T H E IRRIGATION AGE. 



33 



Revives Old Project; Success 

 Is Assured 



Frank P. Read of Denver, One of the Nation's Stalwarts 

 in the Reclamation of Arid Western Lands. 



When the history of American reclamation work is 

 written and those sturdy pioneers who are today devoting 

 their brains and energies to vast irrigation projects shall 

 have been given proper credit for achievement, the name 

 of Frank P. Read of Denver must occupy a place on the 

 roll of honor. 



While he is a comparatively young man and, obvi- 

 ously, has not yet reached the summit of his ambitions, 

 his name is familiar to many of the peoples of the west. 

 It may be said that he is upon the threshold of a career 

 that promises fame and fortune to himself and develop- 

 ment for those districts into which he may direct his tire- 

 less energy and his potential power of organization and 

 execution. 



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View of Main Canal, Nearly Completed. 



Coupled with his capabilities in the practical work of 

 building is a keen insight into financial affairs and a 

 knowledge of both electrical and civil engineering. In 



Showing Volume of Water Available on Model Land and Irrigation 

 Company's Project, Colorado. 



this respect he possesses advantages over many promoters 

 who lack one or more of these qualifications. 



At the present time Mr. Read is bending his energies 

 toward the completion of a project in the vicinity of Trin- 



idad, Colo., known under the name of the Model Land 

 and Irrigation company. The story of his revivification 

 of this project at a time when it lay 'nearly dormant and 

 promised no immediate results, forms a base upon which 

 to judge of his abilities. 



In December, 1908, Mr. Read, who had established 

 a reputation as president and manager of the Trinidad 

 Electric Light, Power and Gas company, first directed his 



Mr. Frank P. Read. 



attention to an irrigation project for reclaiming lands in 

 the Las Animas country. A stock company had been 

 formed and partial surveys for an extensive system had 

 been completed. Yet there was lacking a dominating 

 spirit to prosecute the work and bring the project to com- 

 pletion. Dilatory efforts at construction work had served 

 but to discourage settlers and stockholders as well. 



With characteristic energy Mr. Read called a meeting 

 of stockholders and laid before them a proposition to 

 finance the company and take full control of the pro- 

 posed work. His offer was accepted and his first step 

 was to secure the co-operation of the capital necessary 

 to instant resumption of work. 



As originally outlined, plans call for the construction 

 of a reservoir about four miles above Hoehue. The big 

 basin is to be filled from flood waters of the Purgatoire 

 and Chicosa creeks. A flood dam of masonry will be 



