The Glenwood post., 1909-10-02
TAYLOR TALKS WITH PRESIDENT TAFT

about II. AS good fortune would have
it, we passed one place where irrigat
ing was being done and he could see
the little streams of water going on
their mission and this gave him bet
ter idea of Colorado methods than he
would have received in any other way.
We passed large strip of sage brush
land and the president wanted to know
if We felt sure water would make it
produce. ! did not have to answer his
question for we were hurrying on
through the valley and before | could
answer him we passed fine orchard,
thus he could see the answer to his
question and it was more than evident
that he realized the Importance of the
Grand valley canal
The attention of Mr.. Taylor was then
called to the recent reportsto the effect
that the Grand valley canal was new
project. He was asked if he believed
the president and Mr.. Ballinger were
willing to have the canal considered by
the government as an unfinished pro
.iect, and he replied: 81 did hear
both Mr.. Ballinger and the president
talking of this phase of the matter and
it was very evident that they hold the
Grand valley canal to be an unfinished
project and not a new one or one that
has not been started. 1t was also evi-
dent that both gentlemen secretly wish.
ed the government was supplied with
sufficient funds at this time to push
the work to rapid completion. 1t is
true said Mr.. Taylor. "that the
government has spent large sums foc
this kind of work and at present the
funds are rather low and / believe
both the president and Mr. Ballinge-
are looking to congress for assistance.
In fact l know they are and that con
gress will be asked at the coming ses-
sion to assist in reclamation work in
the west. But you know the western
men will have to stand shoulder to
shoulder in the fight | expect bill
will be presented asking for $4,000,
900 and if it is sent to the public
lands committee. of which | will be
member, | will do my best to have it
reported favorably out of the commit
tee. Ii it is, it will have better
chance of going through if sent out
carly
"Was Mr., Taft impressed with the
scenes as he iourneyed from Glenwood
to Grand Junction - In answer to this
Mr.. Taylor became very enthusiastic,
mad said; well. | should say so.
You see we rode for at least ten miles
on the rear platform of the president g
car and that gave us IA good chance to
see everything and the president was
has been done by the farmers. And
he is equally aware of the fact that
more water is needed for the unclaimed
acres in Grand valley. Mr.. Ballingcr
was particularly interested in the
water flow of the Grand river and |
told him all | knew about it. He want
at all seasons to supply such canal if
built. | assured him that it was dur
ing the irrigating season that Grand
river had the most water and that il
was at low tide that the farmers Wee
not using water for irrigating. This
pleased both the secretary and Mr.. Taft
their minds regarding the practicability
of the project. They We're both free
to say that they considered the canal
as being badly needed by the Grand
valley people and the fact that they
both gave me to understand that they
looked upon it as an unfinished pro-
ject rather than one not yet started,
should be sufficient encouragement to
the people of Western Colorado that
the president and Mr.. Ballinger will
not forget them when they return to
Washington this fall. -
Mr. Taylor was then asked if the
president made any positive statement
that could have no other meaning than
that he was in favor of the canal, and
said: "During the conversation be-
tween the president and Mr.. Ballinger,
during which the president asked a
number of questions of the secretary,
it was clearly shown that Mr.. Taft is
with the farmers of Grand valley and
after one of his remarks l said, MI
President, if you will tell the people
at Grand Junction what you have just
said, you will make them the happiest
people on earth. But the president
did not feel that he should use such
positive language in public for there
might be some slip in the plans that
would necessitate a delay in the work
after it is started. He seemed to feel