The daily sentinel., 1914-04-02
LANE MAKES
FINAL OFFER
ON bitches
Makes Minimum Charge For
PdIisade and "Stub" Com
ing Under High Line.
THE OFFER WILL Be DECLINED

Negotiations for the unification of
the Palisade and Mesa Count yditch-
es under the High Line canal will
probably be dropped as a result OF
the counter proposal made by Secre-
tary of the Interior Franklin X. Lane
to the ditch districts in letter re-
ceived yesterday by 5. NJ Logan one
OF the attorneys for the districts.
Secretary Lanes counter offer
practically doubles the charge for
water according to the directors OF
the districts. over what they are now
paying under their own system
The letter of the secretary provid-
es among other things that the offer
made by aim must be adopted before
llay ], 1914. but has been practically
decided by the directors that they
will not submit the proposal to the
taxpayers of the two districts. be-
cause of their belief that it will not
be acceptable. The boards will meet
early next week to consider the com
munication.
VIII Not Give Decree.
In his letter Secretary Lane says
that the department cannot consent
to a decree of water rights to the
two districts, or the confirmation of
the decree given by Judge Cavender
IA year ago, and which upheld the
claims OF the districts to the Grand
river water He said that the gov
ernment because of other claims
would not consent to limit its rights
as to the priority date Of 1908 in
view OF pending litigation involving
the rights to the water OF the Grand
river" referring to the effort to di-
vert the water across the range for
. ~. 81.
Denver. Secretary Lane says that
the attorney general on March II.
1914. prepared an appeal from the
rayelder derisiU and that the case
will he carried to the United States
Supreme Court. MS the government
wishes to perfect its title as of 1902.
which would he claims, also help the
two ditch districts.
The secretary however, while in
sisting ON the right to appeal the
case SAYS that the government is
willing to concede the priorities OF
the Two districts for the amount of
water claimed by them.
Lost by Delay.
Secretary Lane calls attention to
the fact that because OF the failure of
the districts to agree to participate
in the construction of the canal in
1912. the government WAS put to ex-
ira expense to generate power above
Tunnel No. 3, that II was necessary
TO increase the capacity of the tun-
nels. and that the cost of mainten-
anoe and operation will be heavier.
He said he favored the acre-foot plan
of arriving at the proper charge for
the service, and suggested that in
view of this fact IL would be
possible for the ranchers to get along
with from two to three aore-feet,
rather than three to four feet. The
secretary says that he cannot con-
sent to the proposed plan of arbitra-
ton and that all matters of dispute
would be amicably settled by the in
terror department.
Have Until May 1.
The secretary also insists that the
offer must be accepted by May /,
1914. and If II is not the government
will proceed under its present plan.
Copies of the proposed contract are
submitted which provide for a charge
to the Stub or Mesa county of 49,
900 as a minimum. with an addition
al sevcnty-five certs per acre-foot for
all water used in excess of 1890 feet.
This amount of water is at the rate
of about two acre-feet per acre.
For the Palisade district the con-
tract provides for minimum charge
of $500 with an additional charge
OF fifty cents per acre-foot, for all
water used in excess of 900 feet.
The contract also provides that the
districts shall, If necessary turn over
;heir power water rights to the gov
ernment. 1t is probable that meet
ing of the ditch boards will be held
Monday but it is extremely doubt
full If the proposition submitted by
the secretary of the interior viii be
accepted. the ditch boards contend
ing that the proposed charge is dou
bic the cost of pumping water now.
The contracts provide for the deliv-
cry of the water into the canals OF
the two districts.