The Glenwood post., 1908-08-01
Ask Reclamation Service I,
b,ih Government Rosefver
Organization Formed
Up TO MISTER Newell

As far as the ranchers directly in
terested in the proposed Spring Park
rese oir are concerned, every step
necessary at this time to interest the
government in the project, has been
taken, and the matter is now up to
Chief Newell Of the federal reclamation
service, and his engineering corps.
Tho final steps in the preliminary
action were taken at q meeting of the
Farmers of the Cattle Creek district,
held Monday afternoon at the Curtis
school house.
The meeting was attended by every
farmer in the district. Representative
B. T. Napier, who has been engineer
ing the work Of getting the govern
ment interested, reached the school
building just in time to address the
meeting. He had been over to Denver,
and on his return was delayed several
hours by the mud slide on the Colorado
dL oioSSy ACdChihB SoApOAoeAS
just in time to secure rig and drive
over to the meeting
The reconnaissance heretofore made
by two engineers in the employ of the
service, is said to have shown the
feasibility of the plans as far as the
amount Of land possible to reclaim, is
concerned. There are now from 1900
to $4,000 acres under cultivation from
the creek, and the total area that is
subject to cultivation is said to be be-
tween $4,000 and 10000 acres.
There is some question as to the
amount of water which is run down
tho creek. The stream this year is
SAM to be lower than it has ever be-
fore been in the memory of the Oldest
settlers in the valley. The reclams.
tion service will make request for re,
gular weekly measurements of the
creek during the season, and, if it can
be shown that the stream carries more
than it shows at this time, the engiu
eers say there will be sufficient water
to irrigate al the reclaimable land.
The principle purpose Of Mondays
meeting, however. was to secure the
pledge Of the interested ranchmen that
certain requirements of the reclama
tion act will be met on their part If
the government takes up the project
Land holdings under a government
reservoir or canal are always limited
in size.
In the Cattle Creek project, it is
probable that the limit will be 100
acres. Those who hold more at this
time, will be required to relinquish to
the government their excess holdings
above 100 acres, in cases where a pa
tent has not been secured. The claim.
ant is given a certain notice by the
government when the time comes to
make this REIMBURSEMENT. He has sig.
ty days thereafter to select such por
tions of his holdings as he wishes to
retain. This freedom Of selection per-
Its the retention of such portions As
hAe been improved. The balance
must be given up to the government.
II the selection is not made in sixty
days, the right of choice is lost, and
the government will then select the
portions to be relinquished.
II the land owner holds a patent for
his land, he must agree to sell his ex-
cess holdings above 100 acres, or what
ever the limit may be at the market
price and is allowed one year within
which to consumate q sale.
The evident purpose of this provi-
sion is to allow the benefit Of the gov
ernment improvement to accrue to the
greatest possible number of persons. In
the Cattle Creek area, under the pro-
posed reservoir, If the limit Of holdings
d placed at 100 acres ~ expected, this
provision will place sufficient land at
the disposal Of the government, and in
the market for sale to private indi
viduals to increase the population Of
the Cattle Creek district by 1900 to
1900 people.
This requirement was unanimously
accepted BY the ranchers present at
the meeting, and to facilitate the hand
ling Of the mater and negotiating with
the government at time. when it be-
comes necessary TO deal with the set
tiers already on the ground, an $3.50
citation was formed with the title Cat
tie Creek Reservoir association.
The following were chosen oficers Of
Ahe association:
PrssidsAt, B. T. Napier.
Fisst Vice Presiasat, @. II. Harris.