The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1879-03-01
ARTESIAN WELLS IN
rs. +. Bulletin.l


Ths SUCCESS atteudant upon the sink
ing Of artesian wells in the plains OF Cal
ifornia, has drawn attention to the sub.
ject on the other side Of the Sierra Ne
vada. There are portions of the San
Joaquin, Sacramento, and Santa Clara
valleys, where crops are insured every
year solely by irrigation from artesian
wells. In Southern California there are
several of these wells, which yield an
abundant supply of water, and crops of
wheat, barley and other products are
raised where the land otherwise would
be valueless. The experiments made in
Wasbos valley have demonstrated that
the sagebrush lands of Nevada are sus-
ceptible Of high rate of cultivation
where water can be turned in upon them.
As the irrigation dtches from the True
kee river are extended, Nevada is be-
coming evsry year less dependent upon
California Tor agricultural products.
Even the barren country around Vir-
ginia City has been shown to be capable
Of cultivation whare water is oDlainable.
We are accustomed to think of Nevada
only AZ a mountainous region, forgetting
that there are large valleys at present
utilized for the grazing of cattle. The
only drawback to the cultivation of these
valleys for the ordinary purposes of
agriculture is the scarcity of water. But
the typography of the State has induced
geoogists to arrive at the opinion that
what is lacking on the surface exists
underground. In other words, the
waters which percolate the earth at the
sinks of the Carson and Humboldt rivers
find their way to the ocean by means of
subterranean channels. The immense
bodies of water which are frequently
struck in the Oomstock and other min
ing districts, give oredence to such con-
illusions.
The success which has attended farm
ing where water was plentiful, justifies
the sumption that with water, agricul-
ture may be made a. profitable in Nevada
as elsewhere. There are immense tracts
of country which must remain arid
wastes unless some means can be de-
vised for obtaining their irrigation. The
Legislature has memoralized Congress
to make grants of land to any one who
shall sink artesian wells in these plains,
and thus giving an incentive to cultiva-
ton. The land is comparatively worth
less without water, and it will never pay
TO sink an artesinn we'll solely for the
purpose OF homeste adin2 I60 ,cres.
A bill has been introduced IN the Ne.
vada Legislature to encourage the boring
OF artesian wells. 1t is proposed that
the State shall pay 80 pr foot bonus for
every foot sunk beyond 100 feet Und Il
primary circumstances such subsidies
sometimes leads to corruption. Bm j,
must b. ADMITTED that The solution OF
this water que 'tion is Of the utmost
moment to every lndu-try in tbe State.
Ii water Can he obla,n-h in qnan tuies by
means OF nrtesl.u wells. miiiuus of acres
now pr iduc ny no hiog but s,e, brush
and tar weed can be turu i ,hto 6-ds OF
grain or alfalfa The mining Interests
will ukrw se profit Th nsc sSsry sup.
plies OF TODD cnn he obtained near the
mines. aud thus reduce al lmp"rian,
item III the cost of worSlng then wnert
the necessari-s OF Iif b We 10 be CARR, q
by teams from 81 20 300 miles. rh,
future OF Nevada dep-nds much ou the
success oi tue artesiAn wells Exp rinent