The Delta independent., 1907-02-08

interest and largest benefit to tn
re-publshed. What Mr.. McCoanel
reservoirs. should the regular 6ow
is especially interesting and his pr
the Valley FIVE. ten and fifteen yea
should claim the thoughtful attent
is not given to boosting. He simp
The INDEPENDENT is confident
more good for the country than thl
The Uncompahgre Valley Project, as
it is officially known, proposes the irri-
cation of about $50. 600 acres of land
lying along the Uncompahgre river in
Montrose and Delta counties. The land
to be irrigated forms a triangle, ths
base of which lies along the Gunnison
river and is about l6 miles in length.
The town of Delta hes near the middle
of the base. The apex of the trianglC
lies near the town of Colona. some B.
miles southeast of Delta. The Denve 7
e. Rio Grande Railroad traverseg The
project from end to end, SO that points
in the project most remote from the
railroad will be distant from it about
eight miles.
The proposed irrigation is to be e.
complished by the more complete utfh
zation of the flood waters of the Uneuq
pahgre river and by the diversion Of rs
waters Of the Cunnison river. Shoasa
future experience demonstrate the in
adequacy of the regular flow of the two
streams to supply the demand. ample
reservoir sites have been segrcgatcd on
the headwaters of the tributaries Of the
Gunnison. wherein abundant supplies of
flood water can be stored to maxi up
any deficiency of the late months.
Commercially and from professor
al standpoint the Uncompahgre Pro- ect
is work of great interest.
The Gunnison river from which The
water is to be diverted. flows through
one of the most stupendous canyon in
the world. Its granite walls rl~' in
cliffs. pinnaclcs and spires to HIGHT
vi .Ip' leeN 6toNC li1e btl Va lI''i ! =
and so precipitous are they that f"r a
distance of 60 miles only two horse trails
lead down to the water from the rim Of
the canyon. For many miles the walls
are unbroken and in one short stretch
the depth Of the canyon is greater i0an
its width from rim to rim.
II will be seen therefore thai a
mighty wall of rock separates the cnv-
cted waters from the lands to be lrri-
gated. and to overcome the BARRE a
tunnel nearly six miles in length is be-
ing driven. At the present time more
than half of the tunnel has been driven
and concrete floor has been laid in a two
mile section, The work has been At
tended by many difficulties. 1t is an
ticipatcd that the tunnel may I've conn
pletcd during the year 1908.
In addition TO the tunnel the pruIrct
involves the completion of three great
canals with such accessory structures
in the way Of laterals and distributing
systems AS the circumstances may re
quire. OF these the South Canal is now
nearing completion. 1t is work which
will reflect credit upon the community
and the state of Colorado for all time.
II contains in its length number of
drops or falls which arc massivcly built
of concrete masonry. For more than
three miles the entire waterway is lined
with concrete and four cross ridges arc
pierced by tunnels which aggregate
1900 fee. in length.
The East canal and the West canal.
designed TO water the east and west
sides Of the valley respectively. will al
so be substantially built for the purpose
Of reducing maintenance costs to NM
inuu,.
At tho present time there are about
twenty-five thousand acres of land UNI
der cultivation in the valley. II is safe
to say that not more than ten thousand
acres Of that are in anything like an
efficient state Of cultivation, on account
Of the insufiicicncy Of the water supply.
Yet. with such opportunities the I'm
compahgre Valley possesses today some
Of the most magnificent fields to be
found In the world.
Down in the Grand Valley the other