The Glenwood post., 1909-02-27


tennoon placed his signature to a con-
tract with the Grand Valley Water
Uuers' association of Garnd Junction,
which means the starting of one of
the greatest irrigation projects of mod
ern times. For months the matter has
been swinging back and forth, but
during al that time, but few believed
the work would never be started.
That the news of the action of the
secretary was welcome in Grand June
tion is shown by the following para
graph from the Sentinel of Monday
evening:
Electricity never transmitted more
glad>ome news to any people than that
which came by fieshes across the wires
laE Saturday night announcing that
Secretary Garfield had finally signed
the contract for the construction of
the High Line canal project
Our readers are already familiar
with the GRAND Junction country. You
all know thar the lands of Grand val
ley are unsurpassed anywhere in the
world, but the lack of water for ir-
rigation has worked a hardship on the
homebuildens in that region. It is
true that thousands Of acres are under
cultivation, but there are still xhous-
ands of acren Of just As good Land to
be reclaimed and when Mr.. Garfield
signed The contract that said the work
should be started at once, he took the
step that means the future upbuildine
of woytern Colorado.
Approximately $4,000 acres is en-
braeed in the project, of which $4,000
is public land. The cost of the recla-
nation is estimated at $2,500,00o.
Ihc plans provide for a dam across
the Gaude river, fifty feet high, and
600 feet long; a tunnel 1000 feet in
length and fifty-six miles of main can
al.
In speaking of the government s
program regarding the canal, the Sen
tinel says:
''The probable program of the gov
ernment officials includes the almost
immediate advertising of bids for ac
tual construction of the canal. This
will require approximately thirty DAYS
for publication. The bids will then
be opened and the various contract.
let.
1t is the plan of the officials having
the matter in charge to divide the can
al site into many small sections for the
purpose of construction, and each bid.
der VIA specify the seebion and quail.
ity of ground on which he is bidding
"For instance, the ground will be
classified as to it's composition, Mheth
er shale, adobe, gravel, sand, part shaie
etc. This 10 TO make 1t easier for the
contractor, especially the small con
tractor, to estimate the cost Of remov
Ding the dirt. Some of the soil may bt
removed for a few cents a cubic yard
while some Of it may run as high a.
sixty-five cents, or more, to handle.
As soon as the contracts are let, anf
that will be as soon after the opening
Of bids as possible, dirt will begin tt
fly, In the meantime the local Off
cials will organize their staff and &C
complish whatever preliminary wori
may be necessary.
1t is probable that the first actua
work will be done on the big tunne
through Mount Lincoln, above Pals
ade. This tunnel will be about one an'
one-third miles in length and will TAX
about year and half to complete
There will be couple of smaller tun
ne]s above the big one, aggregatin'
about 1000 feet, which mnct also %
bored. Engineer Carroll will hav
charge of the big tunnel on behalf o
the government.
On acount of the tacit agreement es
i ting between Project Engineer +.
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