The Glenwood post., 1910-08-06

That the western slope ranchmen and
citizens in general should be more alert
in the protection of the waters of
Grand river, rising on the western
side of the Continental divide and
should conserve said waters for the
use and benefit of the inhabitants, pre-
sent and prospective, of this western
slope country the Post has long con-
tended, but what is everybody's bust
ness is nobody's business and matters
have been allowed to drift on without
any special attention from anyone un-
til resently some of the people of the
lower Grand valley walked up to the
fact that unless the western slope takes
some alton TO prevent the ripening of
some DEGREES to Grand river water
which the appropriations propose to di-
vert to lands on the eastern slope ser
ious consequences would result to those
who will hereafter undertake to water
some of the now unused but fertile
lands of the Grand valley. In fact
a little investigation disclosed the fact
that already water from the Grand
river for the use on the eastern slope
has been filed on and conditional de
crees have been granted in district
5l for nearly 1000 second feet or twice
the flow of the Grand river in low
water and that although but little or
no actual diversion has been made to
eastern slope lands these DEGREES will
become absolute in few days by the
expiration of the four years legal limit.
Leading citizens of Grand Junction.
backed by the chamber of commerce
took the matter up some time ago and
directed Gen. N. c. Miller to make an
investigation as to the situation and
report back his findings. AS to that
the Grand Junction News of last Wed
nesday contains the following:
That filings on the waters of streams
tributary to the Grand river to the
extent of 1924 feet by Eastern Slope
concerns will become effective within
the next nine days unless Western
Slope water users take immediate steps
to protect these filings was the start
ling information given the Western
Slope Water Users Protective asso
citation yesterday by Attorney N. c.
Miller, who went to Denver last week
to look into the exact status of the
varions filings on the river.
He found that not only would the
two early filings become effective with
in the present month, but that in Sep
tember, unless the filings were pro-
tested, 1852 feet, claimed by the Far
mers' Reservoir & Irrigation system,
one of the big Standley Lake compan-
les, would become effective and would
in all probability be taken over the
Divide very shortly for the benefit of
Boulder county acres.
Immediately upon hearing this re-
port the association visited the coun-
ty commissioners, where W. s. Wal
lace, Attorney Miller and others pre-
sented the case and the urgent need
of funds, so that these filings could
be protested and their adjudication
prevented. After hearing the argu-
ments of the gentlemen the county
commissioners declared that they
would meet any appropriation made
by Garfield county. both counties be-
ing equally interested in the protec-
tion Of the Western Slope waters for
their own projects. M. O. Delaplain
will 60 to Glehwood today to consult
with the Garfield county commissioners.
Steps to protest the filings will pro-
badly be taken at once.
The report reads as follows:
The Water UseA' Association of
Mesa County. Colorado.
Gentlemen: In pursuance Of di-
rections received from you on July
"a, I went to Denver on the evening
Of the Goth and had a consultation
with J. W. Barnes, on the afternoon
Of the SOth, and also ON the after
noon Of the s1st, and examined va
rious papers and lssai dosunsats sub.