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<br />002H~ <br /> <br />the same period the value of the cropo harvested per acre has averaged <br /> <br />$37.65. Considering only the most valuable of the crops grown under <br />irrigation in Pueblo County, comnonly referred 00 as "truck crops", the <br />crop production value averaged $150.20 per acre during the 1923-1939 <br />period. <br /> <br />r <br /> <br />If it should be assumed that the water supplies of the <br />C. F. & I. reservoirs were converted from an industrial to an agricultur- <br />al use, they might serve an estimated 7,000 acres of irrigated land. In <br />that service, however, the consumptive use 0 f vmtsr would be materially <br /> <br />increased above the rates now prevailing incident to its industrial uti- <br /> <br />lization. <br /> <br />r <br /> <br />Since the canal conveyance losses and the reservoir storage <br /> <br />losses would remain the same, regardless of the character of ultimate <br /> <br />use, it is apparent that, to avoid an increase in conswnption of water, <br /> <br /> <br />the approximate 4,500 acre feet of consumption at the steel plant would <br /> <br /> <br />be maintained providing the irrigated area did not e;:ceed 3,000 acres. <br /> <br /> <br />Upon this basis tho assessed valuation of the assumed 3,000 <br /> <br />acres of irrigated land, at the average rate prevailing in Pueblo County <br /> <br />would e.mount to $242,260. If the water were used for general farming <br />purposes the average value of the crop production would approximate <br />0113,550 annually, and if the entire acreage were devoted to the pro~ <br />duct ion of high priced truck crops only (which would be impossible, <br />year by year, by reason 0 f the necessity 0 f crop rotation programs to <br /> <br />maintain soil fertility), then the average annual crop values would <br /> <br />amount to C450,600 per year. <br /> <br />(g) <br />