Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1888-02-25
WATER STORAGE.


An Old Trapper Points Out Its Advan-
tages a Quarter Of Century Ago,
The following, which was undoubtedly
related by T. D. Parkinson, Of the Nevada
Land & Cattle Company, is printed in the
San Francisco Bulletin:
Now that the question of water storage
and irrigation is attracting attention on all
sides, the following account Of the cause
which led to the starting Of one Of the most
important schemes on this coast will be read
with interest. The gentleman who related
the incident is now in the city and vouches for
its truthfulness. Since the time Of which he
speaks he has successfully carried cut the
plans which then seemed to him but the WIS.,
ions Of a weak minded old man. He had
been describing great dam that he had
built for the storage Of water for irrigating
purposes and was asked how he came to
turn his attention to that in such an out.of-
the-way place and at time when no one
else seemed to have thought Of such thing.
He replied as follows:
"It was brought about in rather a peculiar
way, and though not much given to romance
and sentiment, can certainly attribute the
result Of our works an d the efforts Of many
years Of my life to an incident that happen.
ed which I:will relate.
"Away back in 1867, when the mining
craze was upon US, when countries were only
explored for hidden tr easures and agricul-
ture was al discount on the west side OF the
Rockies, my duties as County Surveyor call
ed me to section Of country, near my pres
ent home, which at that time was occupied
only by hostile Indians. One evening, after
having finished the work of the day and
while our party were discussing the question
whether we would awake in the morning
with entire scalps, there appeared among US,
as though dropped from the clouds grizzly.
headed old man in the garb Of trapPer.
On invitation he settled himself before the
remains Of our frugal repast, which seemed
to affect him to such degree that he contin-
ued with US while in that district. During
his stay he gave no account of himself or his
business, and not until the last moment,
when he was about to leave, did he unbur-
den his mind. Taking me aside one morn
ing he revealed to me that he had project
in view, and that there were "milhons IN 1t"
Nothing would satisfy him till l consented
to go with him to the spot where he could
better explain. Alone did accompany him
for so he would have it, and as he plodded
silently by my side, for he disdained the
saddle, must acknowledge that at times
had misgivings as to my own sanity in plac-
ing myself in the hands of crank. The
Indian trail we had been following for some
hours led us through deep canyon, through
| which flowed rapid stream Of considerable
size! Upon reaching the summit of high
bluff, he stopped and pointing to large
valley above, announced that this was his
"6nd." Never shall forget the astonish-
ment that cver-came me as listened to that
old mans burst of enthusiasm. The visions
Of wealth he had in view from impounding
| Of water for the reclamation Of the great
| arid plains below made the stories Of the i'm.
pecunious owners of "feet," values seem in
significant. will not prolong the story by
giving the details Of his argument. listen
ed to him throughout, and though admitting
the practicability of the scheme, l feared
his days would be numbered before this sys-
tenn of reclamation would be brought into
practice. l was a young man at that
time, and being a civil engineer the old
mans visit strongly impressed me-"