The Greeley tribune., 1903-10-22
MORE WATER
SOUTH END PEOPLE FIND
WATER WORTH $500, 900.
Prepare to Bring it Over Range
to Water Weld County
Land,

Water, water, everywhere, nor
any drop to drink
Colorado is not like the ancient
manner, though many of her cities
and towns are anXlously seeking d
supply OF purer water for drinking
and other purposes. But in the val
leys and plains every summer the cry
goes up on all sides, Water, Wa
ter mot for drinking, hut for irri-
eating purposes. AnG it will be ever
so till the end of time In the east,
as shown by last summers furry in
Wall street much of the so-caled
tangible wealth. and vested inter-
eSts were water, and worthless. But
water in the great west is the most
valuable thing to possess, that is, wa
ter in large quantities and capable of
being flowed to farms.
A few years ago the average worth
of enough water to irrlgate eighty
acres was thought to be extremely
valuable at $500 to 81 900, according
to location, but today these are
quoted at 50, 900 to $1,000 and as. the
years come apace these values will
increase in greater proportion than
in the past, Consequently the search
for new and unappropriated bodies of
water goes on. New schemes are be-
ing envolved to change the courses of
rivers and creeks and immense sums
OF money are being generously and
gladly subscribed toward those ends.
The latest discovery OF large bodies
OF water, and plan to put this on
lands many miles from its source be-
lcnRs to George A. Hodgson OF Platte
Vile, Mr. Chapman OF Left Hand; i;
Andrew McMi!len OF LaSalle: John
Ziler and Mr.. Coburn of Peckham
The discovery embraces four lakes
and reservoirs across the continental
divide in Routt county, near timoer
line, that are capable Of supplying loo
cuoic second feet during the iIriga-
.ion season. and from forty to fifty
cubic second feet in the late spring
and during the fall before hard freez-
ing weather sets in. The plan to
take the waters to lands between La
Sale ana Platteville is as follows
Through the east fork of the Grand
river to point in the mountain,
where a tunnel 1900 feet long will be
cut and through this into the middle
fork of the st. Nrain: thence to the
junction OF Boulder creek; thence by
canal to the head of Bucker ditcn.
on the South Platte river, one and
a half miles south of Platteville.
From there it can be distributed as
needed.
1t is not known how deep two OF
the lakes are as Mr.. HOdgsOn and
party did not have lines long enough
to fathom them. but he believes they
are not less than forty to fifty feet.
The estimated cost of cutting the
tunnel is $40 a foot, though Mr..
Chapman is willing to contract for
the work at 81 a foot. Aside from
the benefit to irrigation Of this
new supply the waste during the
non.irrigable season Is valuable
and can be run into reservoir. On
September 25 the flow was IS cubic
second feet Estimating the flow at
$50 second feet during the irrigating
season-and Mr.. Hodgson says 1t will
not be less-and comparing It's worth
with that of ditch stock In the south
end Of the county, towit, $1,000 for a
water right entitled to one and half
cubic second feet, there is value OF
over 5000, 600 in the find; while the
estimated cost OF construction, tun-
mel, diitches, ETC., sis put at not to
exceed $40, 200 or $50, 900.
Surveys have been carefully made
as to the best location for the tunnel,
length and cost considered: the
proper filings to secure these vast
bodies of unappropriated water have
been made, and the owners are get
ting everything ready for work
through the winter; and 1t is
thought that not later than next
summer will see the water at Platte
| vile.