Semi-weekly herald., 1909-05-31
Cortez. Colo, May 25. 1903.

Cortez, Colo, May 20, 1909.
Honorable Charles A Pike, Judge of
the Sixth judicial District OF the
State of Colorado, sitting in and for
the County of Montezuma.
Your grand jury heretofore duly Sc
lected, impaneled and sworn by this
court, have had under investigation
many different matters which have
been given them in charge. In and
about the premises of each OF said
matters they have made due and care
full inquiry and, amongst other things
have been called upon to inquire into
the affairs and management of the
Montezuma Valley Irrigation district
corporation duly organized and ex.
isting under the laws of the state OF
Colorado and existing entirely within
The boundaries of Montezuma county
and they have carefully inquired into
the matters concerning the said dis
trict as they have been managed and
administered during the last few years,
ihu khSy itSpCCllully DtS ltdNe 10
submit the following:
Early in the year 1907. the district
being then officered by Charles Matt
son, r. p. Gordon and John T. Dun
can as the board of directors and w
+. Mowry as secretary thereof, in.
vited bids from different persons en-.
gagged in the construction of irriga
ton canals and systems. looking to the
end of securing an adequate water sup
ply to irrigate the lands lying within
The Montezuma valley. 1t will be
borne in mind that there are from AS
900 to $4,000 acres of arabic land ly-
ing within the boundaries of what is
known and designated as the Monte
yuma valley and that the water sup
ply heretofore secured for the farm
lands within the valley was entirely
inadequate and insufficient. What was
known as the canal system of the
Montezuma water and Land company
was insufficient for the irrigation of
the lands within the valley, and was
sufficient for the irrigation of not
more than 10000 or $4,000 acres OF
land which was under cultivation at
the beginning of the year 1907; and
the question whether the lands of This
valley should be developed and cult
waited and here built up prosperous
of people was dependent
upon the solving of the question of OBJ
tanning a sufficient supply of water
Tor the irrigation OF all the lands of
the valley and, to bring about the de
sired end, the directors and officers
of the district employed Mr.. II. T.
an engineer of recognized
ability and character, to investigate
and report on the actual conditions
here present and inviting the invest |
ment OF capital in the lands of the
salley and the development of a suffl |
,ient water supply to meet the needs
Of the people; and. accordingly, Mr. |
submitted an elaborate re.
,ort to the board of directors which |
hoNN hhC'h " Aht WOflu
INVESTORS and capital the excellent con.
litions here presented and, on or about
'larch l. 1907 they received some
lind OF an offer from what Is known
- the Empire Construction company.
II W ~, that company offered to buy
he holdings of the Montezuma Water
nd Land company, TO extend, improve
nd complete said system with ade.
uate reservoirs, laterals and canals.
nd to turn It over TO the said the
ionteznma Valley Irrigation district.
The report submitted to the board
I directors of said district by Mr..
henderson recommended the buying
I the system Of canals and bitches
ien owned by the said Montezuan ,
9ater and Land company and fur.
ier improving the same by the build. I
g Of what is known as the Nara. I