The Delta independent., 1913-05-16
REcoMMENDATIo ON BEHALF
OF THE WATER USERS OF
The uNcOMPAhGRE VALLEY
THE UNCO

First: The Uncompahgre Valley
project was planned. first by the State
of Colorado, and much preliminary
work done by the State. 1t was then
turned over to the United States un-
der the Reclamation Act, and designed
to irrigate about 100000 acres of land.
After the preliminary work was done
by the state and before final adoption
by the United States, about 10000
acres of Government land within the
project, was filed upon by homestead
ers in tracts of $50 acres each. Other
public lands, within the project, aggre-
eating about 10000 acres, we're with
drawn from entry. Through contests
and abandonments the land filed upon
for Homesteads, it is now estimated.
has been reduced to about $4,000
acres, leaving abot $4,000 acres more
or less still a part of the Public Do
main. The work on the part of the
United States government has been
under way for more than nine years,
or through two national administra.
der cultivation, practically all of
which was. or had been. under culti-
vation at the time the project was
started. On behalf of the owners of
5.006 acres of irrigab BILE dry land.
large part of which has been improv-
ed, and owners. whether by purchase
or Homestead. eager these many years
for water. and on behalf of all the
people OF The Uncompahgre Valley
interested in having the 10000 acres
or more of government land opened
to entry. we urge the earliest possible
completion of the project.
Second. We respectfully urge that
at no time in the history of this pro-
paying into the Reclamation fund
more than $3.50 per acre. per year.
and that all subscriptions in the Val
ley were made after assurances had
beetn made that the project would be
paid for at this rate in ten years
time. Since the project has cost far
in excess of the estimate, and its ul-
innate cost impossible now of deter
mining. we would urge that the annu-
al payments be fixed at an amount to
the Reclamation fund OF not to exceed
$3.50 per acre.
Third: The rental basis upon
which water users, whose lands have
been subscribed. can now secure wa
80 orr vary Sa,{sfactorv and We ra.
spectfully recommend continuation
of this plan until the entire project is
fully completed. In this connection
We would further recommend that If
the plan is favored by the reclamation
officials, the water users association
through its board of directors, will as
sumo the collection of this annual
charge.
Fourth: The very fact that water
rights under the U. S. Reclamation
ginal estimates provided. finds cor
responding fact in the increase in the
value of water rights under private
bitches over the value OF those ditch
rights to years ago.
We would recommend. therefore
where existing private ditch rights
and water rights be required to com.
plete the unification of the scheme
that the Reclamation officials or Di-
rectors of the Water Users be direct
ed to acquire the same. If this can be
done, at a price representing the
reasonable value of such rights, and
that settlement be made either by
giving credit for money value or by
allowing the owner of said rights. wa
ter. inch for inch. or water rights for
enough of his land to absorb this
right; and If such land is subscribed
that as much OF the subscribed land
as existing water rights will irrigate
should be released from the subscrip-
tion.
Failing in efforts to unity in this
way. we would urge either a condemn
alton of the lronstone. the only ditch
in the way of complete unification,