899-01-04
OUR RECORD FOR A YEAR
CONTINUED FROM PACE THREE.

~ ~ DA'|~N ''H~.-
urements, LA cubic feet, under a
5-inch pressure per second OF time,
Will convey sufficient water to
cover SO acres OF land.
There are about so, 900 acres of
land lying between La Jun,a and
Las Animas and between the Ar
kansas and the Purgatore rivers,
through which the A., T. * S. F.
K. K. runs for twenty miles, that
has not been developed by irriga-
ton, but we have every reason to
believe this land will be reclaimed
very soon, as it is beyond doubt
the finest large tract OF land in the
Arkansas Valley, and would be
very valuable, If irrigated, on ac-
count OF its close proximity to La
Junta, Las Animas and the rail-
road.
The Otero Canal Company. on
the south side OF the river, has Sc
cured a natural reservoir site in
Custer county, south OF Pueblo,
which will hold sufficient water to
cover I2S, 900 acres OF land foot
deep. This is known as Grape
Creek reservoir, where 1t is pro-
posed to store the food waters OF
spring and conduc, them as re-
quired into the Arkansas river and
down this stream to the headgate
OF the Otero Canal, which is now
being extended at a cost OF $40, 600
Tor the purpose, and IT IS estima
ted that $4,000 acres of new land
Will thus be thrown open for future
settlement. Most oil the land be-
longs to the United States govern
ment, is located Immediately east
OF La unta and Will be naturally
tributary to the county seat.
The Otero Canal Company,
when they contemplated the con
struction OF the Otero canal, had
this land in view, and their survey
was made with the intention OF
building the canal through this
entire valuable district. If it had
been completed i, would have
placed the Otero Canal Company
on firm financial basis, and would
have resulted in IT'S being the best
paying irrigation investment in
Colorado.
Unfortunately, complications
arose that prevented the promo
ters OF the canal from covering the
land, and it now ends Just at the
border OF this valuable district.
The new company realized some
time ago tha, direct supply from
the river would probably be in
sufficient to fully supply this
district especially at certain
seasons OF the year. They have
consequently secured very valua-
BILE reservoir site in the mountains,
and the reservoir will be built and !
water stored to supply the district
IN the very near future.
There are over 1000, 600 acres
OF government land in Otero coun-
ty, mostly utilized for grazing pur-
poses. No finer land exists out of |
doors, and It's fertility and capacity +
OF production are evidenced in
the seasons OF bounteous rainfall
by luxuriant growth OF wild
grasses unsurpassed in any cline
under the sun. All 1t requires TO
make it bloom and blossom with
every known product of Mother
Earth is rainfall or irrigation. The
Iatter may come in time.
OF lands under irrigation there
are at the present time in this
over 100, 900 acres. OF
state and patented lands there are
,o5, $50 acres, II4,o3o acres OF the
ormer and about $50, GOO acres
or which patents have been is
sued. The area that could be irrI-
,ated under the present system is
probably double the amount now
inder irrigation and cultivation.
There are eight principal canals
u,tb 1, total iaputb ~ o,.or -