The daily sentinel., 1910-09-28
5TERN SLOPE
OIS Up FIGHT
On RECLAMATION


of resolution asking that 100000
a year be diverted from the reclama-
tion service funds for the purpose of
measuring streams.
Mr.. Mahony and the rest of the
western slope delegates put up stiff
fight on this proposition with the re-
suit that there now appears very little
chance of the resolution going
through.
Giving interesting sidelights on the
western slopes activity at the irriga-
ton congress the following from the
Pueblo Star-Journal is of interest:
Unless concessions are made to the
western slope delegation by the ma
jority in the drawing of the resolu-
lions that will be presented to the
Irrigation congress by this state. Col
orado will be divided against itself in
the fight on the resolutions.
At a caucus of the Colorado dele
cation this morning. which had been
adjourned from last night, the re-
quest of the western slope people for
modification in the resolutions as
prepared by the subcommittee, of
which Fl. H. Eddy is chairman and
Lewis w. Leach secretary, was de-
feated by the solid vote of the Denver
delegates.
The western slope people, led by
Secretary I. f.. Mahony of the Grand
Junction chamber of commerce, de-
clared that his section will go upon
the floor of the convention and OPP
pose the majority of the state in ask
ing for an appropriation of 81 GEO.
GOO annually from the reclamation
fund for the measurement of streams.
It's direct blow at the reclama-
tion service" declared Mr.. Mahony.
The Denver irrigation promoters
have all along sought by every posi-
Bile means to defeat the construction
of the Grand valley project by the
government, and have thrown every
possible hindrance in the way of the
completion of the Gunnison tunnel
project.
Now they want to deplete fur
Their the reclamation fund, which we
so badly need for the construction of
these great projects by diyerting 81 =
100000 per year to the measure
ment of streams.- We recognize the
value of this work; we want it done;
but we want this appropriation taken
from some other fund We shall
fight the resolution appropriating
this amount from the reclamation
fund.-
In the Colorado caucus considera-
Z ble bitterness was expressed against
the reclamation service. John Il.
Field, Denver engineer. made
speech attacking the service For
years the reclamation service has ma
ligned the good name of Colorado"
he declared. I'VE are charged with
that visits the rest of the country.
When floods come, they say it is be-
cause Colorado has cut down her
forests. When silt is washed down
the rivers and fills the reservoirs they
say it is because the grass has been
eaten off the Colorado hillsides, al
lowing the digging of deep arroyos.
The reports of the reclamation SER
vice are mass of misstatements con-
corning Colorado; We are charged
with being responsible for every
damned thing that happens.
1T is the duty of this delegation
to refute these misstatements and
SANDERS with the actual facts and
statistics. / don't like this idea of
people coming from 500 miles down
the Rio Grande, at El Paso, and tell
ing us We are responsible for the
small amount of water in the river.
If they would study conditions little
nearer home, through New Mexico,
they would find the reason why the
water is short"
On motion of Mr.. Field COM
mittee of IL engineers Is to be ap-
pointed to present Colorado's side of
the contention. Mr.. Field is to be
chairman of the committee.
r. F. Mahony of Grand Junction
then put in his protest against the
resolution appropriating 100000
from the reclamation fund for stream
measurement. He wanted the money
appropriated from some other fund.
George l.. Knapp, of the Denver
News, one of the delegates, moved
an amendment appropriating the
money from the general fund. This
was satisfactory to Mr.. Mahony, but
Mr. Field and Secretary Leach spoke
against it. saying the reclamation
fund was the only one from which
they stood a chance to secure the
appropriation, and the vote resulted
s TO IL against the adoption of the
appointment.
The meeting then adjourned the
western slope delegation threatening
to fight it out on the floor. Phe
western slope people did not commit
themselves on the other Colorado
resolution, condemning the Elephant
Butte project in New Mexico, ex-
plainin gthat they were not suffic-
iently informed of the facts. There
is no doubt, however, but that the
western slope people will oppose this
resolution If they are turned down
on the amendment they desire to the
other.
But a small fraction of the Colo
RADIO delegation was present at this
mornings caucus. The western slope
people claim that they will have 25
votes from their section and that they
will be Joined by other delegates in
protesting against what they term
the attempt of the Denver promoters