The Delta independent., 1923-11-09
STEPHAN ADVISES ABOUT
GOV. PROJECT MATTERS
To the Delta Independent.

To the Delta Independent.
Dear Sir:
While before the Fact Finding"
Commission in Washington, D. c.. last
week, l found that members of the
commission were very anxious to get
all the facts concerning the Uncorn-
pahgre Valley project. This commits
sion was appointed by Honorable
Hubert Work, Secretary of the Inter
ior, for the purpose of securing first
hand information concerning the var
ious reclamation projects.
/ believe that the Secretary of the
Interior realizes the hopeless condi.
tion of many of the projects and is
anxious to give us assistance II we
are ever to get relief from the burden
of $40 per acre (Which means aband-
onment of large portion of the val
ley) it must be obtained now and
through the Fact Finding Commission.
/ explained to the commission how
the farmers bought farms on govern
ment land with the understanding
that they were to get water right at
about SIS per acre. I told them that
subscriptions for water rights were
made at first on a basis not to exceed
$40 per acre, and that later we were
induced to raise the limit to a price
not to exceed s25 per acre. This in.
creased price was in many cases ac-
cept under protest as the farmers
| thought it better to pay s25 than to
have the government quit work on the
project. / explained that the original
contractors became financially in
volved and the construction work was
taken over by the government and
that therefore we should not be
charged up with any cost in excess of
the contract price and that the failure
OF the reclamation department to COM
plete the tunnel at the contract price
| or less is proof OF bad management or
inexperience. This bad management
or excessive cost OF construction and
maintenance has extended to the build
ing of bitches, and in fact to almost
every item OF expense that has been
charged to the project.
l also called attention to the fact
that although one OF the best wafer
power sites in the state was available
the government did not require tbe
contractors to install an electric power
plant there, and when the Department
took over the work they continued to
operate steam plant in place Of in
stalling an electric power plant. The
installation OF such plant would have
been a profitable investment and one
that would not only have helped to de-
velop the valley by furnishing chean
power but would have given us an in
come as is the case with the Roosevelt
dam project. We have been informed
that 1t would have cost less to have in
stalled power plant on the Gunnison
river near the river portal than was
expended for the steam plant and it's
operation. When the tunnel was com.
pleted the steam plant was practically
total loss as It was dismantled.
contended that the government can
not equitably charge $40 per acre when
the farmers had taken up or purchased
land on the representation OF govern.
ment employees and officials that the
water right would not cost to exceed
s25 per acre.
In my Judgment steps should be
taken Immediately to get all facts be.
fore the commission and to convince
them not only Of the equity OF our con.
tention but Of the inability Of the
farmers In the valley to pay $40 per
acre for the water right.
The commission will nroh,bI,, H. l.
session for only a few months and
suggest that as It II is now or never
Immediate action should be taken.
Yours sincerely,
GEORGE STEPHAN