The Grit-advocate., 1904-06-03
Some Real booming.

While some Of the statements made
therein are erroneous, the editorial
contains some valuable suggestions
the farmers of Sedgwick county. The
reservoir mentioued-thc jackson
Lake reservoir-was constructed by
d. A. Camtield, the gentleman who
proposes to construct the Jumbo reser-
voir in this county: its cost, including
inlet and outlet canals, was nearly
$3.50, OOO.lO. a district has been or
ganized by the farmers unde" this res
crvoir and a controlling interest in the
reservoir has been purchased for
SlsO,ODO.OO, Mr.. Camfield accepting
bonds Of the district for the purchase
price. The Times editorial is printed
In full below.
sit is one thing to talk generally
about the great resources OF the state:
it is another thing to make them avail
able. Colorado has fertile land sutiic-
lent to furnish homes for millions Of
settlers. 1t has volumes Of water not
now saved for use. 1t has hundreds OF
miles Of irrigating canals which do not
now receive the water they are fitted
to carry and which, therefore, are un-
able to water reliably all the land
which lies under them.
Storage Of water is the solution OF
the problem. BY storage Of water the
canals existing can be given water
enough to cover the land upder them.
The San Louis valley is a noteworthy
example of this condition. There is
plenty Of water in the mountains
around the valley, plenty of land on
which to place the water and plenty
OF canals TO carry it, but because the
water is not saved in the flood season
the population of the valley is tens of
thousands less than it might be.
SIN the region near Fort Collins and
Greeley the farmers themselves, for
several years, have been building stor-
age reservoirs with the result that
they are practically assured against Il
shortage of water. But the conditions
in that vicinity are different from
those in many other parts of the state.
The farmers have been accumulating
money for forty years and have funds
OF their own wherewith to build their
reservoirs. They do not have to go
out and sell bonds. And nature has
favored them by creating many small
streams along which are numerous
small basins convertible into storage
reservoirs by the expenditure OF little
more thar the labor OF the landholders
who are to be benefited. In that rich
section, where the banks are filled
with the deposits of thrifty ranchmen,
the problem Of supplementing the nat
ural ilow Of the streams Is simpliied.
Elsewhere it is not SO easily solved.
But there is in this state district
irrigation Law under which the land
owners may form district and issue
bonds for the construction Of reservoirs
and canals. Through that district
irrigation law, rather than by any ac-
tiOn OF the national government under
the national irrigation act, will the
lands in this state be occupied with
settlers.
The Times refers to this subject
particularly at this time, because the
first great s.ccess under the district
irrigation law has just been accom-
plished. Near Fort Morgan, in Nor
gan county, about seventy.five miles
northeast Of Denver, the farmers form
ed district under the irrigation law
and built reservoir at a cost OF
$50, 10000. lis known as jackson
Lake. And it is full bf water at this
minute, insuring bountiiul supply
during the coming summer and fall to
about 10 800 acres Of ground.
"The men who went into the enter
prise are delighted with its success
They expect that the whole cost of
$3.50 O0OOO-which is equal TO 5000 an
acre on the land covcrcd-will be more
than paid back this year by the in
creased crop product. They look for
ward to the dry months of July and
August with cquanimity because they
know they have their rain on tap in
Jackson Lake, where it can be had
when they want it.
THAT is practical development Of
the states resources. And the whole
cost will be won back in this single
year. The crops under the reservoir
will be worth $500, 10000 to $3.50. 900 90.
Without the reservoir they might not
be worth half the sum. And there is
in addition peace of mind and Sc
curity.
"Here is an object lesson for farmers
elsewhere.