The Delta independent., 1910-03-18

terday, with reference to a certain
company operating in their section of
the state a delegation of Grand val
ley citizens was said to be responsible
for the revelation that both govern
ment and state officials have been
quietly engaged for months in prob
ing into the methods of certain COM
panies organized for the purpose of
promoting irrigation schemes in diff
ferent parts of the state and that
this investigation has now reached
point where a crash in irrigation
fakes is due.
That quite a number of companies
operating on western and eastern
slopes of this state in northern Colo
rado and in the south and southwest
have been undergoing microscopal
examination at the hands of the Of
ficials is now known, and it has been
discovered that thousands of dollars
have been gathered in by these con-
Germs in all parts of the United
States with no apparent prospect of
return.
The one company which the West
ern Slope people called DIR. jefferson
attention to yesterday is said to have
secured over 100000, and has so
far not given the slightest evidence
of carrying out its announced plans.
This particular company is with
out the state's supervision, but it
developed that it is under investi-
CATION at the hands of the govern
ment authorities. 1t has been pro-
NOTED and handled by Denver peo-
pie. and the promoters are of more
or less prominence.
The delegation of men who wait
ed on DR.. jefferson yesterday are en-
deavoring to aid the settlers who in
vested in the original proposition by
getting the land tied up by the pro-
moters opened under the provisions
of the Carey act
The men who promoted the irriga-
tion scheme announced, among other
things, that they intended to build a |
canal 125 miles long and irrigate
10000 acres in the Grand valley,
but they have done no work what
ever, it is claimed. The settlers
want to get the promoters rights to
the land relinquished, so that they
can get water under the Carey act
1t is declared that this company
has collected any amount it was able
to,-ranging from s58 upward, from
numerous settlers as first payment
on a contract for irrigation rights
under the ditch which the company
said it would build. The second
payment on this contract is de-
ferred for a couple of years, or un-
til the water is provided. and, mean
time, the company has the first pay
ment in its pockets.
1t is also said that if it started
in right now. and had s2,OOO,0OO
in the bank. it couldn't put the wa
ter on the land it claims it will
irrigate inside of a couple of years
There are in Colorado today some |
of the most meritorious irrigation
enterprises in the world. which are
being developed. and water and land |
thrown upon the market in the |
legitimate manner. but sandwitched |
in among them are said to be many |
absolute swindles, according to thosel
who have been conducting the in
vestigation.
companies now operating in Colora-
do haven't even the chance of get
ting water. The promoters got
hold of the land. and have been
selling stock or irrigation contracts
by thousands.
Colonization fakes are also said |
to be numerous and will be investi-
gated whenever called to the at
tention of the officials.
The attitude of the state and gov
ernment is that unless an attempt
is made to weed out the bad concerns
they will give the meritorious enter
prises of the state a black eye from
which they will be long in recover
ing. So cleverly are the contracts |
of some of the concerns worded
that it is said there is little chance
of getting them by criminal action.
but their schemes can be irretrie-
vably spoiled.