The Greeley tribune., 1905-12-07
GREATER YET
PLANS TO IRRIGATE ARID
LAND NEAR HERE
swifts of Chicago are Invading
Poudre and Platte Valleys
With Millions to Spend
for Water

ANY day now may bring the news
that the Swift packing company
people Of Chicago have closed a deal
that will mean the expenditure of
81, 800, 600 on developing water, and
the bringing under irrigation in
Weld county OF an additional $4,000
to l, 900, 900 acres of land.
The story published in last weeks
Tribune about F. C. CRADLE and
others buying up about 30, 600 acres
of land east Of Greeley. between here
and the Burlington railroad, now
appears as only part Of this gigantic
scheme. 1t has been known for some
time that the Swifts were planning
to tunnel through the mountains and
bring large quantity of water from
the Laramie river to the Poudre, for
irrigating purposes, but heretofore
Fort Collins has been claiming that
all the land that would be benefited
by this deal was in the vicinity of
that city. In the absence of def
mite information on the subject this
story has been given general credit.
1t can now be positively stated, that
if the irrigation scheme goes through
there will be very little final benefit
to Larimer county in the deal, but
that Weld county will reap practi-
cally all the benefit in the long run.
1t is known now that the Swifts
have taken options upon something
over .l5, 600 acres Of the Cradle land
east of here, or enough to control the
land of that section.
Knowing positively another part
of the Swift deal, the results are
easy to figure out. The Swifts, or
rather new company that has their
backing, has taken steps for an op-
tion upon part of the stock OF the
Poudre Valley ditch, the big Doug
las reservoir and Nos. and 8 OF the
North Poudre company's group.
This syndicate has until Dec. 20 to
take this option. The option Is de-
posted in the First National Bank
at Fort Collins and can be taken out
at any time upon the payment OF
slO,OO as forfeit in case the deal
should not go through.
The North Poudre company owns
a little less than 43 per cent of the
Poudre Valley stock, for which they
are asking slS4, 900. This is the
stock upon which the option will be
taken. The Swift company has
also purchased from farmers sufficient
stock, so that If they take over the
North Poudre holdings they will
have control Of the company. 1t is
then planned to complete the huge
Poudre Valley reservoir, enlarge the
Douglas reservoir and complete Nos.
and 9 Of the North Poudre group.
This will give them by far the great
est storage canacity of any irrigation
system in northern Colorado.
The Poudre Valley ditch, which
is the largest in the state for carry
ing capacity, is completed to
Douglas reservoir, and will then be
run to the Poud-e Valley reservoir,
not..yet completed.
In addition to the flood waters
that will be taken up In the big
ditch, the new company will tunnel
the mountains and bring in supply
for steady run through the sum-
mer. The Swifts have bought up
lot Of ranch land along the Laramie
river, which will be allowed to 60
dry while the water is brought
across the range to water the more
productive land of the Poudre and
Platte valleys. There are absolutely
no storage reservoirs ON the Lara
mie, and not alone can the flood wa
ter. be utilized, but with the drying
up Of large tracts Of land In the val
ley Of that river the permanent flow
may be secured.
The recent reversion Of Judge Hal
lett by the United States circuit
court Of appeals, at st. Paul, In MS
decision of the case Of Hoge ct al vs..
Eaton ct al will practically remove
the legal obstacles In the way OF
bringing water over the mountains
for use in the Poudre valley. Citi-
zens Of Wyoming brought suit against