The Monte Vista journal., 1907-12-07
Important to the Valley

The report from Washington to the effect that two
reservoir sites have been granted by Secretary Garfield of
the interior department. in the San LUIS valley is the
news FOR the San LUIS valley people that has been received
in many day 1t that the work of the various
committees who called Secretary Garfield when he
was in Colorado during the summer accomplished
something and that the fuher development of the San
valley is not to be shut off The granted by the
secretary will permit of the irrigation of $4,000 acres in
this valley
From private learned that Secretary Gar
field will consider all reservoir applications their
divdual merits
history of the governments action IN the San Luis
valley is still fresh in the minds of Colorado people
AS result of treaty signed by the United States
the 9Os with the Mexican government the
United States has to deliver 10000 water at
the Mexican boundary line annually This phase of the
treaty worked into 1t by German syndicate that
owns lot of land in Mexico which it is using for coffee
plantations. The syndicate had gone broke trying build
reservoir on the Rio Grande river and in completing the
treaty between the Mexican government and the United
States that syndicate jumped in and got this concession
The United States government order to comply
with this part of the treaty last December started to build
what is known the Engc reservoir about seventy miles
north OF the boundry line between the the
RIO Grande The German syndicate had on March
l, 1908, filed on point in the river onehaf mile below
the Enge site and announced that would build
dam to be known MS the Elephant Butte dam. The
United States government when it started build the
Englc dam took the plans and specifications of the
Elephant Butte dam and strange to say order
sued that reservoir should be granted on
federal ground the upper Rio Grane for fear that the
storing of water the upper Rio Grxnde
would prevent the government from securing enough
water to comply with the treaty between Mexico the
United States
During the general convention which was called in
Denver last by the sockmcn for the purpose
discussing Rooseves various policies Secretary Garfield
hnrn
here and presented their side of the question him. They
maintained that the government had right to prevent
the building of the upper Rio Grande and
that 1t would in affect the Enge nifty
miles inside of Mexico The secretary became inter.
esed that he made trip into the San Luis valley and
time he Informed the committees that waited upon him
that he would what could he done. The dispatches
from Washington indicate that he has decided give the
San LUIS valley least square deal the distribution of
reservoir sites
At the present land in the San LUIS valley not
under irrigation is worth perhaps - 90 acre When
under irrigation the land worth 800 nm acre. thus to.
days action of the secretary of the interior WI, time nd
vance the value of this valley to 800. 100000
Notice has jus, been received ut the L. S. land Office
the head Of the RIO Grandc have been
approved by the government.
The first approved is that known the Tabor site ON
ms Goudy's site.
The first supposed 1000 acre feet and
the second $4,000 This will be good news for the San
Luis valley.
The Tabor site the Farmers Irrigation company