The Delta independent., 1921-11-18
cATLlN STARTS MOVEMENT
TO DEFER WATER PAYMENTS

pangr0 valley HoclamatlOn PROJECT, a
meeting Of water users was held in
Montrose last week to consider CORE
| spondence which had just passed be-
tween Mr.. Catlin and DR.. A. C. Nc
Clanahan. president of the Uncom-
pahgre Valley Water Users Associa.
ton.
For the Information of our readers.
both Mr.. Catlin's and DR.. McClana-
hans letters are hereto appended:
In starting the movement Mr.. Cat
lin addressed letter to Messrs.
Mcneil, Judge Bell, L. E. Ross, J. H.
Kyle, ]. J. Tobin and DIR. McClana-
han, the latter president of the Water
Users Association. This letter was
as follows:
1.-The first payment on construction
cost of the tunnel will be due, as
remember it, December /, 1922, only
about one year. The next meeting of
the water users will be held in Feb
ruary. I understand the notice of
opening will possibly be made be-
tween now and February 1. The
question of beginning these payments
under the present financial conditions
is, it seems to me, a serious and an
important one; difficult one with
most of the project and an impossible
one with a good number of the
project. While we are probably in
better condition than most of the
agricultural sections, still l believe it
is true that our mortgage and floating
Indebtedness have increased largely
in the past year. Our interest is very
largely in default; our Indebtedness
for supplies to the stores ct al. Is
largely unpaid for 1920 and most all
unpaid for 1921; our stock interests
are mortgaged for. more than their
| value; depression on real estate is
apparent of practically 33a per cent
| on the basis of mortgages and fore
| closures are beginning. The present
price of wheat, so cents per cwt.,
potatoes S5 cents per cwt., hay 81
per ton or less, the principal products
of the project. make the outlook seri-
Gus. Money is more difficult to OBJ
tain at the banks than it was year
ago and will, it seems to me, prob
ably become more difficult every day
for ten months.
we nave ulSPoSCu Va oui iioAu
ings under the project to large eX-
tent, but we still have some and have
unsettled contracts for large amount
and we are deeply interested natural
ly in reference to mortgage credits
and general credits in the valley.
Have you considered this matter,
and do you consider it worth while
that an effort be made to secure a
further postponement of the opening
and the date of payment?
"It seems to me that it will be more
| difficult to obtain extension of pay
ments after the project opening is
announced than before. I believe q
showing can be made sufficient and
the attention Of the powers that be
obtained if proper effort is made te
secure an extension of from two tt
five years of the opening of the
project, and consequently of the be
ginning of payments. I believe we
are all Interested alike and there will
probably be very little variance OF
Judgment in reference to the desira-
bility of this matter, but I have been
constantly expecting to hear of some
action by the directors of the Water
Users Association or some one else
and have therefore put the matter OF
though, like Banquos ghost, it will
not down.
ut seems to me that there is not
more time than is absolutely neces
sary to bring this matter about il
Immediately steps are taken. particu
| larly if we are to have any action to
be considered by the Water Users
meeting.
81 am sending copy of this letter
| to each Of the names designated. and
would like to have your views as to
the desirability or otherwise of at
tempting such an effort and when
and how it should be done. Our hrm
will be glad to join in such an effort
If it is thought best, and have
thought of calling the matter to the
attention of our newspapers, but be
lieve it is probably wise to first con
suit with representative project own
ers.
"May not ask for prompt reply
with such suggestions as you may
think best"
In reply to Mr. Catlin's letter DR.
McClanahan presented his views in
the following letter.:
my Dear Mr.. Catlin-I have just
received your letter of November Ith
The discouraging facts which YOU
enumerate are. of course, perfectly OBJ
vious. They have been impressed upon
me both by observation and by ex
perience. for l am one of the farmers
whose potatoes are stored for an I'M
probable rise in price, and whose
notes are being held by an indulgen'
bank.