The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-24
PRESIDENT TAFT
 SEES THE SIGHTS Irrigation Ditch Is Opened At MontroSe, Colorado C0WGIRLS IN RELAY RACE MT. Taft Makes Two Addresses Dur ing the Day and Visits County
 Fairs Where He Sees
 Fine Exhibits.
C0WGIRLS IN RELAY RACE


 dent Taft passed the day on the western slope of the Rocky mountains and amid a succession of scenes typical of the great western country. In many respects thls day was one of the most interesting he has had since leaving Boston.
 1.a'e this afternoon MT. Taft stood on the brink of the deepest irrigation ditch In all the west, and far out in the foot hills with not a settlement in sight made the electrical connection which started a flow of water through the Gunnison tun- nel that will reclaim 4O,000 acres of arid land. It was the setting in operation of the greatest irrigation project the United States government ever has undertaken and the opening was made the occasion of a joyous celebration throughout the valley of Uncompahgre.
 Before travelling out to the west portal of the tunnel on a little narrow gauge train, the President visited the Montrose County fair. and after some formal speech making in which he and the mayor and governor and several others partici- pated. he was given real touch of vest ern life. a relay race of eowgirls The race was arranged especially in honor of the President, and was a noval and excit- ing affair. A girl of Is 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 al- most a quarter of a mile
 The little girl. Miss Bertha Elsie Hull, wore knickerbockers. while the two older riders wore undivided skirts. The impedi- ment of the latter turned the tide of the contest. and when the second change of horses came little Miss Hull was galoping along so far in front that the result was never again in doubt All three of the riders were presented to the President, who climbed in the judges stand on the fair grounds track to witness the races.
 Studying Irrigation.
 After his travels today the President had ample opportunity to study the effect of irrigation. For a long time his train would run through stretches of country where, as far as the eye could reach, the only vegetation in sight consisted of few grease wood bushes or sage brush. Then out of a rocky canyon the train suddenly would rush upon a veritable oasis, where waving green fields of al- falfa and miles of orchards with trees laden with fruit told of the miracle wrought by the touch of water. At Grand Junction and here at Mon trose the President visited the fruit ex- hibits at the county fairs, and was told the almost unbelievable story of the l sons yields. At almost every stop the baggage car was laden with fruit. One 1 little box. a yard long, was Just big enough to hold 10 peaches arranged in row. The scene attending the opening of the Gunnison tunnel was picturesque. On either side of the deep ravine leading away from the poral of the great bore several thousand people were gathered. A little stand had been erected for the Pres ident and his party right at the edge of the cut and looking down 150 feet to the opening of the tunnel
 The tunnel has been hewn through six miles of mountain range and which, when the project is complete next spring will divert the waters of the Gunni- son river, now flowing away in waste to the valley on this side of the noun tains. where minor private projects of r rigation already have told the wonders of the soil.
 Golden Key Presented.
 During the day MT. Taft was pre- sented with a golden key to the city of Montrose, a gold badge commemorating his visit and gold table bell. It was with this little bell that the President opened the tunnel. The weight of the bell when set upon copper plate rep resentng the district of reclaimed land made the electrical connection which caused a squad of laborers several miles away to knock down the bulkheads which were holding back the waters of the river As the muddy wall of water rushed noisiy out of the concrete hole 1 the crowd cheered.
 l In all of his speeches today includ- ] ing the last one delivered at o'clock tonight to throng in Elks park, fol- l paf cd nal S. l play of fireworks the President touched briefly upon the subject of irrigation. He 1 promised the people at Grand Junction promptly to look into the matter of com pleting the Grand Valley or High Line l ditch project there, which was begun year ago by Secretary Garfield on a l partnership arrangement between the government and the land owners. Secre- tary Ballinger ordered the work stopped and was upheld in this action by Attor- ney General Wickersham, who declared the contract and the Garfield currency certificates which had been issued for 1 work performed, to be illegal.
 Jarring Incident.
 But one little incident marred the Pres l ident's visit and that was at the con l cl1sion of the tunnel opening this aft ] ernoon when one of the, 32 Colorado sher- | ifs, who have accompanied the Presi- dent across the state, got into an alter cation with H. L. Daniels, superintend- ent ef the tunnel. when the latter was trying to shake hands with the Presi- dent Mir Daniels was knocked down, and for A time trouble was threatened. as his friends were quick to resent the action of the officer. who, during the scufrle pulled an enormous pistol from his belt The President heard the quar- 1 reling and stopped for a moment as ne 1 was making his way to the tram. lie was told there was nothing serious, how 1 ever, and proceeded
 Secretary Ballinger who is accompany 1 ing the President, also spoke here to- night. He referred to the subject or re- clamation, however, only in general way and his talk was brief, owing to | bad throat.
 In his Grand Junction speech MT. Taft | said that the wonders of Colorado made | 1t difficult to refrain rom cohtihuous i flow of speech. Speaking more directly l of rid land reclamation, he said: