Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-23
TAFT TO OPEN GATES
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Ballinger and other members OF his
party were out on the observation plat
form of the Presidents car soon after
the train left Canon City. The noun
tain air was cold and raw. but the
President and his guests bundled up In
overcoats and blankets. A bright moon
shining down on the immense walls Of
granite and the falling water below
made the conditions ideal for a night
trip through the gorge.
The Denver and Rio Grande railroad
officials had taken every possible pre-
Presidents trip through the canyon.
They had sent a pilot train ahead OF
the Taft special, and also had stationed
an extra force Of track walkers on the
seven miles of gorge. The President
| repeatedly expressed his wonder and
awe at natures work in the gorge.
His train stopped for ten minutes at
the hanging bridge, the narrowest and
the highest spot in the gorge. The
granite walls are only thirty feet apart
the river on a bridge hanging from the
granite walls. Nearly all of the mem
bers Of the presidential party left the
train and walked for a short distance
through the gorge by HlOOuuSut uC
President. however, was content to view
| 1t from the car platform.
In the Irrigation Camp.
The President today is striking into
the section Of the west that Is really
interested in the reclamation question.
At Grand Junction. where he will speak
early in the afternoon, he will find people
who are red hot over the government 8
discontinuance under Secretary Bal
fingers orders Of the Grand Valley
government was to put up $4,000. and
private interest an equal amount. An
agreement to that effect was entered into
by Secretary of the Interior Garfield, un-
der the Roosevelt administration, but
Secretary Ballinger decided it was illegal
and called a halt. The presence of Sec
| rotary Ballinger himself on the Pres-
dents train will add to the interest of
the Presidents trip through the reclama-
tion district.
The President has said that he would
not deliver his set speech on reclamation
and conservation until he reached Spo-
kane, Wash. The President has a pur-
pose in holding 1t for that place. That
Is in Secretary Ballinger's own state and
Spokane is the city in which Ballinger
was attacked recently at the national irri-
cation congress. Mr.. Taft will defend his
cabinet adviser and uphold him from the
methods were questioned.
The Gunnison Tunnel.
Late this afternoon at Montrose. the
President will open the flood gates Of the
Gunnison tunnel and turn the food of
Gunnison river into new channel which,
In time, will irrigate the entire Uncom-
pahlre valley This tunnel is one Of the
most extensive reclamation projects that
the government has undertaken, practi-
cally whole river will be diverted
through a tunnel six miles long, carved
out Of the solid granite $500 feet below
the crest of the mountain
This irrigation project will open up
100000 acres and it is estimated that it
Will add from $500 to $500 per acre to the
value of the land. OF the land in this
domain and 10000 acres are in the hands
of private owners. While the govern
ment furnished the funds for the building
Of the tunnel the cost eventually will
come out of the owners of the irrigated
land The cost represents tax Of about
$50 an acre. The owners Of the land will
have a maximum period Of ten years in
which to pay for the tunnel. The Gun
nison river irrigation scheme Is only about
half completed. but the people at Mon
trose will take advantage OF the Presi-
dents presence to have him turn the first
water into the tunnel.
Secretary Knox Not Going.
The Secretary Of State has decided not
to go to Ell Paso to be present at the
meeting Of President Taft and President
Diaz.
The Mexican government has been so
informed through the United States am
| bassador at the City of Mexico.
NO USE FOR CARRIAGES.