Gunnison news-champion., 1920-09-17
TIE COLORADO AND
THE no GRANDk


II does not, however, emphisize
the necessity for US Of the West
ern Slope to not only fight the
scheme to get priorities to our
water, but to get all the prior.
tiles we can ourselves by devel-
oping irrigation plans and open
ing new ranches. II does not
emphasize the fact that use in
the high mountains, multiplies
the duty and value Of water, in
stead of as reclamation and for
.estry alleged experts declare,
"use il for low priced hay in
stead Of high priced cantaloups."
II does not feature the desira-
bility Of the three proposed tun-
nels thru the main range in de-
veloping Western Colorado, be-
fore California and Nevada and
old Mexico, get prior claim to
our flood waters, and it seems
to favor q mistaken notion that
II is desirable to carry irrigation
tunnels thru the main range,
since there is plenty Of land free
for the water that is our West
ern Slopes rightful heritage.
Pueblo Chieftan:-
The claim of the United States re-
cfTNtCt anu OI lne VE00Ie
of Southern California that there is
plenty Of water in the Colorado river
for everybody sounds strangely fa-
miliar.
Fifteen years ago this summer
similar claims were made regarding
the waters Of the Rio Grande river
when the government had in contem-
plation the construction of the Ele-
phant Butte dam. The San Luis
Valley well knows what happened
in that instance. The government
built the dam and now over one
fourth Of the valley is deprived Of
irrigation waters that rightfully be-
long to Colorado. These waters are
flowing from the Colorado watershed
to the soil Of Texas and Old Mexico
thru the Elephant Butte project, to
the detriment Of our own San Luis
Valley.
Well do we remember the conven-
tion that was held in Pueblo fifteen
years ago this August when the Rio
Grande waters were under discussion.
The government agents, and the
Texas delegates primed program
that completely excluded anyone
from Colorado from the discussion Of
the question. Frank Goudy was on
his feet almost all one forenoon try
ing to get recognition by the chair,
and never secured it.
A set Of resolutions written in
Waco, Texas, by Clifford Pinchot and
James Garfield was adopted over the
protest Of Colorado but the minutes
showed a unanimous adoption. It
was at that meeting that Clifford
Pinchot made the famous statement
knA Nk~n l.
belonged to the federal government,
when he was going to come after it.
Pinchot and Garfield and the Texas
men made the same talk there then
that the government agents and the
California men are making now.
Then it was the Rio Grande river;
now it is the Colorado river.
As an illustration as to what Colo
RADIO may expect if she gives her con-
sent to allowing the waters Of the
Grande and the Gunnison to 20 to the
California project, we would call At
tention TO the question put to In
spector Davis by DELPHI Carpenter.
Mr.. Carpenter asked II the gov
ernment's plans recognized the right
Of Colorado to tunnel the main range
and transfer western slope waters to
the eastern slope for Colorado irri-
cation. Davis hedged on the ques-
tion until he was finally forced to ad-
nit that 1t did not. There are at
present six projects having that very
thing as their object. II Colorado
relinquishes her priority TO these
waters, those projects will be ma
terially hampered, II not made for.
ever impossible, and hundreds Of
Thousands Of eastern Colorado acre
age will fall short Of the water to
which it is justly entitled.
Every river west Of the Mississippi
river with the exception Of the Mis-
souri, has its initial head-waters in
Colorado. We have already lost
nearly fifty per cant Of the waters Of
the Rio Grande. II the California
project goes thru ~ the govefnment
contemplates we viii lose fifty per
cent Of the waters Of the Grande sud
the Gunnison. With those two ind
dents - examples II would not be
vefy 1oag until the government could
start IT. projects bsyoa6 tie bound
aries of our state On The Arlansos,
the North and South Platta, and Ill
the other streams heading among our
snow-capped poalD.
Whi1e NJ. pfneAot q no longer
connected with the interior depeIt-
ment Of the government, his succss-
soFs arc answering Governor Am
mons question By coming for our
SHOWS and taking them q waters that
arc trickling from thsir whits banks.
FISH TAGS AT Nevs-Ch.rnnior,