The Delta independent., 1921-11-25
WATER USERS WILL BE
GIVEN LENrENcY. SAYS FALL

Secretary Fall gives assurance
that opening Uncompahgre project
will not be announced before
March /, 1922, and that considera-
tion and weight will be given to
recommendations of Water Users
board for such leniency as law
may allow. A, P. Davis"
The above telegram In response to
wire from President A. C. McClana-
han to Director A. p. Davis OF the
United States Reclamation Service
asking IL announcement of opening
could be postponed till after the an
nual meeting of the stockholders next
February and asking IL the event of
opening, special consideration would
be given by the department to in
dividuals where leniency is recon-
mended by the Water Users board,
was read at a meeting of all eleven
directors of the Uncompahgre Valley
Water Users Association Saturday
afternoon, and should set at rest all
fears that any have entertained rela-
tive to the governments wish to do
the square thing to the water users
OF the valley.
DIR. McClanahan took the matter up
with the Washington office last sum-
mer and received consideration. and
now in Fridays message the Reclama-
tion Service and Department Of In
terror offer everything that the water
users could hope for.
Following the reading OF the tele-
CO. Ill
tion was passed with unanimous vote:
1T is the sense OF this board OF
directors that the Water Users
Association of this valley will
abide by the contract signed In
1918; that we do not oppose the
opening of the project. and the
announcement OF construction
charges. but we do feel that un-
less there is a considerable change
in financial conditions Il will be
necessary to set q later date for
the payment Of the construction
charges"
The directors are Of the opinion that
IT would be weil to have the project
formally opened and the construction
cost announced. II this had been done
several years ago. the cost would have
been lower per acre than It IL to date.
as It is reported the area seems to
grow smaller all the time, as some
land is withdrawn and others become
waterclogged.
The directors, however. are OF the
opinion that unless financial condi.
tions change It might be well to defer
for year or so the initial payment,
although things may right themselves
and II be possible to begin payment
next year.
It is stated that It will be just as
easy to get payments deferred after
opening as II IL before.
Il IL felt by many that q mistake
was made in not opening the project
several years ago and starting the
payments. In which event It would be
partly paid for now.
Colorado has been particularly for
tunate in securing deferred payments
ON It's irrigation projects. All the
projects in the west but this and one
other have started payment upon con-
struction and many are rs per cent
paid for. In many instances this year
bills are in Congress to defer this
years. payment on several projects
one year on account Of financial strin-
gency.
According TO the fourth paragraph
Of the contract between the United
States and the Water Users Associa.
tion. payment IL to begin December 1.
1879. unless extended or modified by
law or by order of the Secretary OF
the Interior" This paragraph reads:
Fourth: That on December 1,
1922. public notice opening the
project shall become effective
and payment Of the construction
charges fixed therein shall com.
mence, unless extended or modi.
ned by law or by order Of the
Secretary Of the Interior"
The beginning of payment was orig.
inally to have started December /.
f191s, but was deferred until December
/. 1889.
Il would appear from the telegram
from Director Davis that Secretary
| ram, himself western man, 10 willing
TO give the valley every consideration