Rocky Ford enterprise., 1905-02-10
Dangerous irrigation Legislation De.
fsatsd BY Prompt Action Of A.
fsctsd Interests.
EdlIor nf the EnIerprIne:

To the Editor OF the Enterprise:
House bill No. . introduced by Rep
| resenihtive Barber In measure In
tended 10 benefit late reservoir rights
and ostensibiy gotten up directly IN
the Interest OF the Denver Union Wa
ter Co. The bill as introduced seeks
10 make nve months OF the year during
! w.nter a time for running water into
reservoirs. The effect would be to pro-
hibit running wdter In ditches for tr-
rtgation OF the land during the season
from Nov. 18th TIL April 18th. OF each
year. Should such u bill become Q
law II would undoubtedly prove ruin
Arkansas valley and all parts Of the
state where winter irrigation II prac-
tlced. Again. but little water In avail
able for storage purposes during the
winter months no that the benefits to
be derived from the change to the res
would be very small indeed. Such .
law would only provide an excuse for
the building OF additional irrigation
works In sections where In now too
many bitches for the water supply.
The best possible storage OF the winter
run OF water In that which In prac-
tiecd In the Arkansas valley and con-
sists In running tn. water on the
lands where Il will freeze up on the
surface or roaks into the Subsoii where
u is most convenient for the usc OF
crops and where Il IL utilized by fire.
qucnt and thorough cultivation during
the growing season.
When this bill was In the hands Of
the Irrigation committee Of the Lcgis-
inture last week. and at "a tim. when
there was grave danger OF its b~in.
fnvorabiy reported to the Assembly u
most thoroughly representative party
OF citizens from the districts most In
trr~ri-i In this matter appeared be-
fore tn. committee ana gave such
clear explanation Of the importance OF
leaving the law ar u now stands ON
these questions that the bill was va
amended ns to destroy entirely It's evil
effects should II become law. Among
thos- who looked out for tn, interests
OF the Arkansas valley were McnHrr.
wintcrhnitcr. wI-tx-r. Swlnk. Hall.
Bent. Scmidt. t.ub-rs and others.
Representative Church OF near Dem
v-r has proven true friend OF the
states irrigation interests and IN nm
able man. lie arranged To have the
meeting Of the Irrigation committee
In the House Of Representatives In
order that all OF III" nifty or more rep
,-r-nintivcs OF irrigation and agricul-
tur- from all parts Of the state might
have mn opportunity to appear before
the commitic" and to he heard on nll
phases Of the question. Tn" fruit
growers Of Fr-mon, county showed
how the paErnE. Of II. u. No. would
ruin their business md the gardeners
aud fruit growers Of the northern dis
,rIctr. especially the strawberry grow
-rr Of the vicinity Of Denver felt equal
ly tha Importance OF defeating the
measure. The beet Industry would
he more crippled throughout til" stale
than amy other branch OF agriculture.
THIS meeting Of ditch men nnd farm
..ra resulted In the formation of n state
ORR nivntInn to look after their In
forests during the ~r;ir" session. Tn"
meeting for the formation OF this cen
trail organization was held In tn" Al
hrny hotel pft"r the audience with tn"
Irritation committee Of tho f."risln-
tur" REPRESENTATIVE S'""n and Sem
n'nr crowley nrr Huh hay. been on
tho right side In this 'unt'"r and though
In IN" minority politically, they have
"a proper influence in Hll mnt"rE OF
r,-.cinl Interest io agriculture and ir-
tlEItion.
The date ror Introduction ~ bills 10
ylrvnri aud rll bills ~ importance VIII
soon br rriU'ci when ihna" Of special
ln'rr"p, to- our ucoul" win h" hiStrih-
uis..t and viii also nupcNr In these col
ufuus
In this bill ono nr the strongest
braces Of orr irrigation system has
boon imr"rilrI nuI the incident shown
orr people the Importance Of every
citizen following the work OF the law
m1kcrH Mt tho capitol and taking the
Interest to lend hand when occasion
requires to preserve their rights.
I"TA AK CROWLEY.