La Junta tribune., 1910-01-29
Arkansas Valley Ditch Association.


tue court house, at which represen.
tat"es OF all the bitches in the Ar.
kansas Valley We're supposed to be
present Heretofore all meetings of
the association have been held in
Fueoio, but the new Santa Fe train
schedule makes La Junta the most
ceh'rai and convenient point and the
meeting was held here for the first
time. La Junta is under obligations
to the Santa Fe for small fayors. but
Is IN receptive mood for still great
er ones any old time in the future.
The attendance was rather light,
not more than dozen representatives
from as many different bitches being
in attendance. Among those present
were {, X McCarg, of Pueblo, w. NJ.
Wiley, Of Holly, Fr. Weitzer, ". X.
Wlhterhaller and G, NJ. Hall, of
Rocky Ford, Frank Kreybill, of Las
Animas; Albert Weiland. of Pue 10;
Fred A, Sabin. n. w. Mcintyre. J. b.
Craighead and Frank Taylor, of La
Junta.
OWNS TO the absence of the pres
ident OF the association, the mem
bers present elected c. X. McCarg.
of the Bessemer Ditch, of Pueblo. to
preside while c. NJ. Hall offciated
as secretary.
The question of employing Albert
Weiland, Of Pueblo, to officiate as
engineer for the association, was
thoroughly discussed, and motion
was made and carried that the sec
retary be instructed to notify the
members In the call for the next meet.
ing thai this matter would come up
at that time for final determination.
The duties of the engineer will be to
look after the interests of the vari
GUS bitches in the Valley and see that
each canal receives its full quota OF
water and that none of them get any
more than they are entitled to. The
bitches that have no reservoirs are
very Jealous OF those that have. and
II will also be one of the duties of
the engineer TO keep tab on the res
ervoir runs.
Mr.. Sabin. who is attorney for the
Arkansas Valley Ditch Association and
also for the Otero Irrigation District.
announced that the hearing on the
application of the latter for a reser.
yoir decree would come up in Buena
Vista on February 18TH He thought
the ditch association should be rep
resented by an attorney. When the
Otero purchased the reservoir site a
decree for five feet of water dating
back to 1850, was included with the
land. and later decree, for eight
feet Of water. dating back to 1892.
which had not been recorded.
was also included II was the inten-
,ion Of the Otero to secure court
decree for as many feet as possible.
and Il might be well for the other
bitches to see that the Otero did not
get any more water than II was en-.
titled TO.
Colonel Wiley declared himself as
being in favor of fighting the appli-
cation OF the Otero for decree to
the last ditch and employing eminent
counsel for that purpose. II was not
so much the amount of water sought
TO be- obtained AS the principle OF
the hing that he was opposed TO.
Under the present decisions OF the
supreme court the Otero had per
feet right to transfer the use OF water
from Chsffee county to Otero county.
and what the ditch men should do
was 10 get somebody on the supreme
court that knew something abou, IT.
rigation and reverse the present de-
cislons II the ditches that had res.
eryoirs In the mountains were per.
mitted to impound water a, the
source OF supply II wouldn't take
more han five years to make drs
farms on all the bitches In the Ar
kansas Valley that were not supplied
with reservoirs.
We don't know whether the Colonel
meant all he said but he talked ms
though he did. He has such very
iorccful way about him that he al.
ways makes nm impression, He re-
minds us somewhat OF Simon Lesrce
OF Uncle Toms Cabin notoriety. He
was very decided In his opinion that
the granting OF the application
Of the Otcro for reservoir
ditch In the Valley. and his motion
that th. action be resisted In every