The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1908-07-22
UNC0MPAHCRE
VALLEY TUNNEL
TO CARRY WATER TO lRRIGATE
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY
THOUSAND ACRES.
NEARs CO MPLE1ION
WITH CANALS AND LATERAlS
WILL COST ABOUT THREE
MILLIONS.

The Gunnison tunnel is a striking
example of what man can accomplish
in the way of engineering feats to di-
vert the waters of mountain streams
to the thirsty acres of the valley ana
plains. A mighty wall of rock sepa-
rates the Gunnison river from the great
Uncompahgre valley, and to overcome
this barrier tunnel nearly six miles
in length is being driven by the federal
government, and when the work is COM
pleted 100000 acres will be supplied
with water with which to grow crops.
At the present rate of progress the
work will be completed possibly by
next autumn, or not later than jan
uary |, 1909.
The Uncompahgre Valley Project
is the official title of the enterprise.
The cost. including the main canals and
distributing laterals is estimated at
about 5000 900. The reclamation act
provides that payments for this water
by the farmers shall be in ten annual
installments without interest. The
cost, therefore. to the farmer Will be
about 500 an acre in the event the cost
of building the project does not exceed
$1,000 900. However. the cost per acre
will not in any event exceed $25. And
all who are familiar with irrigation say
this price is well worth the effort and
that it will not prove burdensome to
the settler. The cost of maintenance
will not be large.
When the tunnel and canals are COM
pleted their administration will be
turned over to the Water Users Asso-
citation, corporation formed under
the direction of the reclamation ser.
| ,,i,a Ia. will ha o1artnI h.-
the farmers using the water. The FARM
ers will come into absolute possession
at the end of ten years. when the fed
eral government is repaid for the cost
of construction. 1t is estimated that
in that time the value of the property
will have at least doubled.
The tunnel will be 10000 feet in
length and 11x13 feet in cross-sections,
and will be lined with concrete from
end to end. Massive headgates will be
arranged at the river portal to regulate
the flow of water and to guard against
destruction during flood time.
| The tunnel will cut the mountain Mt
a depth of 2,100 feet, and the
1900 cubic feet of water that
will be turned into the tun-
mel will flow through at a rate OF
ten and one-half feet per second. The
cost of the tunnel is estimated at about
81, 500. 900. and the cost of the canals
and distributing laterals at s1,5Oo,Ooo
more making a total of $3,O00.00O.
The south canal will carry the wat
ers from the tunnel to the uncompah
gre river in the valley. from where
they will be diverted through the west
and east canals to supply water to
lands lying on the west and on the east
of the Uncompahgre river The south
| canal will have number OF drops
and falls built of concrete, and are cal
| culated to produce power for CONNER
| cial purposes. The work OF driving
the tunnel has been prosecuted with
great diligence since August, 1904, and
the big bore has been driven about "a,
900 feet through solid rock.
Should the regular flow OF water
through the tunnel be insufficient to
supply the demand. storage reservoirs
will be constructed at the headwaters
of the tributaries of the Gunnison in
which to conserve the flood waters &c
| be held in reserve to make up any de
| ficiency i'm the late months of the grow
ing season.
At present there are about 25.0Ot
acres of land under cultivation in the
valley. 1t is both a fruit and agricul
tural district, and is one of the most
promising sections of the state. The
apples and peaches command tor
prices in the market. and apricot, plum
prune and cherry orchards thrive in the
hands of men skilled in raising these
| kinds Of fruit. In Colorado, whenever
| irrigation is established, land with wa
ter rights attached assures comfort
able home. stable income and an asset
that is always convertible into cash.
Two leading cities in the Uncompa' .
| gre valley are Montrose and Delta
Montrose has population of 1000 anC
Delta $500. The valley is being set
tied rapidly since the tunnel was be
gun. and new settlers are becomins
more numerous as the project nears
completion.
1t is said that five of Colorado:
largest rivers carry 100000 feet %
water across the state line every year
most of which is lost to irrigation
| This amount of water. it is estimated
would i,rigate 100000 acres of land
every acre of which would be worth
| 500 or more.
The reclamation fund is a revolving
fund. When project is completed tl'
money expended begins to return t
the treasury and can be used in othei
districts. These big irrigation schemes
are too stupendous for private enter
prise. hence the action of Congress an
thorizing government aid in reclaimin:
the arid lands of the great West.