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<br />268
<br />
<br />COLORADO MAGAZINE
<br />
<br />and this would necessitate the building of a special security
<br />st0ckade."
<br />
<br />During the week of November 21, 1901, work commenced
<br />on the road from Montrose to the proposed west portal of the
<br />tunnelY This road is still passable in 1959, extending north-
<br />east from Montrose and east of Table Mountain, eventually
<br />reaching the southwest end of Bostwick Park after winding
<br />through the badlands. By December 16, a frame dining room,
<br />bunk house, and blacksmith shop had been built at the site,
<br />and the face of the shale hill had been shaved off, On that date
<br />the first dirt was taken out of the tunnel."
<br />
<br />By the end of December, ten men (apparently not convicts,
<br />who for some legal reason could not be used) were at work,
<br />putting eight hours in the tunnel, nine on outdoor work. The
<br />timbering was being done with a 12x12 framework and an
<br />arched roof. At this time it was estimated that it would be
<br />possible to drive from five to six feet a day in the shale."
<br />
<br />Colorado, it must be remembered, had only allotted $25,000
<br />for the "State Canal No.3" project. The board w'as empowered
<br />by the legislature to solicit "subscriptions and advancements
<br />of money and equipment from interested persons who receive
<br />in return water rights receipts."" In order to excite capital
<br />in the venture, the men had maps of the Uncompahgre Valley
<br />prepared and collected information on the area and nature
<br />of land there which could be watered by the system. Insuffi-
<br />cient funds were forthcoming, however, and within a year
<br />the state's work on the tunnel had to be abandoned, with, as
<br />someone commented, only a "small hole in the ground and
<br />some weather-stained machinery to show for it."'6 '
<br />
<br />Actually, more work had been accomplished on the State's
<br />tunnel than this statement would suggest. A progress report
<br />issued by the Colorado State Engineer in 1902 indicated that
<br />the tunnel had been driven 835 feet from the west end, with
<br />350 feet timbered. Two air shafts had been sunk, one 65 feet
<br />and one 90 feet, and five miles of wagon road had been con-
<br />structed.' ,
<br />
<br />Fortunately, by this time the federal Reclamation Act had
<br />been passed, on June 17, 1902, establishing the Reclamation
<br />Service, Congressman John C. Bell's bill for construction of
<br />a tunnel, introduced into congress in 1901, was incorporated
<br />into this act.IS The state and local citizens hastened to petition
<br />,this new agency to continue the diversion project, and the
<br />
<br />11 .Montrose Enterprise.. October 17 I 1901..
<br />ti Montrose Enterprise. November 21, 1901.
<br />IS Montrose Enterpri8e~ December] 2, 1901.
<br />1" Montrose Enterprise_. December 26, 1901.
<br />J5 Session L(),ws of Colorado, op. cU., 372. K
<br />14 John Henry Shaw, "}1:;xplorlng the Black.tCanon," lVorld To-Day, Vol. 17,
<br />No, 5 (1909), 1143,
<br />11 Colorado State Engineer, loco C'it.
<br />311 Sou-J;cnir Booklet) ,Montrose County, Colorado (Montrose, 1905). Cop~: in
<br />the Montrose Public Library.
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