Gilpin observer., 1904-07-07
STATE CAPITAL NOTES

State Engineer L: G. Carpenter re-
| ports that the reservoir OF the Denver
Union Water Company ut Lake Cheer
man now contains 1856 feet Of water.
This is the greatest quantity Of water
that has ever been in the reservoir, 1t
being fifty-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 fifty-seven feet OF the top
| of the dam. ~
George A. Richardson of Roswell,
New Mexico. who has been appointed
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
rado 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,
900 eggs; Gunnison hatchery. $780,
900 eggs; Emerald Lakes Hatch
, cry, 100000 eggs. This work has
been successfully done under the
supervision Of w. E. Patrick, sur-
erintendent of the Durango hatchery.
The department has now in hatcheries
at Durango, Emerald lakes. Gunnison
rI nnn hA afv,h
| 2,320,00 eggs, and from the native
trout. 3.440,000 eggs. or a total of 81
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 Sunfiower 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 It.
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.
1t has long been held that there is an
artesian basin under the particular
! portion OF Las Animas county SO in
| definitely described as Sunflower val
ley, and as the people living in that
vicinity could use it very nicely for
drinking water If for nothing else. the
state was asked to appropriate. which
It 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
nf tho va11av tho wQn shall hQ
located in. The matter has caused
considerable agitation, but State En-
gineer Carpenter. who has Just re-
turned from a visit there. states that
an agreement will undoubtedly be
reached in the near future and the
I work then proceed.-Denver Repub-
lican.
If the work of r. z. Esteb OF Boul-
der is found to be correct, and If the
courts of the state uphold the conten-
tions which will be made by him on
behalf of the city and county Of Den
yer, the city and county will be rich
er by some $4,000 600. Mr.. 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
amounts which II is claimed are due.
Suits will be instituted, If necessary.
Esteb is to get twenty per cent. of the
taxes collected. 1t was stated at the
court house that Mr.. Esteb has engaged
legal talent to assist in the prosecution
of the claims against the parties
named. T. Notices will be sent out by the
treasurer to those named in the last
list submitted to the treasurer. 1t is
expected that the payment of the mon
! eys asked will be protested and that
lawsuits will follow. 1t is expected
that a 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
to have the amounts paid claim that
taxes become perpetual liens on the
personal property sought to be taxed.
T. 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
| e. Esteb. 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
recapitulation OF his work which Is
made in that report is indeed a sur
| prise. He shows by 1t 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. as they are re-
quired to do by law. The taxes now
owing by these 5000 persons to the
city and county OF Denver will amount