The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1913-02-27
The FIGHT = =
= George p. weldon. depui
COTTONWOOD
PROPERTY

voted 70 stand BY the resolution adopt
ed 9 week ago authorizing its special
committee TO sell the Cottonwood
creek ranches to william H. Smith
Of Howard for twenty-five thousand
dollars. The meeting Monday night
was for the purpose of hearing pro
tests and objections TO the proposed
sale and to take final action in rela-
tion to the ordinance providing for
the organization OF sanitary sewer dis
trict number two: both OF which we're
discussed nj length
Messrs- U. s. okey. R. @. Arthur
and Eugene Weston addressed the
council upon the matter OF the pro-
posed sale OF the ranches: Mr.. okey
in relation to the purpose and manner
OF their acquisition by the city and
the two latter objecting TO their sale
nj the present time. Mr.. Arthur
thought the amount offered by Mr..
smith was. perhaps. all the property
was worth at this time. bat thought
they were a good investment for the
city and would be much more vaiu-
able In the course Of 4 few years. Mr..
Weston thought the price was too low
In view OF the constantly increasing
value Sf water rights in this portion
OF the Arkansas valley and said that
II decree could be had from the
courts changing the point OF diversion
from Cottonwood creek to some OF
the counties lower down the river n
much larger sum OF money could be
obtained for the water rights belong
ing to the ranches II was pointed out.
however. TO Mr. Weston by members
OF the committee having the matter In
charge that the water rights pertain
ing to the ranches were irrigation
rights and could not be used by muni-
cipalIiies for household and domestic
purposes. II was also shown that II
was almost impossible to secure a
decree from the courts changing the
point OF diversion for such water
rights.
Richard Houle stated that the offer
made by Mr.. Smith for the ranches
was a good one for the city and he
urged it's acceptance. In Mr.. Houie's
opinion twenty-five thousand dollars
was all the ranches were worth and
that the council could not do better
than dispose OF them to Mr.. Smith
at the price. After thoroughly In
forming Itself upon the subject the
council decided that the proposition
made by Mr. Smith was a fair and
equitable one and the committee was
empowered to close up the deal with
him In accordance with the provisions
OF tho resolution concurred in by the
members OF the council week ago
The resolution stipulates that Mr..
Smith shall have the ranches for n
period OF ave years at an annual rem
tai OF seven hundred and nfty dollars
and at the end of that time may be-
come the owner OF the property on
the payment OF twenty-five thousand
dollars.
Mr.. Smith Is required under the
terms OF the resolution to put tho
property in good condition: make all
outside fences stock proof; rc-sced all
alfalfa land and and pay the city one
thousand dollars on the purchase
price at the end of the first year. In
case he does not comply with the
provisions OF the resolution In reia-
tion to the care Of the property during
the period OF his icasehold he will be
required to forfeit to the city all OF
the Improvements he has made on the
property and the one thousand dollars
paid over as purchase money. The
committee will at once enter into me-
gotiations with Mr.. Smith with view
of turning tho ranches over to him on
the terms prescribed in the resolution.