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<br />98 <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />brought about by the increase in population; and that it will likffivise <br />benefit the entire State of Colorado. We therefore, urge, he stated, that the <br />members of t he Colorado Water Conservation Board recommend that the <br />Blue River Diversion Project be made a part of the Colorado River Storage <br />Project and t ake whatever action is necessary to make it a reality. <br /> <br />Mayor Newton then introduced Nicl: Petry, President of the Denver <br />Board of Water Commissioners. <br /> <br />Mr. Petry stated that during 1952, Denver used 129,084 acre- <br />feet of water,.an increase of 32 per cent during the past five years. <br />Denver has 180,000 acre-feet of water available, he said, and between <br />1960 and 1961, this supply will be depleted if the present rate of <br />growth continues. Mr. Petry explained that since 1940, Denver has <br />installed 45,000 new taps, at a rate of 6,000 taps per year; that the <br />census report vlill indicate that through 1940-50, Denver's grmvth was <br />38.3 per cent; and that the Denver metropolitan area contains 42.5 <br />per cent of the population of Colorado. He stated that Denver has had <br />a great financial load in keeping up with its grmvth, and that, until <br />september 1951, the area that could be served was limited to 125 square <br />miles. He further explained that on April 1, 1952, water rates were <br />increased 20 per cent over the revenue received in 1951, and in addition <br />Denver had gone into a meter program. All outlying areas, he said, are on <br />meters at the present time. Mr. Petry stressed the fact that ,fith <br />Denver's great grmvth, it is quite apparent that Denver is facing a <br />grave situation as it will take no less than seven years to develop the <br />Blue River Project and in eight years, it will be at the limit of its <br />present water resources. He expressed the hope that the Board would <br />give serious consideration to the matter. <br /> <br />Mr. Petry presented to the Board aerial pictures, taken in <br />1948 and 1952, which indicate Denver's grov~h during the four-year <br />period. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />Mayor Nffivton called on Aksel Nielsen, President of the Denver <br />Chamber of Commerce to explain Denver's gro1vth from a business <br />standpoint. <br /> <br />Mr. Nielsen stated that in 1952, 114 major concerns either moved <br />to Denver or enlarged their facilities in Denver to serve the grmYing <br />needs in this area. He explained that Denver's grmvth is not a temporary <br />boom as the growth has been steady for the last seven years. From a <br />population standpoint, he said, metropolitan Denver has gained 38 per <br />cent in that time. 1~. Nielsen called attention to the fact that bank <br />