The state herald., 1904-07-08
STATE CAPITAL NOTES

| ports that the reservoir OF the Denver
Union Water Company at Lake Chees-
man now contains l55 feet of water.
This is the greatest quantity of water
that has ever been in the reservoir, 1t
being flfty-seven feet higher than at the
same time last year. Sufficient water
is said to be on hand to run the city OF
Denver for several years. The water
comes within ffty-seven feet of the top
Of the dam.
George A. Richardson of Roswell.
New Mexico who has been appoiSted
by the United States Supreme Court
to take testimony in the Kansas-Col-
orado litigation over the waters in the
Arkansas river, has been comforting
with the attorneys on both sides OF the
case. He announces that the taking
of evidence in the suit will begin July
18th at a place not yet selected The
hearing will not be finished before
May 18th of next year. Kansas, Colo
RADIO and the federal government will
want to present testimony.
The game and fish department has
completed the taking of fish spawn
from the native trout at Emerald lakes
and placed in the hatcheries as fol-
lows: The new hatchery at Durango
100000 eggs; Denver hatchery, $780,
600 eggs; Gunnison hatchery. S20,-
900 eggs; Emerald Lakes Hatch
cry, 100000 eggs. This work has
been successfully done under the
supervision of w. E. Patrick, sup
erintendent of the Durango hatchery.
The department has now in hatcheries
at Durango. Emerald lakes. Gunnison
ha In
100000 eggs, and from the native
trout, 3.440,000 eggs, or total of s.
100000 eggs, with Steamboat Springs
hatchery yet to be filed, where will be
placed 100000 eggs of native trout
taken from Trappers' Lake.
Where is Sunflower valley? On this
question hinges the proposition of
sinking an artesian well, for which
purpose the last Legislature appropri-
ated $1,000. In an indefinite way the
people of Las Animas county know
that Sunfower valley is about twelve
miles from Trinidad, but how big is II.
how long and how wide? Some say 1t
covers a little stretch of about two
miles; others say it is fully six miles
long. Until the people came to some
agreement the well cannot be sunk.
II has long been held that there is an
artesian basin under the particular
portion OF Las Animas county so in
definitely described as Sunhower val.
ley, and as the people living in that
vicinity could use 1t very nicely for
drinking water II for nothing else, the
state was asked to appropriate, which
1t did to the extent Of $1,000. The
money is ready and now the only thing
in the way is the question as TO what
portion of the valley the well shall be
located in. The matter has caused
considerable agitation, but State En-.
gineer Carpenter who has lust re-
turned from a visit there. states that
an agreement will undoubtedly be
reached In the near future and the
work then proceed.-Denyer Repub.
llcan.
II the work of r. f. Esteb of Boul-
der is found TO be correct. and II the
courts of the state uphold the conten-
tions which will be made by him on
behalf of the city and county of Dem
yer. the city and county will be rich
er by some $4,000, 600 MIR. Esteb re-
Gently submitted to Treasurer Elder
Of the city and county list Of the
names OF persons who are said TO have
had their assessments on personal
property omitted since 1890. Mr.. Esteb
was appointed by the old Board OF
County Commissioners for the purpose
Of looking into the omitted assessments
from 1890 to 1900. The list includes the
names of some OF the most prominent
people in the city. Treasurer Elder
will make an effort to collect the
amounts which II is claimed are due.
Suits will be instituted, II necessary.
Esteb is to get twenty per cent. of the
taxes collected. 1t was stated at the
court house that MIR. Esteb has engaged
legal talent to assist In the prosecution
of the claims against the parties
named. Notices will be sent out by the
treasurer to those named In the last
list submitted TO the treasurer. II is
expected that the payment Of the mon
eys asked will be protested and that
lawsuits will follow. II is expected
that number Of legal questions will
arise II the cases are taken into the
courts. one is whether the statute OF
limitations will run against the claim
Of the city and county. Those who seek
10 have the amounts paid claim that
taxes become perpetual liens on tho
personal property sought to be taxed.
Limited indeed Is the comprehen.
sion any one has had up to this time
As to the extent OF tax dodging that
has been going on among the wealth.
Ter citizens Of Denver during the last
ten years. The final report OF Ralph
Il, Esteh, who has In hand the work OF
ferreting out the property on which no
taxes have been paid. has been sub
mitted TO Assessor Alexander and the
recapi,ulation Of his work which IL
made In that report ls indeed sur.
prise. He shows by Il that 5000 per,
sons have failed TO turn In complete
lists OF their tangible property. such
| as notes. mortgages, stocks and bonds,
to the assessor, aH they are re,
quircd TO do by law The taxes now
owing by these 5000 persons to the
i city and county OF Denver will amount
TO somewhere between s30.000.000 and
$40, 100000. II Is hard to realize tho
meaning Of these enormous figures but
when II IN said that the old county Of
Arapaho. during the ton years be.
tween 1880 and 1900 raised only .35..
900 900 by taxation II will be seen that
property OF onc'half the valuation OF
all Of that In the county escaped tax,
alton. This property N all Of that In.
tangible nature which cannot be found
| by deputy assessor who goes into
the hcld TO nr value upon real eH.
tate or upon horses and COWS Mort,
cages ranging In amount from 800 10
100000 have escaped and their own
| orh have paid nothing to the county.