The Lamar register., 1912-02-28
GRANADA AND HOLLY IRRIGA-
TON DISTRICT
Directors Make Contract With n.
+. Messenger and Submit 1t
to Voters

trict met the first of the week with
X. e. Messenger of Denver and
made.a contract Tor an irrigation sys
TEN for the district which will be
found In full on the last page of
this paper in the notice of election
which is called for the purpose of
ratifying or rejecting the contract
by the qualified electors of
the district.
The board in this district is
composed of w. A. Merrill, presi-
dent, and S. ]. Higbee and w. j.
House, directors. and C. G. Smeltz.
as secretary. They have managed
the district carefully for the past
two years and their policy has been
to create no Indebtedness either
in bonds or warrants until they
feel reasonably sure that a definite
proposition for the construction of
the canal is before them. As a
result It is one Of the few districts
of the state which has all indebted
ury, and that without having plac-
ed any heavy tax burden on its land
holders.
The proposition now is the origin
al one for which the district was
organized, namely the Messenger
reservoir on Rule creek which is
fed by the Purgatoire river and
Rule creek. also flood waters of the
Arkansas river. as the water is TAX
en- to the river from the reser-
voir and taken out through the
Fort Bent canal. thus insuring the
district a supply OF muddy water.
The line of ditch will be materially
raised from the first proposal and
already applications for inclusions
are being received. The old district
included about 10000 acres but this
could easily be doubled under the
new line. The directors have de-
cided though to limit the acre
age to $500 acres. and the
water under this basis will cost
$40 per acre. For this acre
age 1t is believed by expert en-
gineers. who have gone over the
surveys and estimated run off of
the water sheds TO be stored. that
1t will be one of the surest and
most ample water supplies in the
valley or state.
A reading OF the contract will
satisfy anyone that the Interests
of the land holders have been ably
looked after. and II any of the
slips which have caused other dis
tricts SO great disappointments in
the past should prevent the con-
struction of this canal. still there
will be no considerable expense to
the district and 1t can continue Its
work as in the past without any
large taxation.
However. Mr.. Messenger in an In
terview says there is little danger
of any such slips as the bonds are
practically contracted with mel
amply able to handle them, and II
the voters ratify the contract dir
will be flying on the proposition IL
thirty days. The reports from
along the line of the proposed
canal indicate that the people are
more enthusiastic than ever and
that even the few who formerl.
fought the organization of tn,
district will now support the con,
tract and bond issue,
This ditch will water one of the
finest bodies of land in the vale,
, lying south and east from LANAI
: to the state line principally trib
utary to the towns of Gran
ada and Holly. II will add 525OC
acres to the irrigated area O
Prowers county making it the fore
, most agricultural county of tn,
, state and make an immediate rails,
Z of almost a million in our assess
ed valuation which will be increas
4 ed rapidly afterwards.
, 1t will bring several hundreds o
, new families into the territory re
, claimed. and the construction will
furnish work for hundreds of mel
and teams the coming year. TIL.
N