Monte Vista journal and Monte Vista graphic-reporter., 1922-12-01
NUMBER 1905
Proposed Dam To Be
Opposed to the Utmost

-'S" -"eAieo iiHe were taken Monday
night when committee OF lawyers
met in Monte Vista and started an
investigation of the legal rights of
building the dam. The committee
consisted of: Judge Jesse C. Wiley
from Del Norte, George N. Corlett
from Monte Vista, Albert l.. Moses
from Alamosa, w. w. Platt from La
Jara, Ralph w. Carr from Antonito.
and John |. Palmer from Saguache.
They passed the following resolu-
tion: Resolved that for the purpose
of definite information with refer.
cnce TO the effect which the con-
struction OF the proposed dam
across the Rio Grande lsver near the
Colorado-New Mexico line known
as the Girou project for the purpose
Of impounding approximately one
million acre feet of water, Will have
upon the present use of water in ths
San Luis valley and the future
development and drainage that the
chair appoint subcommittee to
consider the matter and make fur
ther report before any definite con.
ciusions be arrived at. Thereupop
Judge Jesse C. Wiley appointed the
following subcommittee:
Reservoirs and Reservoir Sites nm
,he kio Grande. Major George NJ.
Corlett
RESERVOIRS and Reservoir Sites ON
the Conejos. Ralph l.. Carr.
Drainage. w. w. Platt.
irrigation, Albert l.. Moses.
ihe site proposed for the dam 4,
Just fourteen miles east of Antoni,o
The federal government in coniu,c.
tion with the state of New Mexie,
mas had the river and abutting Iands
surveyed at this point. At the pres.
ent the engineers are about to bep,,
the testing of the stability for the
l"uhdhtion for the dam. Should this
proposition go through It would be
one OF the greatest caiamities that
ever hit the San Luis valley. Tbs
valley is Just in it's infancy as far "A
agricultural development is concern.
I'd. Thousands OF dollars have been
spent In reclaimlng this valley. inst
now the valley is beginning to get
IN condition where the land owner.
can see the benefit OF the monev
spent With expenditure OF n com.
pafatircly small amount OF monev
thousands OF acres more can be re-
claimed.
II the project is put through
II would prohibit the filing of anv
more reservoir sites on the rivers
involved. This would be n great blow
TO the growth OF this country M
more land could be developed. Re.
sides this. thousands of acr.s n,
land would be laid to waste as 4,
would I'LL many drainage canals nj.
ready In existence. Much OF the Al.
ready reclaimed land would be un.
der the backed up water.
II would cost about si5.OoO.0oo
To get the right-of-way besides tn,
millions OF dollars which the rov.
ernmcnt would have TO pay I'm vov.
ernmcnt damage suits which would
be bound to arise following thu
backing up OF the water.
II looks like big graf, soma.
where. Especially 40. when one con.
Hid.rs that for about half tho .x.
pcnditurc. tho government could
nrobabiy dam half million acre
ic"t OF water IN tho ConoJos canon
and million acre feet Of the Rio
Grande above Creole. Beside,
controlling the flood waters. thi.
would furnish irrigation water for
all lands In the san Luis valley and
Tor all ,illablc land In the northern
par, OF Now Mexico along the drain.
nge OF the Rio Grandc river.
Probably never before has m,
valley been faced with such a cat.
au'rophc. Shutting of OF further
water rights would practically par.
nlayso business In this section. II
would mean no moro development
OF the valley.
Why the government should want
To build darn which would ruin
tho prosperity of one country TO r.
claim another whom reclamation
II tho other section would ho mad,
by building n dam olsr whero which
country Il moro than the average
pcrson can figure out unless there IL
a nice piece Of graft somewhere,