The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-05-20
PEOPLE PREFER
THE RAILROAD
Reservoir in Gore Canyon, Col,
Would Injure Moffat Line.
NO LAND TO BE IRRIGATED
MATTER WILL BE CAREFULLY
INVESTIGATED.
NO LAND TO BE IRRIGATED

Washington. D. G, May 19.-Former
Representative John F. ShafrOth of
Denver. purely in his capacity of pri-
vate citizen. had a conference with
Secretary Hitchcock to urge that the
government abandon the idea of build
ing an irrigation storage reservoir in
Gore canyon. Colorado ShafTOth told
the secretary that the Moffat rail-
road, which viii shorten the distance
between Denver and salt Lake by 200
miles, is being built in expectation Of
running through Gore canyon, but If
the reclamation service builds StOr-
age reservoir at that spot the railroad
viii have TO make a long detOur, which
VIII greatly reduce its effectiveness as
2 time saver between Denver and Salt
Lake and incidentally ali points east
and west
Air. Shsfroth said he and the people
Of Colorado generally are apDreciative
Of irrigation works. but ne declared
that If this choice between railroads
and irrigation should be placed before
the people Of Colorado they would sup
port the railroad twenty 10 one Furth
ermore. he said that farmers along
Grand river now have all the water
they need for irrigation, and there will
not be any increased demand for many
years TO come. if at all. He further
stated that the building of the govern
ment project in the vicinity would not
materially increase the irrigable
area In his opinion the question is
which would be the greatest benefit.
railroads that viii so greatly shorten
the distance between Denver and Salt
Lake, and thereby benefit Utah and
Colorado. primarily, and incidentally
lessen the time from the Atlantic TO
the Pacific, a project in which every
body is Interested. or an irrigation pro-
jet. which, while feasible. is not re-
quested by farmers along Grand river.
Plenty of Other Projects.
He asked that as long as there are
numbers OF other irrigation projects
jn Colorado where the public wants
the government TO build, and which
are equally as feasible az the Gore
canyon scheme, IL would be advisable
for the government TO look TO these
projects and let the railroad build
through Gore canyon
Secretary Hitchcock said he was hav-
ing the matter carefully investigated
10 see If il would be possible for the
railroad and reclamation service to
both utilize Gore canyon. He Is In
Cllned 10 the opinion that the railroad
can elevate its tracks TO point above
the level of the proposed reservoir,
some 200 feet and If SO the govern
meut could still build its project Mr.
ShafTOth questioned if this could be
done. However, the secretary assured
him the matter would not be disposed
OF until he had possession Of ali the
facts on both sides. While il did not
develop In the interview, there are in
dIcation that some power company is
urging the government TO build a dam
in Gore canyon so it can have cheap
power and sell il at a large profit Mr.
ShafrOth also took this matter up with
Chief Engineer Newell of the recIama-
ton service today, and found Mr.
Newell reasonable and willing 10 con-
slider both sides Of the question He is
not absolutely committed to the Gore
canyon project for irrigation.