Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1888-04-19
COUNTY OFFICIAL PAPER.
IRRIGATION.

agricultural Interests of Nevada. There
nro thou, auds of acres Of fertile lambs
lying. comparatively worthless, within
our borders which could be made to
produce Immense crops of valuable
cereals, ns welt as vegetables of all
kinds. by proper irrigation. and the
question Of devising III "a ls for utilizing
tue vast volume of water which runs to
waste every YER for the want Of proper
Etorage facilities, is one which, in some
measure, is engaging the attention of
the pc 'ple of Nevada, apd to which the
attention OF Congress has beer directed
through our Senator w. M. Stewart.
Under date of the 18th instant Senator
Stewart writes as follows:
EDITOR INDEPENDENT,
Dear Sir:-I enclose here
with copy OF the reply of the Eecre-
taiy Of the Interior to the resolution
introduced last February in regard to
the subject of irrigation. There fs
practically m utter lack of knowledge
of the great importance of this question
to all the people west of the Rocky
mountains among tue people here. l
am gathering all the information to-
gether on this subject that can find,
And believe that with the facts before
Congress there will lie no difficulty to
obtain Legislation to provide for irriga-
ton"
The reply of Secretary Wins, together
with letters from Acting Com missioner
Stockslager, OF the General Land Office,
and j. W. Powell. Director U. S
Geological Survey, being too lengthy
for our columns we make the following
extract from the letter of Secretary
Was:
1T appears from the communication
OF the Director, rs, indeed, must readily
occur to intelligent reflection. that the
subject involves vast areas of territory,
manifold public and private Interests,
and far-reachIng considerations touch
ing results and cost; and also that ench
separate instance of contemplated nc
ton involves peculiar and specinl in.
quiries and determinations. 80 that, al.
though the general desirabilty of 80
comprehensive and effective a syetem
OF irrigation as Government nlone can
institute aud carry to completion NAV
he readily affirmed. particular designa-
ton of what lands may be segregated
and what means may be employed to
accomplish any result must be the fruit
Of distiuct and particular inquiry in
each ca g. =
When the products OF this inquiry
shall be at comm~nh, it may be an
ticipnted that there will he disclosed
proper opportunity for IN experimental
attempt to establish in some region OF
the country such system of Btowage of
water supply ind Of canals md other
conduits for irrigation NJ shal afford u
pruct.ca' solution of the merits and al.
Yat'tngcs of Governmental interrogation
Of this nature"
On tie subject Of winter storage for
u-c during the agricultural seuson, J.
W. Powell. Director of q. s. Geologicnl
Snrv' y. suys.
TIE utilization of the extra a. asonnl
wafer Of perennial streams Gun lie effect.
ed only 10y the aid of storage reservoirs,
and it will be found economic to con-
Struct such III great numbers throughout
tn ie:;ion. und The acreage of farming
land will he vastly increased thereby.
There are Il (, W favored valleys living ut
the foot of Nu'y high monnta. ms which
receive W tiers from the melting SHOWS
on tn uiuurtnins ut n Hruson when il
can h" NJ I'D for agriculture, but IN
most localities the 81 ows melt too early.
aud their unStored vat e flows by ns
waste. In such cnEes tue wastc water
- Inn y t mes greater than the water
Il w'nS during the farming season, and
its storage will co,rcspoudingly increase
t'e "mount available for agriculture.
The development Of the axricultur