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<br />districts for financing and operating large irrigation syst~sJ and'
<br />follouing the enactment of the National Reclamation Act in 1902, for
<br />cooperating with the Bureau of Reclamation in repayment of construction
<br />costs, '
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<br />The 19.50 United States Census shows Colorado has 9,2.58 irrigation
<br />enterprises, representing a'capital'1nvsstmentof Sl61,396,063. These
<br />enterprises include 7 713 diversion dams, 16,833 miles of irrigation,
<br />canals, 1,105 reservotrs with storage capacity of 2,021,343 acre feet,
<br />6,437 wells, and 3,202,911 acres under irrigation. ','
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<br />Colorado also has eleven 1Iater devslopnent projects ,completed by the
<br />Bureau of Reclamation and the Anrry Corps of Engineers at a total cost of,
<br />,,55,771,132. AU but two of theeeprojecte have bel\Il built since 1937.
<br />Several others are under construction or in various stagee of' planning or
<br />authorization. "One of the largest of these ie the Colorado-Big, Thompson,
<br />Which is 'now nearing completion and tlhich has be,en in partial operation
<br />the past three irrigation seasons. The Conejos unit of the propused San
<br />Luis Valley Project, the Platoro Reservoir, is ready for use. Many mol's
<br />projects must follow,before we oan say, irrigation development is complste,
<br />
<br />Interest in irrigation and the conservation and more efficient ,use of
<br />our water resources increased yearly and as we approached tile hundreth
<br />anniversary of the oldest p~iority for irrigation, interest and desire,
<br />among irrillation men for proper observance of OOlorado,1 s Irrigat;Lon
<br />Centennia1. were strong.
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<br />In response to this sentiment, Governor Dan Thornton early in the
<br />year (1952) appointed a committee of ~Ienty-seven men,representing all
<br />irrigated sections of the State, to arrange for observance "of "A Hundred
<br />Years of Irrigation' ill Colorado,." " ' ."
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<br />This camnittee met in Danver February 18, 1952, for organization,
<br />appointed oanrnlttees on program and gel)!lral' arrangements, decided to hold
<br />the celebration in Alamosa in 'cooperation with ,the Oolorado Irrigation,ln-
<br />stitute April 8 and 9, and ill San Luis AprU 10.
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<br />The COI'llIIlitt~e accepted the iilVitation ot' Adams State College to use
<br />its facilities for its meeting, also the oHer of the state Historic8J.
<br />Society to furnish a br,nze m81llOrial plaque. 11r. Delfino Salazar oHex-ed
<br />'to build the monUll1ent for this' plaque on the bank of, the San Luis Peoples
<br />Ditch. ' '
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<br />Everyone requeflted to take part on the program by the program commit-
<br />,tee accepted graCiously, 'and the oommittee on arrangements had eft'ective
<br />support. '.I:he Governor t s committee is able to publish the Proceedings ot' ..the
<br />Irrigation Oentennial througn the generous finanoial support of Colorade
<br />',Agricultural and Meohanic8J. College and the Colorado .\'Iater Oonservation
<br />1l0lU'd, and is grateful ,for the splendid cooperation of all thos,e taking
<br />part in the Centennial Celebration in giving due recognition for the aut-
<br />" stiincling deve].<)prnente, 'in irrigation agrioul ture, irI'igation struotures and
<br />.: their operation, irrigation law, and managenumt of \,jur ,1Iater resouroes.,
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<br />This 'report inoludes two'paper:s whioh,were not presented during the
<br />sessions 'at Alamosa or the celebration at' San Luis. They are added to '
<br />roUnd out, just 8 little, the historioal picture of irrigation development
<br />in this Stete.
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