Gilpin observer., 1903-12-31
FARMING MATTERS.
Irrigation Opportunities.

TO the study and advancement of irri-
CATION, submitted plan by which he
believes Colorado's agricultural and
horticultural developed resources
could be made to equal those of Kan
sas in cereals and California in fruit
perhaps surpass them. through the ex-
penditure of from $4O,000,000 to $780,
900 900 in water storage and distribu-
tion.
This money could be raised. he held,
in the manner that funds for other inn
provements are secured-through the
issuance of bonds on the ground and
improvements.
After a preliminary outline of the
progress in the science of irrigation.
Mr.. Henry spoke on the project pre-
sented by him. as follows:
Colorado has two great natural re-
sources upon which to base its COM
merce, which includes manufacturing,
viz: mining and agricultural. 1t
is the needs of the latter that l am
briefly to consider
THE plane of agricultural and hor-
ticutural production will now war
rant the expenditure of S4O,0O0,000,
perhaps $4,000, 900, to provide supple
mental water and to reclaim further
ture would Immediately create an out
right increment of $200000,000 or
5000 900 000-greater than the gift of
Oklahoma to it's occupants, even II the
Indian territory had been added.
I'VE have now only about 100000
acres under actual irrigation. If stor-
age were provided and intensive farm
ing practiced according to Greeley
Rocky Ford or Grand junction stand
ards, instead of an agricultural pop
ulation of less than 100000, with a
gross yearly income of less than $780,
900 900. we should have a farming
population of more than 1000. 900.
producing more than $150,000,000 an
nually. A properly directed outlay of
s10O0O,000 will accomplish that. All
Kansas grew less than 100000. 900
bushels of wheat this year, almost its
greatest crop, which will sell for less
than 60 cents a bushel, realizing only
about $50,000,000.
"Ah expenditure of $40,000,000 more
! will supply water ample for 100000
acres additional. The San Luis val
| ley alone has 3,0O0, 900 acres not per
| cent of which is thoroughly farmed
and not l per cent intensively. The
| greatest record yield of wheat. oats
and potatoes in this state have been
grown there. l have never seen any
where equaled. both quantity and
quality considered, the displays of
grains and vegetables there. If the
resources of that valley were fully
developed it would support a rural
and urban population of 100000.
| so developed. the Grand and its
tributaries would sustain 100000; the
| bn
Arkansas and the South Platte, ESQ.,
900, and the Northwest possibly as
many-a grand total, agricultural and
horticultural. urban and rural. of more
than $500, 900 people, nearly equal to
the entire population of both Kansas
and Nebraska. Orchard tracts at Pal
isade in the upper Grand valley are
marketable at $1,000 an acre. The re
turn in many instances this year has
exceeded $500 an acre.
"If the territory exclusively tribu-
tary to the Denver & Rio Grande rail.
road were fully developed agricultural
ly, the resulting freight traffic would
double the present volume. Strikes
lockouts or exhausted mining camps
could not diminish its tonnage or re-
duce its income. The plains of LON.
hardy, not as fertile as our own val
leys. have for a thousand years sus
tanned a population doubly greater
than | have predicted for Colorado
The valley of the Grand and its tribu-
taries is capable of a fruit tonnage pro
duction rivaling all California. I'm
agine the tonnage il the San Luis val
ley were on a sugar beet and potato
growing basis,
But how shall the $5O,OO0.O0O be
secured? To accomplish the develop
| ment proposed would take years a,
least. Not more than $5.O0O.000 fol
each year would be required, of which
the localities directly interested would
readily provide 20 per cent. The sew
eral district enterprises actually pro
jected will not require that amount
altogether. We have a statute. enact
ed three years ago, which provides
that the resident voters may incor
porate their lands into district. vote
bonds and with the proceeds build ol
buy canal system to supply irriga
tion.. including storage.
These bonds may bear 6 per cen
interest and run twenty years. payabl,
in series after the tenth year. The,
are a uniform lien on all the irrigabls
property in the district, as are schoo
or paving bonds. The levies are mad,
by the county commissioners and tn,
taxes are collected and disbursed b,
the county treasurer. Great care t,
safeguard both the taxpayer and tn,
bondholder was taken In drafting tn,
act. California, Idaho. Washington
and Nebraska have n similar law. Ev
cry legal and constitutional question
has been settled by the state and fed
eral courts"
There would be no risk to those VIII,
furnished the money. MIR. Henry said
Agriculture. under scientific irrigation
was no longer an experiment
"If this Chamber of Commerc,
would take hold as earnestly as 1t di,
few years ago of sugar beet cultur,
and aid the struggling communities II
placing their securities. what a glor,