The Ordway new era., 1908-08-14
CONFERENCE WITH GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS LEAVES MATTER
UNDECIDED.
TREATY TO CONSIDER
MAY APPEAL TO COURTS IF GAR.
FIELDS DECISION IS NOT
FAVORABLE.

Dcnycr.-An international treaty
with Old Mexico and pledge To New
Mexico are the two items that at pres
,nt stand In the way OF federal APPROX
nj of certain reservoirs in the San Luis
valley. according to facts brought out
Friday in "A meeting between reprcsen.
tatiycs OF the federal govern nent. the
san Luis valley and the Colorado state
Commercial association.
Director +. II. Newell OF the reclama'
lion service: Il. c. Bernard OF the geo
logical survey: Judge &. ID. Hnyt ana
W h skinner. president. and j. Z.
Craig. secretary of the Colorado Com
mcrCial. were the men who took part.
The government cannot at present
approve the Conejos reservoir. SAID
Mr. Newell. because II Is feared that
1t might Impair the flow Of the stream
To such an extent that the treaty with
Old Mexico on water rights and the
promise OF sufficient water for the En-
Gle dam. might be endangered. How.
ever. Secretary Garfield has suspended
his final Judgment on the matter until
he can investigate and see II such
would really be the conditions"
We claim" said Judge Hayt. speak
ing for the San Luis valley. after con
ference. that the federal government
has no right To interfere with Colorado
waters Further even II this conten'
tiun OF ours should be set aside. we
claim on the facts. that the more water
We impound. the better will be the av-
erage supply. The constant seepage
the high mountains that surround tho
valley and that prevent the clouds
from carrying away the evaporation
even the water absorbed by the plant
life. is eventually carried back into
the river and none OF II would be lost
through the impounding OF 100000 acre
feet for the Conejos reservoir. which is
the amount we would require.
What will we do about the matter!
Well. at this time. It il difficult tc
say. Secretary Garfield has not YET
finally rejected our claims and II he
does. II Is a very expensive matter 10
carry into litigation. a similar suit
cost the state about $4,000. you know. =
The Statements however. credited
% Mr.. Garfield In published interviews
10 the effect that the government has
approved all other reservoirs but this
are not correct. as there are few 9th
ers still held up.
But AT the same time this Is the
most important as II IA the largest OF
'h'St uHbh 10
Understand. though. that there was
no criticism of the administration In
cur discussion. Mr.. Newell desired to
obtain our side of the case and we de
sired mis- views. 1t was merely n mat
ter OF Information that drew us TO
gcthcr."
The Conejos reservoir. the subject OF
discussion. as planned will impound
| 100 900 acre feet II completed. The Old
Mexico treaty requires that 10000 acre
feet be delivered to that country and
the New Mexico Engle dam. OF which
Congress has approved, will take 1.50O.'
| 600 acre feet.
When asked what the State CONNER.
cial Association will do now about the
matter. J. c. Craig said: ut appears
now to be matter for court action by
the state against the government II
Mr.. Garfield decided unfavorably but
our association will stand In back Of the
San Luis valley straight through In
their endeavor to secure the water
| rights"