Semi-weekly herald. [volume] (Durango, Colo.) 1907-1917, 1910-02-10
Florida Mesa IT.
rigation Project

formation OF the flOrlud mesa lTTlSdl-
ing district During the past ten days
several communications have appear
ed in The Herald regarding the merits
of the enterprise.
Herald readers know our position.
This paper has favored the formation
to- the district and no arguments have
been advanced up to date to change
our views. However, as we have stat
ed on several occasions. it is not for
The Herald to decide but for those
owning land in the district and di.
rectly interested. They must study
the situation. II is we'll known that
ii does not pay to take chances on
dry farming" There may be years
that will produce fair crops without
irrigation but not often. The value of
lands in Colorado is largely owing to
the available water supply. Every year
the water question becomes more Sc
rious and as rule costs more money.
Durango today could not secure Flo
rida water for double the price 1t paid
some years ago.
We do not take any stock in state
ments made that opposition comes
from farmers who have plenty of wa
ter and are afraid of prices being low
cred with increased acreage The pros.
pelity of the farmer is in raising hay
and feeding stock and beef cattle will
, q iv-ay a far IN,
wi h increased acreage Will come other
agencies for consuming the crops.
Now as 10 cost of securing water.
What is to prevent the farmers inter.
etted clubbing together and doing the
contract work and securing the bonds
II there is big profit in it for outside
contractors why not let the farmers
make the money for the district.
The Herald believes the law fully
protects prior rights and ditch own.
ers. This is right and proper. There
SHOULD be no infringement of any k nd
IN prior rights. Tie Griffith holdings
should be fully protected and no dam.
ilge permitted. See that justice pre-.
'ails and that graft of every ma IRE
be kept out.
Tho question is: Do the people on
the lower Florida mesa need water
and can it be secured at reasonable
cost. If the farmers have no way of
watering their lands at present they
certainly need water and must have
it 10 successfully cultivate their lands.
They must proceed cautiously, how
ever, guarding every loop hole in or
der that the cost be kept within rea.
sonable limit
Last year The Herald published n
list of questions and answers that APP
ply at this time. being modified to the
| and we again publish them that all
| may be fully informed regarding the
workings of the law. In closing we
might add that favorable action at
! ing the proposition to vote in the af-
lirmative If they find cost of con
struction is too great. Favorable &C
ton tomorrow means that the people
as whole are authorized to go ahead
and organize and have surveys made
along with estimates and every con.
tract thereafter must be voted on and
every farmer has voice If they find
the cost is going to be too great they
can vote it down.
Explanatory.
Q. /. Are unpatented lands now To-
Gated inside the boundaries of the pro-
posed Florida mesa irrigation district,
subject IL taxation under the irriga
ton district law. 81 made part of said
district?
A. They are not
| q. 2. When patents are finally re.
ceived from the government for such
lands, do they then become subject
to irrigation district tax if the own
ers do not so desire?
A. They do not.
Q. 3. When patents are obtained
from the government on such lands,
ii the owner of 100 acres desires to
have portion only included in the
district, can the district compel him
to include all of the irrigable land of
the 100 acres, or can a part only be
included upon his application therefor
to the board of directors of the dis
trict?
A. The district cannot compel him
to include any of his lands ia the dis.
trict. 1t is purely matter of nego-
tiation and arrangement between the
owner of the lands and the district.
By agreement, all such lands may be
included, and also by agreement, any
portion of such lands may be included.
Q. 4. Can the owners of impatient
ed lands inside the boundaries of the
proposed district, and who reside
thereon, or who reside in the county
wherein the lands are situate, vote at
any elections held to organize dis.
trict or to Issue bonds or let con.
tracts?
A. They cannot. Only the bona
hide owners of agricultural land re.
siding in the district can vote; and
SuCn other residents of tho county a q