The Colorado statesman., 1910-01-01

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In the hearing before the appraisers
1t was shown that in the ten years last
preceding the hearing the water rights
of the company, had produced exclu-
sive of reserve storage water, an av-
erage supply of 124 million gallons
daily the year round.
The average daily consumption of
water in Denver last year was Al
million gallons. The maximum sum-
mer consumption on a number of days
was 60 million gallons.
During the irrigating season the
company protects its rights to the
water not needed in Denver by irri-
eating farms outside the city. No
water is held for speculative purposes,
and the entire supply is available
whenever the city grows to need 1t.
During the non-irrigating season the
companys reservoirs store the surplus
water so it is ready for distribution
in the seasons when it is required.
The Board of Appraisers placed a
valuation of $2,S45,925 upon the water
rights independent of the other prop
erty of the company.
The 124 million gallons daily average
supply actually available during the
ten years preceding the appraisement
aggregates 1873, ,506.55 acre feet per an
mum, BUT READY FOR DISTRIBU-
TION DURING THE IRRIGATION
SEASONS BECAUSE OF THE COM
PANY'S STORAGE CAPACITY.
The valuation fixed by the apprais-
eTs on the basis of this actual produc-
ton is at the rate of ONLY $500
PER ACRE FOOT OF WATER under
the conditions governing the sale of
water for irrigation.
~. 80 ase,k., ont and
since, water rights were and are being
sold near Denver and in other sections
of Colorado under irrigation systems
actually delivering water at prices
ranging FROM $4,000 TO 1888 PER
ACRE FOOT.
The usual plant of selling irrigation
rights is on the basis of aggregate
direct flow, appropriation, and storage
capacity.
On this basis the aggregate of the
company's direct flow appropriations
and reservoir capacity is 245,000 acre
feet per annum, and the valuation
fixed by the board of appraisers is at
the rate of ONLY $29.94 PER ACRE
FOOT.
At the time of the appraisement
and since, irrigation projects not yet
completed were and are selling water
TlSulS vi tulS lI piiSCo ioh6Ah6
FROM $4,000 TO $1,000 PER ACRE
FOOT.
AT THE ACTUAL SELLING PRICE
OF WATER UNDER IRRIGATION
PROJECTS IN COLORADO THE
VALUE OF THE CONF ANY'S
WATER RIGHTS FOR IRRIGATION
PURPOSES ONLY, RANGES AS
HIGH AS s7,O4O,923.S1 EXCLUSIVE
OF PHYSICAL PROPERTY. OR $4,-
1874, ,9SS.S1 MORE THAN WAS AL
LOWED BY THE APPRAISERS. (See
communication October 22).
This figure takes into consideration
only the worth of the rights for irri-
CATION, according to current prices
and makes no allowance for the great
er value for the higher domestic use.
Considering the feasibility of utiliz-
ing Lake Cheesman and the immense
quantity of water available from that
reservoir for the development of pow
er in conjunction with the use of
the water for either irrigation or do
nestle purposes, the value of the
water rights is materially increased.
LAKE CHEESMAN ALONE INDIE
PENDENT OF THE OTHER PROP
ERTY AND RIGHTS OF THE COM
PANY, is WORTH AT LEAST $5,-
100000. (See communication Novem-
ber 49,
The valuation fixed by the apprais
ers upon the physical property of the
company, reservoirs, filter plant, sup
ply conduits, pumping stations, dis
tributing mains, ETC., is $1O,354 ,O75.
Our communication dated November
26 compared this valuation with the
valuation given upon the water plants
in thirty-four large cities in the Uni
ted States by the latest bulletin of the
Census Bureau.
The comparison showed the total
valuation of the thirty-four plants to
be $432,999,120, and the aggregate
mileage of mains 17,774.
The average valuation per plant was
$12,735,26S, and the average mileage
of mains 522.76.
| The average valuation per mile of
mains shown was $24,361.3S.
THE DENVER SYSTEM AT THE
TINE OF THE APPRAISEMENT
CONTAINED 463.5S M l. e S OF
MAINS. THE VALUATION FIXED
BY. THE APPRAISERS UPON THE
! PHYSICAL PROPERTY is AT THE
RATE OF $21,960.19 PER MILE OF
MAINS, OR $2,462.S1 LESS PER
MILE THAN THE AVERAGE OF
THE THIRTY-FOUR CITIES.
The valuations given by the govern
ment statisticians did not take into
consideration the value of water
rights in any of the plants, nor did it
consider their selling value.
In our communication a complete
analysis was made comparing the
makeup of the other plants, and the
conditions under which they furnish
water with the makeup of the Den
yer plant and the conditions under
which water is furnished in this city.
The analysis showed that only one
plant in the thirty-four has storage