Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-03-19
AMBITION REALIZED
Continued from Page One)

of the project consists of one large
reservoir and seven natural lakes, so
located that they can receive the en-
tire flow of the river, even at flood
stage; and being near the head wat
ers and the mountains, will in its full
state of Development provide an enor-
nous storage capacity.
| The lower system consists of four
reservoirs and miles of well construct
ed laterals, and mammoth headgate
on the Apishapa river, situate near
the Otero and Las Animas county
lines.
A large portion OF the lower system
construction waswel under way and
evidenced years OF personal effort
and expenditure of fortune of S187,-
900, when it became apparent that
the Senator's health was rapidly fail
ing. The last few weeks of his life
were rcplete with the giving of de-
tails as to the Development of the pro-
ject, and his will bespoke the domi-
nant characteristics of this plain man S
greatness, his true nobility and integ
rity. He knew that the people, who
had become stockholders in the Swink
| Ditch and Reservoir company, were
such because of their faith in him and
his Judgment His will provided for
| tne Coliipietlon VI ihS sy stSii peioiS
his estate could be divided among
the heirs; this trust was put in H. A.
Dawley, Lewis Swink and Belle Oar
ing, as his executors.
Three years OF earnest endeavor on
the part of the executors of the last
will and testament of George W.
Swink have directed the expenditure
of approximately Sl35,OO0 in the de
velopmcnt of the system. This sum
has been spent in building to greater
heights the dikes of three reservoirs
in the lower system, the completion
of miles OF lateral, increasing the ca
pacity OF the intake from the Apisha-
hpa river the construction of sub
stantial dixie at the big storage rcser-
voir of the Seven lakes; the compile
ton of the feeder ditch from the river
to the Seven Lakes, and the outlet
from the Seven lakes system, return
ing the water to the river Tor distri-
button in the lower sytem.
The Swink Ditch and Reservoir
company was originally Incorporated
| in 1900, with capitalization of ST.
100000, forty thousand shares at
SIS per share, as in the opinion OF
Senator Swink and the engineers who
had investigated the drainage area OF
the river, there was water supply for
that acreage.
In February, 1914, certain of the
heirs of the estate believing that sui.
ficient funds had been invested in the
system to insure the fulhllment OF
their fathers contracts and wishes
submitted a plan for the transfer OF
the company to the stockholders. Al
ter several months OF negotiations, a
set element was finally consummated
and the holdings OF the company were
turned over TO the stockholders, I'M
der new board OF directors.
On September 80. 1914. the capital
| lization OF the company was reduced
from 10000 shares to $4,000 shares,
in order to preclude the folly OF SO
many irrigation projects in trying to
spread their available water over too
great an acreage; and the Swink COM
pany made its reduction OF stock to
insure an ample supply OF water to
land owners under the system.
In the purchase OF the ranch on the
upper Apishapa the company acquir-
ed title to large tract OF productive
land, under cultivation for years, car
rying with it two OF the Oldest prior
tiles on the river.
Z, These old rights together with the
J present DEGREES granted tHe swim
system through its development and
the construction now under way, and
planned for the near future, Will en-
| title the Swink Ditch and Reservoir
compay to all the available storage
! water of the Apishapa.
| Permanent and substantial improve
ments have been made by many OF
the holders under the system, and
during the season OF 1914 5000 acres
were cultivated. Double this area will
be placed under cultivation this year
| Abundant yield OF oats. alfalfa,
milo maize, and Soudan grass was the
reward OF the farmers. a return OF
$50 to the acre for Soudan grass
| seed was the realization OF one thrifty
/ farmer.
The construction work under way
will double the capacity of the lower
system reservoirs within the next
ninety days. 1t is the intention of the
company to diligently pursue the
completion of the system to capacity
sufficient to develop the acreage un-
der it, which will consume the an
nual available water supply OF the
river. This accomplished will bring
to the realms OF reality monumental
irrigation project, bearing the name
and operating under the original plans
OF the master pioneer, and irrigation
mind of the Arkansas valley.
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