The Lamar register., 1902-06-25
WATER IN COLORADO
DEVELOPMENT OF IRRIGATION.


eineer-At Least Ten Million Acres
Can Be Placed Under Cultivation
Possibilities Beyond the Dreams Of
the Most Sanguine.
Following is a part of the paper on
1.-The Status of Irrigation in Colorado
which was read before the recent state
convention of real estate men in Den
yer by Addison J. McCune, state en-
gineer of Colorado:
Years ago it was said by geographers
and explorers that the great Rocky
mountain region. or the so-called arid
region. was for the most part bar
rem desert that would never support
more than sparse population. To
person not familiar with this region
such would yet seem to be the case.
judging from what he can catch from
a car window. and especially is he I'M
pressed with the meagerness Of its ag-
ricultural possibilities.
But how wide of the mark did they
come in guessing the outcome to this
country. One can but be enthused at
the acumen of such prophets as Gov
crnor Gilpin. Governor Evans, General
Palmer. w. l.. Pabor and few others
who first saw its enormous possibili-
ties.
AColorado. for instance. has every i'm
Unable resource, save. perhaps. fine
timber. to make n great and wealthy
country Concerning her agricultural
resources. believe they are capable of
a development far beyond the dreams
of our most sanguine citizens. There
are in Colorado 66.JOO.000 acres. About
1000 600 are now under ditch. | be
lieve, with the Use of storage rescr-
vors and the utilization of the return
waters, in many places over and over
again. at least 10.OOO.0OO or 12,OO0.0Oo
acres will be put under cultivation.
greater part of the balance Will pro
duce pasturage: so that. with the in
tenslve farming which will be prac-
ticed, the assurance of an enormous
yield per acre. and the amount of high
class products grown. our state VIII.
when thoroughly developed, produce
almost as much value of agricultural
products in the aggregate as an equal
area in some of the humid territory.
This may seem to some very cNtrnN-
agant statement. | do not expect such
development to he made in one gener-
alton. so cannot say to you. wait and
see" 1t may take two or more gen
erations, but it will surely come.
Where. you ask, Is there so much
land available. and where the water
supply? The supply for direct irriga-
tion in all the streams on the east side
is already exhausted. you say. About
onc-third OF the entire area of the state
lies east of a meridian drawn through
Pueblo, and while some of the land
within this area is the most highly de-
veloped of any in the state, yet taken
as whole it has the most scanty
supply of water. and much of II mnst
remain at least n partially arid region.
However. with the use of the return
ASPters and storage reservoirs. large
Meas will be reclaimed that few
years ago would not have been consid-
cred as even coming within the irri-
gated belt. Besides our many broad
and fertile valleys, much of the noun
tain country. that. to n casual observer
would be considered fit only for graz
ing. is capable of cultivation.
The beet sugar industry. IL allowed
to develop. and hope the people of
the United States will have sense
enough to permit 1t TO develop. will be
the greatest factor in the growth of
this territory.
After the mountains are reached. and
especially after the range is crossed. to
where the greatest supply of water Is
found. you will say there is not much
but hills and hollows and rocks.
only ask you not to judge the country
too harshly. One of the prophets of
whom l have spoken was on IL train
passing down Grand valley n few years
ago with n friend of mine; he pointed
TO the elevated plateaus, or benches
up among the aspcns. and spoke OF the
fine farms that would one day he seen
up there. My friend thought such an
idea rather visionary. but such de-
vclopment has already begun, ana
there are many farms now being
opened up in such places. Any one
passing down the western slope on the
Denver and Rio Grande rnilroad can
see one of these upright farms on the
hillside opposite the town of Aiinturn.
Two years ago the owner took $4,000
worth of timothy hay from that hill
side patch. | did not learn how much
of that was profit. but it is safe to say
more than half of it. Many II farmer
- the Eastern and Middle states would
link he would soon he a trust mag
nate if he could clear $1,000 year:
vet thousands of hOme-seckers passing
through that territory every year
would not dream OF stopping in such
place to look for farm.
AS l have said. from the best infor-
nation attainable. we estimate about
5000, 600 acres under ditch. About
100000 of this is under cultivation
and much of that is but partially de
veloped. The various new irrigation
schemes that have been projected. and
that can be recommended ms merito-
rious, would probably add another mil
lion acres: so that there can be counted
us available for settlement in the i'm
mediate future 100000 acres of land