The daily sentinel., 1909-06-11
NOW /
TALKS OF CANAL

During these days articles and
communications of various kinds
from various people. hearing
on the Grand valley high line
canal, are appearing in Denver
and other metropolitan papers.
In yesterday mornings Denver
Republican the communication
published below appears. 1t is
from the pen of A. l.. Fellows.
formerly an engineer in the gov
ernment service, and well known
in Grand Junction. Mr.. Eel
lows, it is understood, is now en-
gagged in engineering work on
large projects for private par
ties which explains his attitude
toward private capital construc-
ton. He has this to say:
ITO the Republican. with ref
erence to the difficulties which the
| United States reclamation service is
meeting in undertaking new projects
such as the proposed high line at
Grand Junction. and a number of
others in other states. il may be of
| interest to some of your readers to
know the controlling factors which
appear to render il difficult for new
projects to be undertaken at the pres
y.
as follows:
Various projects undertaken by
the reclamation service throughout
the West generally were originally
estimated as liable to cost something
like 100000. Owing to increased
cost and scarcity of labor. materials
and unforeseen difficulties, etc, the
cost has amounted to much more
than the estimates, SO that il is now
expected that at least 100000. 900
will be required for the completion
of the projects already undertaken.
The money furnished is limited, and
the amount available up to the pres
ent time is not sufficient to complete
the projects already undertaken.
For the last two or three years an
effort has been made to eke out the
amounts available by certificates of
Indebtedness, paid to settlers and
others for services rendered. these
certificates to be redeemable in pay
ment for water rights. There have.
all along, been serious doubts as to
the legality of these certificates of
Indebtedness, and it appears that the
present secretary of the interior has
decided, after investigating the sub
ject, that they are not legal, and con-
sequently the United States reclama-
tion service is obliged to complete
the projects which it has already un-
dertaken without assistance of any
kind from outside sources. Natur-
ally those localities that have un-
completed projects where settlers
have been waiting for years for the
completion of the irrigation works,
are bringing all possible pressure to
bear to get their own projects COM
pleted, and in fairness to them il
would seem as if this should be done
before new projects are undertaken.
For example, with the funds now
available il will require several years
before the Uncompahgre valley can
be completed. and the same is true
of the North Platte project in Wyom-
ing and Nebraska, and a number of
others of the more important recla-
nation projects.
The Rio Grande project is an es-
pecially good illustration of a new
project under consideration. the rec
lamation service being unable to un-
dertake this work on any business
like basis, but still preventing the
construction of reservoirs by private
capital on the Rio Grande and its
| tributaries, with the end in view of
itself utilizing all the available wa
ter, although it may be years before
lHtie viii pe any pOSslUle lTuitiou VI
this proposition. Under these condi-
tions Secretary Ballinger undoubted
ly feels that he must consider the
claims of those who have projects al
ready under way. the completion of
which will be materially delayed by
the undertaking of new projects, to
the serious injury of those who are
awaiting such completion.
For my own part it would be the
fulfillment of my dreams if the rec
lamation service were in position
to Immediately undertake and promt-
ly complete the Grand valley high
line project, but l think it but fair,
in defense of the secretary's position,
to present some of the difficulties
that appear to be in the way of the
governments taking hold of the prop
osition, with the expectation of early
completion. for a number of years.
Very respectfully,
A. l.. FELLOWS.