The Dolores star., 1905-06-02
OPINION OF JOHN c. BELL
Continued from flnt page.l


900. That to complete the East
High Line and Rocky Ford lateral
is worth $o5.ooo. To build Mar
raguinnip reservoir is worth $40, 900.
To complete Hermano. Lone Pine
and May and Aric keree laterals
500, 900 To complete the other
work required will take $I7o.coo.
This contract provides for an
enormous expenditure of money
irrevocably fastened upon the lands
ofthe district drawing interest at 6
per cent per annum, which can be
easily borne if watersystem is Sc.
cured. which will sufficiently water
the ground and be practically ex-
empt from further rebuilding or re-
pairs for the twenty-year period of
payment, but should such water
supply be inadequate or the work
done be insufficient to insure con-
stant inexpensive flow, then the
result would probably cause sacri-
fee of many homes and much ar
duous toll. The responsibility is
so enormous, and the chances for
disaster SO great that no one con-
nected with this enterprise, from
the voter to the president, can af-
ford to overlook single precaution
in the preliminary step in an at
tempt to accomplish the proper
watering of their lands. When
these bonds are once fastened upon
the lands, they are inextricable and
all safeguards must pfecede their
delivery or the land owners are
without protection. In the first
place there are no kinds of plans or
specifications provided or referred
to for the building Of the new dam,
headgate, and timbering of the tun-
mel, for the completion of the mar
raguinnip lateral, for the compile
tion OF the East High Line and
Rocky Ford laterals, for the build
ing of the Narraguiniiip reservoir,
for the completion of the Hermano,
Lone Pine, May and Aric Keree
laterals.
These all important measures
were left to the Land and Water
company, subject only to the
general provisions that they shall
be sufficient to instre flow of one
cubic foot Of water per second for
each So-acre Tract in the District,
and shall store 1, 900, 900 cubic feet
of water for each So-acre tract and
that the work shall be according
to the recognized standards of en-
gineering, shall be in good and
workman-like manner, the timber
ing of the tunnel shall be in such
a manner as to prevent further
caving of the sides and roof, etc.
From the overwhelming impor-
tance of this transaction to every
individual land owner as well as
the community at large l would
suggest that ordinary prudence re-
quires that these salutafy general
provisions should be preceded by a
well rnatured adopted set Of plans
and specifications worked out by a
competent engineer, providing, for
instance, just where the dam Of the
reservoir shall be built; that the
foundation Shall at all point rest
solidly on the bed rock of so MANY
feet in width, with such slope
from the dirt level to the top with
certain character or quality of ce-
ment with certain base and with
a solid and cement face connecting
with the solid cliffs on either side
and with certain character Of a
head gate insufing d permanent
structure that will not require re-
building or material repairs during
the twenty-year payment period to
be approved by said engineer in ad-
dition to you, and timbering the
tunnel for instance, the size and the
character of timbers, how often set,
how coupled and what shall be re-
moved before setting, so you will
have assurances that it will be per-
manent and lasting. The SAME as
to head gate and dam; but only an
engineer can work out these details.
The last specific item set forth in
the contract for instance, upon
completion Of all other wofk re-
quired hereunder and full perform
ance hereunder SI7o;ooo." This
great sum Of money is not specifi-
cally applied. Evidently the pre-
ceding items each have had addi-
tions made to cover contingencies
and this great floating sundry cx-
pensc of $I7o, 900 for the compile
lion Of work is only visible to the
party of the first part, should be
specifically applied. / am further
strongly impressed with the idea
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