The Delta independent., 1910-05-27

lutely upon the season; in ordinary
years 20 to "a only good until July
18th; others only good for flood
water; they report that 80 per cent
of those owning priorities were will
ling to turn over to the project, and
that two-thirds of the owners of
private bitches were willing to sell
! their bitches by arbitration. The
board said this was upon the show
ing since March 25th, and they
| pledged the unification of the
bitches and the return to the recla-
nation fund of the money expended
on the project if the government
would take up the project. Space
will not permit the full report, but
full report and all communications
are on file in the office. open at all
times for inspection.
The tunnel will be ready to de-
liver water July 1st, 1910. Seven
years have elapsed since the asso-
citation was organized. The Montrose
and Delta canal has been purchased
for cash at about s125.OOO. Carry
ing capacity OF said canal was about
25O feet. Priorities feet No.
water placed at 200. The other
priorities are as follows: No. %,
90 feet; No. 43, SO feet. The Lout-
senheiZer was purchased for $751;
900, but this does not include the
102 outstanding water rights.
Upon the basis of the purchase
OF the Montrose and Delta canal
price has been placed by the Re
clamation Service upon every other
consider able ditch in the valley.
Negotiations have been in progress
every since Nov. 9th, 1904. First
by cash then by certificate of in
legal by Secretary BallingerD Upon
Jan. 5th, 1910, Secretary Ballinger
approved a form of contract where
by with the consent of so per cent
OF the stockholders any ditch which
can be advantageously incorporated
into the project, may be turned over
to the government upon an agreed
valuation when good title is shown.
Each shareholder will receive credit
upon his payments for water in pro-
portion to his stock.
Mr.. Ballinger. Secretary of the
Interior, through letter to Edward
7. Taylor. notified the association
that an effort will be made to fur
nich ha ila,,
from the Gunnison tunnel to those
tracts which can be reached by ex-
isting distributing systems and whic
shall have complied with the neces-
sary requirements to warrant the
delivery of water.
Mr.. r. F. Walters, upon April
18th. 1910, notified the board that
he desired the stockholders ratify
all purchases made at a greater or
higher price than the price placed
Service. That is, If ditch company
asks a greater price than the price
offered by the Reclamation srevice.
said price, before he would recon-
mend it. would have to be submit
ted to the stockholders for their
rejection or ratification. II properly
signed up by 80 per cent of share
holders and ratified by the stock
holders, he will send to the de-
partment with recommendations. He
gives as his reasons for this that
the Reclamation Service has placed
u uniform price upon all principal
bitches of the valley and that the
Reclamation Service was severely
criticised by some members of the
association who considered the
prices for the Montrose and Delta
canal, as well as the Loutzenheizer,
as grossly extravagant.
Now you have the matter fairly
up to you as Water Users Asso-
citation. If you desire Gunnison tun-
mel water. get busy. Do not depend
on anyone else. The water will be
turned to the bitches coming in. If
the government can deliver it to
them without the others stealing 1t:
If not, the tunnel will be closed
down until such delivery can be
made.
The Board has used its best en-
ceavors to unity the systems. and
feels that 80 per cent of the water
users of the valley are in favor of
unification. We find some who are
not willing to do as they originally
agreed. as well as some who never
did anything to assist. If we de-
sire to complete this project and
receive the benefits. we must unity.
1t Is useless for me to tell what