Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-04-09
STATE SHOWS NATION HOW TO IRRIGATE
Expert L. G. Carpenter Says Lull in Construc-
ton is Not Bad Sign

for its unlimited capital, the govern
ment would be in financial difficulty
on account OF its irrigation enter
prises today. But it can go ahead
and wait for settlement, where in
many cases the individual or the cor
poration, with the best of prospects
ahead cannot meet its interest and
sometimes has no recourse but bank
ruptcy.
This slow growth of settlement
leads many who are unacquainted
with the natural laws in such cases to
cry failure, whereas there may be
no failure at all. One can take the
most solid irrigation enterprises in
Colorado today, and, going back in
their history, find Just such eras OF
slow growth-of years when lands
WE'RE tenantless and apparently there
was nothing ahead but failure for
those who had invested their money.
Il remember when lands on the
largest ditch in the Arkansas valley
were offered at $40 an acre, water
rights and all, with no takers. Today
these lands could not be bought for
a dozen times that sum.
Governor Eaton, one OF the pio-
neers in irrigation in this country,
had heart-breaking struggle with
the ditch which bears his name. APP
parently it was a failure, but Eastern
investors had faith that Governor Ea-
ton could bring matters out right, ii
such a thing were possible. a slow
tide of settlement began to flow in,
and gradually matters frightened un-
til the investors were all paid back,
with a handsome profit besides.
Such history might be repealed in
T-1r p,,t 70
day these successful bitches are out
OF the limelight. They are solid, sub
stantial, paying institutions which are
accepted as matter of course, and,
unfortunately, one hears mostly OF
some newer institution that is just
entering its period of stress.
1T is difficult to estimate success,
also, in dollars and cents, where
many of the states most profitable
irrigation enterprises are concerned.
These bitches are, in many cases,
owned by the communities they
serve. The profits growing out OF
their successful building and opera
ton are to be found largely in the
farmers crops or his livestock. or
whatever he may be taking from the
land. Consequently the question is
one outside of mere market value OF
stock. In fact, in many instances this
stock is not purchasable. There is
one mutual ditch company near Den
,ver, | believe, whose values have ris-
en- from 500 per share to $1,000, and
stock raely can be secured at that fig
ure.
Some of the old established ditch
es in Colorado now irrigate four or
FIVE times the amount of land origin
ally figured upon as the maximum. A
ditch may be built to water lOO,0O0
acres of alnd. but in the course of
years it will be found that the engi-
necrs have not figured on land enough
TO take up the water. This IS due
to gradual filling up OF the soil, and
also to greater economy in the use
OF water. 1t is fact that Colorado
is not SO hard pressed for water as 1t
was genration ago. Probably four
or five times more land is now being
irrigated under the Platte than early
day engineers thought possible. But
these conditions are al 1.-The result OF
time, and plenty of it,
Should there be more OF state su-
pervision in irrigation matters!
Il think not. Idaho has exercised
state supervision to a marked degree,
and yet it cannot be observed that ir-
rigation conditions are any better in
that state than in Colorado. The ir-
rigation enterprises launched with
fraudulent intent are few. The world
old element of human fallibility
seems to play the most important
part in failures. Investors put in
their money without due invcstiga-
ton and the builders give too much
prominence to the land selling, per
haps. Colonists can never come fast
enough to keep up with land sales
man. 1t is hard to realize that a col
ony cannot be built up in day or
year. or even FIVE years.
Cloth has been cut in too generous
DrOportions in some instances, and