The daily tribune., 1908-02-25
WATER IS
TURNED
ON LAND

Unheralded and unexpected, even
to many of those directly concerned
in the success of the enterprise, water
was turned into the great irrigation
canal OF the Beaver Land and Irriga-
talon company at l2 O'Clock yesterday.
nearly a week in advance Of the
time expected by the most sanguine
and optimistic Of it's friends.
The water was turned on for the
purpose Of giving the pressure pipe
thorough soaking and so that the
amount of leakage could be determin-
ed upon. There was also some fears
entertained that the water would not
run through the pipe with twenty
five cubic feet of water pressure. but
the water rushed through the pipe
like mill dam race and the fears
entertained were dispelled like a
streak of magic.
Although an event of the utmost
Importance to the agricultural in-
terests Of Fremont county. indeed of
Southern Colorado, there was no GER
emonial connected with the diversion
Of the water from Beaver creek to the
four Thousand acres Of arid land along
its course, which 1t is expected to
transform from barrenness to beauty;
from useless mesa into productive
gardens and beautiful orchards.
1t was modest Inauguration Of a
gigantic enterprise and was in keep.
ing with the quiet. unobstrusive mi
racle of change which will transmute
a cactus waste into region of happy,
prosperous homes. To have made
the occasion of turning on the water
a spectacular one would have suggest
ed the promoter and the stock jobber,
neither OF which have had any con-
nection with the Beaver Land and Ir-
rigation company from its inception
to its elimination.
While the company is the owner of
fifty cubic feet of water in Beaver
creek only one half Of that amount
WAS allowed to pass through the in.
take yesterday as the event was large
ly experimental. but, as the sequel
proved, completely successful. The
headgate at the point of diversion on
Beaver creek was raised by o. X.
Parker, the enigneer in charge of the
undertaking, and as the water began
to pour into the great stone intake
and make its way down the immense
wooden conduit to the tunnel and
thence out upon the open land Of the
mesa he must have felt thrill OF
pride and satisfaction in his accomp-
lishment. AZ that man is benefactor
Of his race who makes two blades of
grass grow where only one grew be-
fore
There WAS. of course, some leakage
in the great pipe line. but not more
than WAS expected and the expansion
of the wood will soon result in its be-
coming perfectly tight. The water
WAS allowed to make its way down
the twelve or fourteen miles of the
great canal. thoroughly wetting the
ground along its course. a condition 1t
had not experienced since the prime.
val deluge. when the waters Of tho
great deep covered the land.
The lateral ditch opening from
the canal have practically all been
completed and the full volume of
water will be turned on this week
or the early part Of next month
and for the first time the long
dreamed Of and long hoped for irri-
CATION Of Beaver Park will have
become reality. Just how much
this great enterprise means for Colo
rAdo and tho west connot easily be
computed, but 1t Is safe to say that
Its realization will add millions to
the public wealth. 1t Is one Of the
pioneers In that great chain Of irri.
eating systems that will make the
waste places of Colorado blossom M