The Glenwood post., 1909-10-02

of the high line canal in lower Grand
| valley. At times the enthusiasm of the
! ranchers and fruit men of that section
was running above fever heat, only to
, be chilled by report to the effect
that sit is all off and the canal will
not be built by the government 1t
was but couple of weeks ago that the
| people of Grand valley received a
shock when the report was circulated
over the state to the effect that the
government "does not intend to under
take any new projects and the one in
| Grand valley has been construed as a
new one Why should not the people
of Grand valley feel Il wee bit blue
over such a report? They have laid
their plans and worked early and late
to be ready to turn the sage brush laden
lands into bearing orchards, and to be
face to face with printed report say
ing, ats all off, was enough to
dampen the ardor of all of them, un
less it should be few who never
know defeat, but fight until all hops is
lost
Following the report that the govern
ment looked upon the Grand valley
canal as a "new project Secretary
Ballinger was implored to say even one
word that would lend encouragement 10
the people, but he replied: 81 will be
there with the resident in a few days
and will look the affair over when
come This was sufficient to make
the Western Colorado people believe
that both President Taft and Secretary
Ballinger would give the matter care
full consideration when they met on
this side of the hills. Although the
visit of the president and Secretary
Balinger to the lands of the Grand
valley is. to the world ut large, a mat
ter of history, to the people of Grand
valley it is still fresh in memory and
they are still eager for even one word
that gives the least hope of the govern
ment pushing the work of the canal
that means so much to the land holders
in Grand valley. 1t was for this reason
that the Post this week called upon
Congressman Edward 7. Taylor. who
was II special guest Of the president
from this city to Montrose and who
had Il grand opportunity of sounding
both the secretary and president as
they were passing from this city to
Grand Junction through the country
that is the best on earth, but much of
which still needs water to transform
it from sage brush wilderness to a
fortune making orchard.
~ certainly had "A fine opportunity
TO talk to the president about til"
Grand valley canal and | put in m"
time answering the questions asked me
by both the president and Mr.. Ballin
ger They asked all about irrigating,
ranching and everything else that
could possibly be of assistance in their
final decision regarding the completion
of that canal You notice that ] say
completion, rather than starting, the
canal. do that advisedly, for j am
convinced that both the president and
Secretary Ballinger look upon the
Grand Valley project as one already
started and not one that is yet to be
gin, said Mr.. Taylor. Continuing, he
said, "The Grand valley canal will be
built and will be built by the govern
ment. 1t is true, there may be some
delay in securing the funds necessary,
for the receipts of the government,
which can be used for that purpose,
are not flowing in very rapidly and you
know it takes money and lots of it to
build IL big irrigating plant like this
will be. But that canal will be built
and it will not be long before those
thousands of now dry acres of land
will be doing their share toward MAX
ing this western part of the state more
prosperous.
When asked if he cared to give the
conversation between himself and
President Taft, Mr.. Taylor said he
did not feel that he should do so. "YOu
sec when person is talking to the
president of the United States on a
matter of this kind, he should not be
ira ythe confidence of the president,
but should permit the latter to make
known to the people regarding bis
opinions of such questions.
In spite of the fact that Mr.. Taylor
would not divulge the exact conversa-
tions, it was evident that he was thor
oughly impressed with but one idea,
and that was that both the president
and secretary were united in their be-
lief that the work should go ahead
as rapidly as money. would allow.
"'You can say that j believe | have
sufficient grounds for the impression L