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Show H ( - A DIVERTING THE WEBER RIVER. H '. Thcro is a conflict on in Colorado, which is being fought over H j ' (I,c qucstiou of the diverting of water from one watershed to an- H , k oUier, aud the points involved are a reminder that the water users H , I pf Colorado are far more careful in asserting and maintaining their H j rights than aro the water consumers along the Weber river who H ' j nrc now allowing work to proceed without interference for the H j diverting of tho headwaters of the Weber to the Provo river Hj , watershed. H j A Denver dispatch says tho United States government is pre- H j 'j pared to step into tho fight between tho water users of the wost- H em and eastern slopes over the diversion of water from the Grand. HJ I j' river to reservoir systems the other side of the continental divide. Hr" The diversion of a large volume of water from tho Grand H might endanger the Grand valley project of the government, known mkm !i as the Iligh Lino ditch, is tho contention. IEthelbcrt Ward, deputy United States district attornc-, who is in charge of all the water questions in which the government is interested in that district, has received word from the depart- , mcut of justice at Washington to file suggestions and notices in the H fi district court at Sulphur Springs, Colorado, to the effect that the m i, government is interested in the subject of water diversion. Hb j J This is tho first step taken bv the government in such eases H j and serves as a warning that it will protect its interests. If work H y is begun to divert water in an amount which will endanger the H S I . government project, the government will then stop the work. H L' j There are several schemes to take water from the Grand river Hj I and bring it to northern and eastern Colorado. The most noted of Hj j these is the llenrylyn project, which proposes to bore the Rocky H mountains and furnish water to its big reservoir and ditch system. H( 3 There is now a suit pending to prevent the diversion of water LWt fl - ' from one watershed to another in the district court at Sulphur 1 Springs and this is the one in which the government will intervene. H j j j The suit was brought by water users of the western slope who H - J ' luLve prior filings upon the Grand. It is brought against the In- LL termountain Water company and the Water Supply and Storage LwL j oompany, northorn Colorado concerns, which arc already taking H ' ' water from the Grand in an open ditch which crosses a low pass H" j ' west of Fort Collins. H' , , ; jluc volume carried oy tnc ditch irom tnc tnbutancs ot the H ' , Grand is 150 feet per second. Hr- The samo companies have a scheme to bore the range and divort Bj ' 1,200 cubic feet of water per second, and if this is attempted the Hrj government will stop the work. Hf'j When it became known the Grand was to be tapped for eastern v I slope waters users excitement became intense on the western slope. Hj J FeeIing,Js at a very high mark over this question and the water Hf users of the western slope are ready to fight the diversion of j : ) water from their side. B. i Attorneys for tho western slope men claim that water cannot H be taken from one watershed to another. It 15 said the government will mako its fight against the diversion on the grounds: that pripr H filings by western slope interests and the reclamation service have T been made on tho flow of the Grand. H Tho same protest should be made in opposition to the turning of H l - the flow of the headwaters of Weber river into an entirely differ- H j cut watershed. At present all the flood waters of the Weber arc H jj not utilized, but some da- tho entire stream will be required to ir- Hi rigate the land available for cultivation and the people of this basin H 1- , should look ahead far enough to anticipate that condition and to HL h preserve their rights. |