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<br />ry Q? ~ 1..5 GUNNISON RIVER DIVERSION PROJECT
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<br />of tunnel, a mile of heavy cut, and a hundred-foot dam across
<br />the Gunnison River."
<br />Around the turn of the century, two men made special
<br />examinations which proved of value. In August of 1900, Delta
<br />County Surveyor John A. Curtis took a survey crew up to
<br />Red Rock Canyon "to ascertain just the condition which exists
<br />with regard to getting water from the Gunnison into this
<br />valley."'" Also, a surveyor from Montrose, W. H. Fleming,
<br />had run level lines across the divide between the Gunnison
<br />and Uncompahgre Valleys at chosen points."
<br />In order to obtain funds to support a tunnel project, an
<br />appeal had been made to the Twelfth Session of the Colorado
<br />legislature which met in 1899. On January 28, Senator W. S.
<br />Buckley introduced Senate Bill No. 310, "for an, act to con-
<br />struct, maintain, and operate a state tunnel in Montrose Coun-
<br />ty, Colorado, and for the use of unemployed convicts in con-
<br />structing the same and making appropriations therefor,"'"
<br />This bill was referred to the Committee on Labor. On March 1,
<br />the bill was tabled "for the reason that there are no funds
<br />available for such purpose and that the enterprise is deemed
<br />to be impracticable."'. Buckley objected strenuously to the
<br />pessimistic suggestion of the latter phrase, and it was finally
<br />struck from the record."
<br />Sponsors of the water diversion project were only mo-
<br />mentarily set back by the defeat of the request for legislative
<br />support. The Montrose Enterprise urged "each citizen to put
<br />in a good word when he can."" In late June of 1900, John
<br />Masters, an Idaho capitalist, arrived in Montrose to investigate
<br />the possibility of putting a dam and power plant near Red
<br />Rock Canyon which would furnish power for the mines of
<br />Ouray. With respect to the project, Masters told local officials
<br />that "his company must have at least a quarter of a million
<br />dollar investment in prospect to take hold of it in earnest."'"
<br />This investment never proved forthcoming.
<br />Western Congressmen were busy pushing the local irriga-
<br />tion and diversion project, especially Representatives Shafroth
<br />and Bell, and Senator E. O. Wolcott. The latter promised to
<br />introduce a bill into the United States Senate to build the
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<br />12 Ibid.
<br />13 Montrose Enterprise. August 18, 1900.
<br />1-1 U. S. Reclamation Service, First Annual Report, op. cit'J p. 135. Fleming
<br />probably made his ~urvey in conjunction with Whinnerah's survey, presumably
<br />in 1894 (see Footnote No.9). No date is given in the Reclamation Service re-
<br />capitulation ann. an obviouEly incorrec:t (late (1904) is given in Marsh, op. cit...
<br />pp, 77-78,
<br />1:> Senate J011rnal of the General .-1ss~~ll1,bly of the State of Colorado, 12th
<br />Session (1899), p, 271.
<br />ISlbid'J p. 597.
<br />17 "Upon request of Senator Buckley the words 'and that tlle enterprise is
<br />deemed to be impracticable' were stricken out of the report and as amended it
<br />was auoptec1." Ibid.J p. 609.
<br />1li "It looks now as thoug'h every efftJT"t of our people shouhl be turne(l t.oward
<br />government or state aid in building the tunnel. . ." Montrose Enterpri.<fc, AugU5t
<br />4, 1900, N
<br />"Ibid" July 7, 1900, J
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