The Delta independent., 1910-05-27

Under date of May 5th, Secretary
Tobin of the Water Users Associa-
ton, issued the following circular
to water users:
Upon May 5th, 1908, delegates
from every ditch in Water District
No. Al met at Olathe and organized
the Uncompahgre Water Users Asso-
cation Upon May IL, 1903, the
articles of incorporation were filed
and the canvass for subscriptions for
stock was instituted. Upon July
25th, 1903, the association extended
an invitation to Hon. Charles d.
Walcott and Mr.. Newell to visit
the project. Upon December 18th,
1903. the citizens of the valley re-
Quested the members of the asso-
Washington to present our project
to the Secretary of the Interior and
if possible get him to take up the
project at once. The association
selected Judge Bell and j. H. HALEY
Judge Bell reported that the Sec
retary of the Interior requested the
association to secure options on all
bitches, and Director Walcott, by
letter, date Feb. 5th. 1904, notified
the association that all detail sur
veys had been completed and the
project was feasible. In same letter
lie asked for a report from the asso-
citation, upon which there might be
placed a final determination as to
the advisability of the project from
business as well as from an en-
cheering standpoint. He asked for
definite information concerning the
following features: % Total num-
Ler of acres of decided land and
classification; (2) Total number of
acres of decided and subscribed;
(3) The actual acreage owned in
16O-acre tracts or less, over 160
and non-residence; (4 Why all
land is not subscribed; (5) A re-
Lort as to the basis upon which ex-
isting canal systems NAV be naGe
integral parts of the proposed pro-
ject. this report covering the finan-
cial conditions and possibilities of
operation under the direction of
the association; 90 A report as to
the general attitude of the members
of the association with reference to
assessments necessary to insure
repayment to the IT, S. of all money
that may be spent and as to validity
of agreements signed by subscrib-
ers.
Said letter also states that the fol
lowing facts must also be borne In
mind by the members of your asso-
citation in preparation of this re
port:
GD Subscribers will be held
jnent signed by them, and these
terms must be such that the U. S.
may be absolutely assured of the re-
turn of all money spent. assurance
given by your legal advisers that
the agreements made are valid and
binding; (2) AS evidence of the
good faith of the subscribers, it is
understood that the various condi-
tions affecting the available water
supply shall remain undisturbed.
that is to say, no transfers of
water rights are to be made to
other lands than those which 1t is
intended that they become appurte-
lant by subscription 20 the Articles
CT Interpretations; go 1t must be
clearly understood that the system
is ultimately to be owned in it's en-
tirety by the association, and all its
distribution of water must be abso-
lutely under its control. subject to
the general supervision of the Sec
retary of the Interior.
Upon March 22nd, 1904, the boar
took up this letter and appointed
the following committees: On priori-
ties, Rolla Buttrefeld, h. e. Young
and w. o. Stephens; on canals and
bitches, e. l.. Osborne and M. Il.
Welch; on subscriptions, /. II. Glib
son, Frank Donlavey and NJ. r.
Welch; final organization and
completing report, l. H. Mcneil, o.
NJ. KEN, F. d. Catlin and Arthur
Stokes. superintendent of irrigation.
Last committees named made the
following report to the secretary of
the Interior: 125,620 acres decided
land; 1901 acres non-irrigable; 49,
62S acres subscribed; 1913 acres
held by mortgage and trust compa-
MES, none of which is subscribed;
40 per cent of decided lands are
held by non-residents, of which a
very small per cent Is subscribed;
that late priorities are of no value;