The Grit-advocate., 1904-08-12
IrrigAtIOnists Discuss
Reservoir Propositions.


held in the county SUPPLEMENTARY :
office In Julesburg last Saturday
The meeting had been called by the
directors of the district for the pur-
submitted by d. a. Camtield for the
construction Of the Julesburg reser-
voir, and also propositions submitted
| by the two ditch companies in the dis
trict for the purchase Of their bitches.
| Only the electors of the district had
been invited to attend the meeting,
but, as it seemed to be the desire of
others in the district to attend, the
meeting was thrown open to the pub
| lie.
Two sessions were held. one in the
! forenoon and one in the afternoon,
and the various propositions were
thoroughly discussed from all stand
points. A small majority OF the elect
ors present were in favor Of contract
ing for the Reservoir and for the pur-
chase ct the Petersen ditch, although
the opinion Of those in favor OF this
seemed to be that the price asked for
each was too high. The sentiment of
nearly all present was that the propo-
sitition submitted by the Settlers
Ditch company should not be consid
cred. The price asked was thought to
be more than double what the ditch
is worth, and it was the opinion of
many that the construction of the high
line ditch will obviate tie necessity of
buying the Settlers ditch.
Pursuant to the wish of a majority
OF the elect,rS present at Saturdays
meeting the directors will meet next
Saturday, and will decide upon some
proposition to be submitted to the
people at an election. In the mean
time the directors are conducting ne
golions with Mr.. Camticld and the
Petersen Ditch company with Il view
to securing a more favorable PROPOSE
tion from each.
The Grit-Advocate believes that the
majority OF the electors in the district
are right in their opinion that the dis
trict should own the bitches as we'll as
the reservoir. The whole system
would then be under one management
and would therefore be more satisfac-
tory to everybody. Ii it were not
properly managed by the board of di-
rectors. other directors could be elect
ed; in fact the management would be
under the direct control of the people
who own it.
In favoring the district ownership
OF the whole system we, of course,
start with the supposition that ditch
es and reservoir can be purchased at
reasonable price. We confess that we
do not know what is fair price for
the different properties, but we believe
that the people residing in the district
will be able to form an accurate judg-
ment as to this. Personally we do not
know whether or not e65,OOO.OO is a
fair price for the Petersen canal.
Neither do we know whether or not
S;O, 900. 90 for the Settlers ditch, with
a reservation Of TO water rights by
that company-in reality a price of
$50 900 90 for the whole ditch-is n
fair price for il. We do not know
whether or not the plice asked by Mr..
Camtield for the reservoir Is 4 fair
price.
As to the value of the bitches in the
district every director, as we'll as every
voter in the district, is competent to
decide The value Of the reservoir
can be, and should be, ascertained by
the directors before contract is
made with Mr.. Camtield or with any
one else. This can be done by the
board employing competent and dis
interested engineer, submitting Mr..
Camiicla's plans and specifications to
him and getting an estimate upon the
cost of the work from him. Should
this estimate show that Mr.. Camtield
Is seeking to realize an cxhOrbitant
profit from the enterprise, Or that
certain persons in Julesburg are get
ting rake Off" from it-as has been
by some OF the knockers
then let the directors purchase MIR.
survey and filings, which he
offers TO sell for. $ll 900 90, and build
the reservoir themselves.
We do not care who builds the res.
ervoir. II the directors believe that
they can build it cheaper than Mr..
Cam!ield, they owe it to themselves
and to their constituents to do so.
We are simply interested in having
the reservoir built, by whatever means
are considered best by the directors,
and We believe that it will be u SER
iouS calamity to the county il it is rot