The Elbert County tribune., 1902-10-02
IRRIGATION PROJECT
orsao COUNTY IN THE LEAD.
Large Irrigation District Formed
Near La Junta VIII Be Rapidly De-
veIoped-immense Sum Raised to
Construct Canals and Reservoirs.


Denver Sept. 27.-The pioneer irrlgl-
ton district to be formed under the
new state Law has been started near
the town OF La Junta. Otero county.
The persons Interested In the movement
organized their territory sevefnl months
ago, according TO the statute passed by
the last Legislature, and yesterday they
voted $500. 900 bonds, with the proceeds
of which they VIII develop the 25,OOO
acres embraced in the district.
In an interview published in the Re-
publican Theodore @. Henry. of the
Henry Investment Company, says:
This immense tract will be provided
with system of canals and reservoirs.
the most complete in southern Colorsi-
do, IL not In the entire state. The COM
pany has purchased the Otero canal,
project undertaken twelve years ago.
ON which nearly n quarter OF million
of dollars has been expended from nrst
to last. The canal viii be extended 10
the Bent county line. widened and i'm
proved and will be about eighty miles
In length. The district has already Sc
cured early water rights and storage
facilities in Chaffee county, where food
water will be impounded and conveyed
down the channel of the Arkansas river
as wanted for the uses OF the district.
''rhe city of La Junta has already
bought about eighty cubic feet of the
water Of the early appropriations at an
outlay of nearly 100000. and excepting
the very small amount required for city
purposes, proposes to grnnt the use OF
the rest to the district in return for its
transportation through the canal to the
city reservoirs from which direct press
ure can be had.
"rhe territory which will be re
claimed is Immediately tributary TO La
Junta, and embraces us fine land, natu-
rally, as can be found in the state; II
lacks only the assured water supply to
make II as valuable as the best sugar
beet. cantaloupc and fruit land In Colo
RADIO. The terms of the statute proyid-
ing for such irrigation districts author
izes the people of the territory avail
able to bond all the irrigablc land. and
with the proceeds to provide a system
OF irrigation. In this way the burden 10
uniform and equitable. and the man
agement Is placed from the outset d.
rectly In the hands OF the beneficiaries.
The district plan avoids the risks which
have made so unsatisfactory former in
vestments In large irrigation enter
prises The effect is to stimulate entire
cultivation. The average annual charge
for water is minimized because NIL
lands contribute.
For years the people OF La Junta
have been endeavoring to carry out this
project but outside capital could not be
interested: much OF the land belongs to
non-residents who were unwilling 20 co
operate; the local and resident owners
were unable financially. and conse-
quently that fine territory has all these
years lain barren and idle.
''Now the transformation which Is IN
evitable and immediate Will demon
stratc the practical worth OF this new
law, which Its friends assert Is the most
valuab BILE statute relating to irrigation
that has ever been enacted. There have
been many complications and difficult
ties for the people of La Junta to over
come. They have finally succeeded,
and they deserve congratulations for
initiating this important enterprise
through the instrumentality OF the irri-
CATION district system"