The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-09-24

Montrose. Colo, Sept. 23-PresI-
dent Taft spent today on the west
ern slope of the Rocky Mountains
and amid a succession of scenes typ
ical of the great western country. In
many respects his day was one of
the most interesting he has had since
leaving Boston.
Late this afternoon Mr, Taft stood
on the brink of the greatest irrIga-
tlon ditch in all the West and far
out in the foothills Of the mountains
without a settlement in sight made
the electrical connection which
started a flow of water through the
Gunnlson tunnel that will reclaim
100000 acres of arid lands. 1t was
the setting in operation of the great
est irrigation project the United States
government has undertaken and the
opening was made the occasion of a
joyous celebration throughout The val
ley of Uncomphagre.
Before travelling out to the west
portal OF the tunnel on little narrow
gauge train the president visited the
Montrose county fair and after some
formal speechmakiug in which he and
.
eral others participated he was Civ
en- a real touch of western lite-a re-
lay race OF cow girls. The race was
arranged especially in honor OF the
president and was a novel and exciting
AFFAIR. A girl OF sixteen was matched
against two older riders and carrying
the sympathy of the crowd with her
from the start, won the two and a
half mile race, with three changes of
horses. by almost a quarter OF mile.
The little girl. Miss Bertha Elsie Hull
wore knickcrbockers while the two
I older riders were in divided skirts
lThe lmpediment of the latter turned
the tide of the contest and after the
j second change OF horses, little Miss
Hull was galloplng along so far in
front that the result was never a
minute In doubt. All three of the rid
ers were presented to the president
who climbed into the judges stand on
the fairgrounds track to witness the
race.
Studies irrigation.
During his travels today the pres
idcnt had ample opportunity TO study
the effect OF irrigation. For lone
time his train would run through
stretches Of country where as far as
the eye could reach the only vegeta
tlon in sight consisted OF few
grease-wood bushes or sage brush
Then. ont Of a rocky canon. the train
suddenly would rush upon a yeritablC
oasis. where waving green fields o
alfalfa and miles of orchards will
trees laden down with fruit told o
the miracle wrought by tho touch o.
water.
At Grand Junction and here a
Montrose the president visited thu
fruit exhibits of tho county fairs anC
was told the almost unbelievable stor
les OF the seasons yield, Enormous
pcaches. apples. pears, plums, yari
colorcd grapes, and other fruit as wei
as enormous samples OF the vegetable
growth OF the district were showI
the president who had an admirlnl
word for all At almost every stol
made today the presidents car ant
baggage car attached TO his train were
laden with fruit. One little box,
ward long. was just big enough It
hold the peaches arranged in row
The scene attending the opening o
tho Gunnison tunnel this afternoon
was most picturesque. on either sid
of tho deep rayiue leading away from
the portal OF tho great bore, severa
thousand people were gathered.
little stand had been erected for th
president and his party right at th
edge of the cut and looking down 10
feet to the opening OF the tunnel Tn
tunnel has been hewn through 81
miles of n mountain range and which
when the project is completed mex
spring. VIII divert the waters OF tn
Gunnison river, now flowing away Il
waste TO the gulf OF California. TO IN
valley on this side of the mountain
where minor private projects OF Ii
rigation already hayo told the wonder
of tho soil.