The Delta independent., 1909-11-05

The meeting of the Senatorial Com
mittee on irrigation at Delta Monday
evening WAS one of very high interest
and unusual Importance.
The officials were met at Montrose by
Delta automobile train of seven cars
and brought to Delta. In each car
aside from the driver, was a Delta
citizen who was prepared to show the
country and explain it or volunteer in
formation
Ii was the expressed wish of the
distinguished members of the commit
tee, not only TO inspect the Gunnison
tunnel, but to see some of the land
reclaimed, alongside of other land not
yet reclaimed, in order to get fair
idea of results from their personal
observations. and their Delta escort
saw that they had this desire fully
gratified.
The visiting delegation to Delta COM
prised U. 5. Senators T. II. Carter.
w. l. Jones and Charles F. Hughes;
Director of Reclamation Service F. H.
Newell; c. b. Eaton, official reporter
for the committee and s. J. Murphy.
sergeant-at-arms; also George Schars-
ching. land editor and correspondent of
the Chicago Record Herald. Congress-
>men Taylor and Martin Of Colorado.
were here with the committee.
Although the committee were an hour
late in getting to Delta. their schedule
f1r l.v .~taxIal a,,f
ficiently To allow ample time not only
to go through the routine of questions,
but to listen carefully to statements
and respond with short addresses.
w. p. Dale. president of the Business
Mems Association, presented the PEE
vailing understanding of the water
situation and gave to the committee
type written reports and copy of reso-
lutions adopted by water users at previ-
GUS meeting held. as expressing their
views and wishes.
Judge Stewart. by request. made a
brief address bringing out points of
existing law as effecting homesteaders
Mr. Bruce made concise remarks re-
garding the water situation and unfit
cation of the ditch system.
Director Newell spoke briefly on the
situation to the effect that it would be
necessary to unity the ditch system be-
fore the water could be turned in, or
until the government could parallel
those bitches whose stockholders would
not join in reasonable unification of
the system; that the policy, advisedly
had been not to drive the tunnel at all
until the bitches to receive additional
water from il had been consolidated
under a unified system; that, while the
government could not offer plan, 1t
was up to the water users and ditch
companies to get together and form
some plan for the adjustment of the
matter. which.plan should be submitted
to the Hon. Secretary Of the Interior
for his consideration and,approval; that
he alone had authority to act in the
matter.
Senator Carter, after asking a series
of direct questions, made a short ad-
dress explaining that the matter was
not properly understood by the ditch
owners and water users. That the
government was not attempting to buy
the bitches other than temporarily; that
the movement to unity was to perpetu-
ally protect the land owners and secure
the government in the repayment,
ultimately, of the expenditures made on
behalf of reclamation; that, eventually.
the water rights would acrue to the
titles in fee simple, adding value to
their property for all time. The drift
Of Senator Carter's questions indicated
that some sort Of: credit arrangement
would be offered In lieu Of cash If cash
was not available on the part of the
government, possibly that credit might
be given on the payments for land and
water AZ prescribed. but this Of course
was preliminary skirmishing to what
ever action Congress may ultimately