Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-12-01
INTERVIEWS
WITH OUR
CITIZENS

Hon. T. ]. Mcclure, first farmer on
the Florida and third representative
to the Colorado legislature from La
Plata connty-"l can see no objection
to the proposed plan OF Durango to
take the flood waters of the Florida
No city, corporation or individual can
take away from any farmer a prior
right to the waters of the Florida. |
would be glad to get water from Du-
rango when the ordinary or natural
flow of the Florida fails to furnish the
volume of water claimed by priorities.
| think ! could do better with Duran
go than with corporation that had
the single interest of greed and gain"
w. II. Mason of Florida Mesa
with regard to the water question.
l. as an owner of ranch property of
the Florida mesa. would say that
am stockholder in both of the large
litches-the Farmers Ditch company
and the Florida Canal-and am of the
opinion that the Florida farmer can
not be harmed In any way by the
building of storage reservoirs at the
head of the stream. | have for my
personal satisfaction and as a repre-.
sentative OF the Florida farmers.
made two trips to the reservoirs. and
on each visit made very careful inves-
legations. including the measurement
of the stream at different reservoirs
and the estimate of capacities With
out going into details | can state with
out hesitation. from the citys stand
point it would undoubtedly be a good
thing both for the city and the farm
er. If the proposed system was adopt
ed. The dam is very substantial and
the water supply is adequate"
Charles Newman-"I have always
been in favor of gravity sytem for
Durango. | consider the rights and
franchises estimated and accepted by
the city council worth the price.
know of my own personal knowledge
that Animas river water was never
good at its best. Mining is the foun-
dation OF our institutions and pros
perity and we cannot attack the In
dustry. Within two years additional
mill facilities at Silverton and tribu-
tary sections will more than double
the shines and tallings now sent down
to the pumps of the present Durango
water system"
Frank Rivers-"While a member of
special committee of the city coun.
ell selected to act In the same prem
ises, and while we could have pur-
chased practically the same rights for
81 DuD a TINA I
purchase"
X, e. Sloan of the Graden Mercan.
tile company have given a great
deal of time to the study of the water
question and have gone over all the
water sheds available to Durango. 1
think the only question to consider
in relation to the proposed plan of Sc
curing water from the Florida Is that
of reservoirs for storage capacity. |
am convinced that the flood waters
of that stream will be ample If we
only provide sufficient capacity for
their storage. On this proposition I
think | would he willing to vote for
bonds in the sum of s25000O. that we
might better conserve the food wa
ters and better serve the interests of
the farmers when the flow In the Flor
ida Is reduced to the minimum. If
we cannot get pure water from the
Florida | cannot Suggest where we
Will go. Shall we spend half mil
hon dollars on the Cascade and get
water that would not be pure"
George Goodman-"You can take
peep at our window" The window re-
ferred to presents the Photographic
view of the natural lakes and other
chief points of interest in the pictur-
esque Needle mountains. On the left
is a bottle of Florida water. In the
center Is bottle labeled "Durango's
Best On the right is a bottle of
'Silverton's Best Take peep at It
yourself.
c. r. McConnell-Of course I'm for
the Florida proposition. standing Just
where | did two years ago. Unless
the present opportunity is accepted
We are In for long siege of impure
water and its hurting our city. It
Will be worth great deal more than
the cost of the system to have pure
drinking water.
William +. Vaile-Certainly I'm for
the Florida proposition. Anything for
a pure supply
Alderman w. J. Patterson-"If we
turn down the Florida proposition we
VIII probably wait ten years for the
submission or resubmssion OF any
Kind oI a water proposal consider
the rights and franchises Included in
the Florida proposal cheap at any
price. have not gone into the de-
tail Of the matter further than to
study the reports OF the council com.
miitee upon whose wisdom and fidel-
ity rely
l.. C. Jakway-I am heartily in ia
yor of the Florida proposition and
consider II the best advertisement
possible for our city and besides we
should look after our own interests
III the matter of health and provide
Il. l.