Semi Weekly Herald

Florida Irrigation Project Not Dependent Upon Railroad Building---Construction Work to Commence Immediately

The Herald has interviewed A. Rex Mollette, general counsel for the Pioneer Construction company, who has for the past ten days been in Denver in attendance upon a meeting of the board of directors and stockholders of the company, at which the purchasers of the bonds were also present, as well as Walter Pearl, chief engineer and superintendent in charge of construction, and A. L. Fisher, assistant engineer.

While Mr. Mollette did not care to talk for publication, he said that the officers of the company were authorized by the board of directors to at once publish calls for bids for the construction of the main canal enlargement and laterals, diversion dam and headgate, and that work on this part of the project will commence as soon as bids are received and the contracts can be let, and that this portion of the construction work will be prosecuted with diligence.

Mr. Mollette also stated that it is the intention of the company to let contracts to local people and to expend as much money locally as is possible.

The company is desirous of building an irrigation system for the Florida mesa people which will be second to none in the state.

The benefits to Durango and La Plata county to be derived from the success of the Florida mesa project are many. Other districts will be organized, and thousands of acres of rich productive land brought under cultivation; hundreds of families will be added to the population of the county, and Durango will at last come into her own--all without the help of the Southern Pacific railroad.

A notice calling for bids for the construction of these canals appears in another part of this paper.

CALL FOR BIDS.

Sealed proposals, addressed to Walter Pearl, chief engineer, will be received at the office of the Pioneer Construction Co., Durango, Colo., not later than 12 o'clock noon, November 5, 1910, for the following canal and lateral work for the Florida Mesa Irrigation district system:

Main canal, approximately 85,000 cubic yards excavation.

Main canal, approximately 395 cubic yards concrete.

Distribution system, approximately 110,000 cubic yards excavation.

Distribution system, approximately 970 cubic yards concrete.

Flume structures, lumber and timber, approximately 177,000 feet, B. M.

Plans and specifications for the work are on file at the office of the company, where they may be examined.

A good surety company bond will be required for the faithful performance of the work.

Bids will be received for all or any portion of the work.

The right is reserved, by the company, to reject any or all bids, or portions thereof.

THE PIONEER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.

WALTER PEARL, Chief Engineer.

Durango, Colo., Oct. 29, 1910.