The daily sentinel., 1903-05-19

tiers and paid the Indians for the land
as settled, out of the government
treasury. The Uncompahgre Indians
lands were to be sold under the pre-
emption laws, the government now al
lows homesteads and pays the Indians
81. % per acre for the land as fast as
homesteaded. 1t is not likely to com
pei payment for twenty or thirty
years, maybe we will never have to
pay.
1t is safe to trust the government
and accept the government PROPOSE
tion. All should be as a unit in do
ing whatever the government de-
mands. The government stands ready.
1t is now up to the people"
Mr.. Fellows was called for. In in
Producing Mr.. Fellows Judge Bell cit
ed the interest taken in the Uncom-
pahgre Valley project by Mr. Eel
lows; he, in fact. was so partisan as
to have been mildly reprima nded by
his superiors, that as civil engineer
he was partisan because the project
appealed to him as a civil engineer.
Mr.. Fellows stated that the govern.
ment demanded three things. First,
sufficient water; second. body of
land large enough to be profitably ir-
rigated: third, that the value of the
lands after irrigation shall be suffi-
cient to reimburse the government
for its outlay. The form of organiz-
alton of water users adopted by the
Salt River Valley people was deemed
sufficient
The government will deal only with
associations and not individuals.
For all times these immense irri-
eating canals will remain monuments
to the builders.
The cost of the canal will approx
innate 50. 800, 600. All the good irri-
gable land will eventually be irrigat-
ed even if it be found necessary to
store water. The cost will approx
mate $50 per acre. A proper associa-
tion being formed the government
will be back of the association. not
the association back of the govern
ment. The association will treat with
the individual owners and ditch COM
panies for whose property it may be
necessary to obtain title. 1t rests
with the people to be benefited; it is
among yourselves. There can be no
charge of fraud or bribery brought
against the government officials in
purchase of existing canals because
your association will have that to do.
The government back of the associa-
tion
Forty to forty-five thou ,snd acres of
government land NAV eventually be
irrigated-not now. A total of 1876,
600 acres of land can be irrigated
from the proposed canal.
There are other good irrigation
projects. If this fails through the
apathy of the people other projects
are awaiting and clamoring for action.
A vote of thanks was extended Mr.
f ellows.
In answer to question Mr.. Eel
lows stated the cost of construction to
users of water would be lessened by
whatever might be received by the
sale of water power.
In the opinion of your representa-
tive the people of the Uncompahgre
valley have now reached the most
difficult stage of the proposed enter
prise. To unite the people and recon
cile the various and conflicting inter-
ests, theirs is task of the greatest
magnitude.
We should wish them success, their
project means much to the entire
western slope. Its elimination will
add to the manufacturing and CONNER
cial Importance of Grand Junction by
increasing the market.
The Grand river canal project is
simplicity, itself, when compared
with the Uncompahgre project, its
many conflicting interests and conse-
quent legal difficulties, we do not
have to meet
Respectfully submitted.
@. W. STEELE,
~