558 



THE IBBIGATION AGE. 



PENROSE AND BEAVER PARK, 

 COLORADO. 



IRRIGATION is conceded to be one of the most 

 potent factors in the up-building and development of 

 the west today, but the system in operation in the new 

 fruit district of Beaver Park, surrounding the thriving 

 young town of Penrose, is the most unique of them all. 

 In a state noted for its vast opportunities and rapid 

 development, very few of its projects have forged to 

 the front more quickly than that of Beaver Park and few 

 indeed of its enterprises have had more substantial back- 

 ing or a more flattering beginning. 



For the benefit of those unacquainted with the state, 

 I will say that Beaver Park is located in the eastern 

 part of Fremont County, eleven miles east of Canon 

 City and seven miles northeast of Florence. Exactly 

 two years ago it was in the arid land class. However, 

 by the determination, perseverance and sagacity of its 

 backers, together with the unlimited expenditure of 

 capital, in two short years it has taken its place as one 

 of the most promising and prosperous communities of the 

 state. They have one or two bearing orchards on 

 Beaver Park and one of these took the first prize at the 

 Cotorado State Fair last fall for "The Best Box of 

 Winter Apples," in competition with the rest of the 

 state. Already hundreds of young orchards have been 

 started, while on every hand growing crops of various 

 kinds are to be seen, houses are springing up and homes 



gates constructed for the purpose, the fall of the land 

 oeing about 100 feet to the mile, thus enough pressure 

 is obtained to force the water to flow out of the head- 

 gates. There are 500 of these headgates. 



The Beaver Land and Irrigation Company is behind 

 the Beaver Park project, and the company is composed 

 of some of Colorado's most progressive and influential 

 business men. They have an Improvement Depart- 

 ment, with a competent man in charge, whereby it is 

 possible for a non-resident land owner to grow an or- 

 chard without residing in the state, if he so desires, 

 and it will have just as good care as though he were 

 looking after it himself. The Manager of the Improve- 

 ment Department will have the ground plowed, fenced, 

 trees planted, pruned, irrigated and cultivated at actual 

 cost to the owner. Be,aver Park is divided up into ten- 

 acre tracts, with a 50-foot street around every forty 

 acres. 



The company is now constructing a large reservoir, 

 with a capacity of 5,000 acre feet, which will be com- 

 pleted in a very short time; in fact, they are now storing 

 water in it. In this work they are using three trains 

 of narrow-gauge dump cars, running night and day, and 

 which are filled by steam shovel. When completed, this 

 reservoir alone will hold enough water to supply Beaver 

 Park, without the additional supply of Beaver Creek and 

 the rain fall. Upon its completion it will be stocked with 

 trout and will be noted for its attractive features as a 

 summer resort, being located practically in the moun- 

 tains. 



One year ago the Beaver. Penrose and Northern 

 Railway was completed and the new town of Penrose 



hacffer Dam, Under Construction, May 25th, 1910, Lake MacNeill, 35 Feet Deep, Will Be 90 Feet Deep When Completed. 



being prepared in fact, everywhere you see the hustle 

 and bustle characteristic of the building of a new ejnpire. 

 I know of no place which offers more opportunities or 

 greater possibilities. 



Beaver Park has the most complete and up-to-date 

 irrigation system in the west today, the water being con- 

 ducted onto the land entirely through pipe lines. The 

 main pipe line is constructed of Oregon fir lumber two 

 inches in thickness, with five-eighths-inch steel bands 

 every four to six inches. This pipe line is 14,000 feet 

 long, 42 inches in diameter and has a capacity of 78 cubic 

 feet of water per second of time. From this pipe line the 

 water runs through a tunnel 1,000 feet long, which is 

 cemented side, top and .bottom. From the tunnel the 

 water goes into the main ditch. The cross laterals, con- 

 ducting the water onto each ten-acre tract, are made of 

 cement piping from 8 to 24 inches in diameter, laid 38 

 inches underneath the ground, which prevents seepage, 

 evaporation, breakage of ditches, scattering of weed seed, 

 etc., besides keeping the water pure and cool. In fact 

 this system is like a big city water works, only on a 

 much larger scale. The water is the same as is used by 

 the city of Colorado Springs, which is noted for the 

 finest water in the world, coming directly from Pike's 

 Peak, and is the purest of mountain snow. Another ad- 

 vantage of this system is that you can plow right over 

 the ditches and they do not cut up the land. The water 

 is brought to the top of the ground through cement head- 



started. In this short time a good -sized little town has 

 sprung up, with a general store, two lumber yards, two 

 restaurants, blacksmith shop, barber shop and pool hall, 

 drug store, hardware store, meat market, carpenter shop, 

 hotel, garage, livery stable, church, depot, school house 

 and a newspaper. The general offices of the Beaver 

 Land and Irrigation Company are also located there. 

 The new town of Penrose is fast showing the effect of 

 the land improvement around it, by the wonderful strides 

 made in the past year, and nothing can prevent its 

 being a city of 5,000 inhabitants in five years' time. 



It would pay anyone contemplating a trip to Col- 

 orado to visit Penrose and Beaver Park to see this up- 

 to-date irrigation system and to note the wonderful prog- 

 ress and development of this new section of Colorado. 



The passenger department of the Union Pacific Railway has issued 

 a very elaborate and finely illustrated folder concerning the Eighteenth 

 National Irrigation Congress which will be held in Pueblo, Colorado, 

 September 26th to 30th, 1910. 



The illustrations include a map of the city of Pueblo, showing the 

 location of the Mineral Palace in which the Congress is to be held, also 

 the location of the National Irrigation Exposition, principal hotels, rail- 

 way stations, etc. Among the illustrations are shown a general view of 

 the city of Pueblo, its public library, post office, club buildings, school 

 buildings, etc. 



The Union Pacific System will, no doubt, carry large numbers to 

 and from the Congress from eastern points as well as from all of the 

 Pacific coast and intermountain country. 



A copy of this folder may be secured by addressing Gerrit Fort, 

 Passenger Traffic Manager, Omaha, Nebraska, or W. G. Neimyer, 

 General Agent, Chicago, Illinois. 



