Rocky Ford enterprise., 1909-10-01
TAFT PRESSES
The BUTTON
GREAT UNcoMPAHGRE VALLEY
RECEIVES BAPTIZiNG THAT
MEANS REDEMPTION.
G REAT REJOICING
THERREsIDENT PAYS TRIsuTE
TO ROOSEVELT FOR HIS PART
IN THE PROJECT.

Montrose, Colo.-President Taft
turned the water of the Gunnison into
the Uncompahgre valley at Sis
O'Clock Friday afternoon September
"a, by closing an electric contact with
bell Of pure Colorado gold. Cheers
Of thousands mingled with dynamite
blasts in n valley beyond to signa,ize
enc Of the most important events in
the history Of Colorado.
Chairman +. D. C.,tlin, as soon as
Taft had pressed the silver plate with
the golden bell. announced to the null
titude that the water which would
irrigate 100000 acres OF the most
fertile land in the world would
begin to flow from the west
ern portal in the next five min
utes. I. w. Mcconnell, consulting
engineer. had been speaking only
three minutes. however. when a voice
was heard shouting, Here 1t comes"
Then a hundred, then 10000 took up
the refrain. and all eyes were directed
toward the portal. which is seventy
five feet below the speakers stand
and about 100 yards away in plain
view OF nearly the whole multitude.
At the edge Of the open portal there
was a premonitory ripple, then
stately wave and then rush and roar
of waters. Through the gigantic ce-
ment ditch far below 1t hurried on its
glorious mission while the bands
played and the crowds renewed their
cheering.
President Taft smilingly enacted
the role OF Moses in the desert. 1t
was serious business for the prophet
and leader OF the Israelites. for all OF
his followers were complaining and
despairing. On the other hand 1t was
one Of the happiest tasks of the Presi-
dents life as he stood amid con-
tented and prosperous people to strike
water from the mountain OF rock ond
wed one river to another.
President Taft spoke as follows:
This lis the fourth or fifth speech
that | have made today on the remark
able character OF the event which he
witnessed-the opening Of the Gunni-
son tunnel-and I am sure you Will
not expect me to dilate upon that sub
ject further. II was considered with
eloquence and with a great deal OF in
formation in respect to 1t at the tun-
mel itself.
But your active fellow citizen.
Brother Catlin. would not give me any
chance to say anything at the tunnel.
j
to act. and that could say what
had to say tonight.
"As I have to use my voice great
deal during the coming two months.
have to be little careful about speak
ing out OF doors at night because II
is apt to make itself felt the next day.
All I want to say In respect to the
opening OF the tunnel Is that there
came over me rs I looked at taht re-
markable occurrence a feeling that
some men SOW while others reap.
THAT tunnel was begun under the
reclamation act which was passed at
the instance and urgent recommenda-
tion Of Theodore Roosevelt tGreat
cheers and applause.) Under him the
reclamation service was created and
organized. and under him that tunnel
has been built. and II his name were
not attached with a great many other
works Of usefulness 1t might well be
associated in some way with the COM
pletion Of this great work.
1T was a great satisfaction to look
at this completed work. sIt has been
my fortune in the Philippines and
elsewhere to be in at the beginning
OF the work and to wonder when the
conclusion is coming. When the Gull
mipation does come, when the end is
before you. when the structure is
ready to be used. then all the other
trouble and all the labor and all the
doul. and all the burdens that had to
be undergone in order that the work
might completed disappear in the &C.
stasy Of Joy at its full fruition Of COM
pletion and that was the feeling that
We had today.
That this work means great deal
to Colorado everybody who knows
anything about II says. II Is import
ant also in that is the greatest work
Of the reclamation service thus far
completed. II reflects great credit on
those OF the reclamation service who
were connected with its construction.
The forcing Of a tunnel six miles long
through that mountain has not been
an easy work. 1t was referred to by
your distinguished orator. Judge Bell,
as q mountain OF granite. Well. I sup
pose 1t is partly OF granite. II 1t had
been all granite 1t would have been a
great deal easier to make the tunnel
than to make II as 1. is, because there
are a good many materials there, I un.
derstand. that are difficult to shore up
and make hold the fern that the tun-
mel must hu,j.
1T is great engineering work.
That IL may last and never give any
one trouble and furnish all the water
that YOU reed ami all the life and all
the wealth that you can possibly ex-
pend is my iervent wish. Goodbye.
Albert Moeller. who committed sui.