The Delta independent., 1918-03-08
UNcoMPAHGRE AND GRAND
VALLEY LAND OPENING


open to settlement. The government
farms contain from 40 to so acres
each of irrigable land, and are locat-
ed in two of the most beautiful val
leys on the western slope. These
farms are included in two of the great
irrigation systems built by the rec!a-
nation service, known as the Grand
Valley and Uncompahgre projects
Both valleys are we'll known for the
attractiveness of the scenery and the
climate, the fertility of soil and the
wide variety of crops grown therein,
Irrigation farming has been pract;ced
in both for many years, and the gov
ernment lands are in the midst of well
developed communities. Schools have
been established, roads laid out, and
railroads are conveniently situated.
with numerous towns and shipping
points. Most of the farms are within
four miles of railway transportation,
and in Grand Valley many are conven-
lent to interurban lines as well.
On both projects the new settlers
will find conditions favorable on
most of the farms for beginning farm
operations at once with excellent pros
poets of fair crops this season. Many
of the farm units are nearly level, so
that the actual work of preparing the
land for crops is much less than in
other desert regions where expensive
clearing and leveling are necessary
before crops can be grown.
In order to acquire one of these
farms, settlers are required to visit the
land And make particular selection OF
the tract desired. After selecting a
unit the settler must execute water
rental application with the project
manager at Grand Junction for the
Grand Valley project, and at Montrose,
Colorado. for the uncompahgre pro-
ject. accompanying same with a pay
ment OF SO per acre for each irrigable
acre in the unit applied for
At the Grand Valley opening home
seekers may make application from
March % up to and including 9 a m,
March %. to the project manager at
Grand Junction. Drawing by lot for
each unit will occur in the afternoon.
The successful applicant is required
to present the water right application
duly accepted by the reclamation SER
vice within three days after March
29th, at the local land office in Mont
rose, where he will file a homestead
application and secure his receipt.
Failure to file within said period of
three days will forfeit his rights and
all payments made ana will entitle
the next applicant for his farm unit
to make a filing.
Unsuccessful applicants for these
farms will have their payments re
turned promptly after the drawing.
The drawing for the Uncompahgre
project at Montrose will occur at 9
a. m. April 5, in the local land office,
and the conditions of payment will be
the same as at Grand Junction.
The advance payment required is for
water rental, and entities the entry
man to two acre feet of water each
year for three years. Additional wa
ter if desired can be purchased at the
prices fixed at the beginning of such |
irrigation season. For 1918 this |
price is so cents per acre foot
BY renting water in this manner |
the government is encouraging quick |
cultivation of the land. and at the
same time Is deferring for three years
the annual payments for the building
charge which has not yet been an
nounced for either project
The settler. therefore, will be en-
abled to utilize most of his capital
for the next three years in develop
ing his land as only one payment of
the building charge will be collected
in that period. The usual homestead
requirements. together with the regu-
lations governing cultivation, are APP
plicable to all the entries on these
projects For these reasons the spec
ulator will not find the terms very
attractive.
The reclamation service at Wash-
ington states that capital is required
to establish successfully a home on
one of these farms, the amounts de-
pending, of course, upon the ability
industry and experience of the ind-
vidual. While there are numerous
instances of men who have made GOOD
with only limited means. 1t is general
ly regarded as essential that the set
tier should have not less than 81 500
Practical farmers will find plenty OF
employment in these valleys at good
wages for themselves and teams
Last year the gross average re-
turn from crops grown on irrigated
farms in these projects ranged from
S44 per acre in Grand Valley to s5s
per acre on the Uncompahgre Tho
lands under the former project, how
ever. were new and had been in cul
tivation only two years Maximum
returns exceeding 500 per acre we're
reported from some of the farms
Tho raiIraaIu aunnup,. ..a...t |