Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1889-03-30
A GOOD BEGINNING.
Facts About Reservoirs for 1rriga-
ton by One Who Knows.

Facts About Reservoirs for 1rriga-
ton by One Who Knows.
The following letter was handed to US this
week for publication, and is written by a
person who knows whereof he speaks, as he
has bern engaged in mining and ranching in
this State for many years, and furthermore,
is thoroughly acquainted with this section OF
the country. There is probably not reser
volr site in Western Nevada that the gentle.
man does not know about, in fact, many years
agoh suggested just such work as is now be
ing contemplated at the headwaters Of the
Carson river:
Ed. rIMEs:-In your issue OF the 73d inst
| noticed an excellent article headed "The
Irrigation Bill" consider this the best bill
passed by the Legislature last Winter, as, in
time it will be of great benefit to the State
of Nevada. II the proposed reservoir is
built on The Corsen river il will furnish suffic
lent water to enable all the ranchers in Car.
son Valley to raise three crops of alfa lfa
each season. This will increase The amount
Of stock to be fed one third; and, further.
more, the reservoir will furnish water enough
to keep the quartz mills on the river running
to their full opacity the greater part of the
year, if not the year round. This will keep
the mines on the Comstock running, and EN-
ploy many hands.
The State, in a few years will receive
enough money from increased taxable prop
erty to pay back the 100000 loan, as
much land now valueless will be made good
for sale. The output Of bullion will also be
much greater, and the taxes from this source
will be considerably more Than at present.
If the State would charge for the water
the mill companies and ranchers would be
willing to pay for it during the dry season.
as all are very anxious to be able to have
water the year round in sufficient quantity.
Wherever have travelled in this State.
the ranchers do not respect each others rights.
The man with new ditch at the head of the
stream takes the water, and others, with a
prior right, have their ranches dried out SO
they bloom like the desert. The worst fea.
tare is that those above waste the water, 50
that those below are sometimes without
water enough for their stock to drink, and
are compelled to resort to pumps.
Afer the Carson river reservoir is built,
there is no doubt it will be success. Further
than this. Mason ana Smith Valies can have
dam built on the West Walker river, in the
canyon above Wellington Station. A dam
SO feet high at point in this canyon will
back the water up for at least five miles, and
will cover no ground that is valuable for any
other purpose. Both sides Of the canyon are
perpendicular, and the channel is very mar
row at some points, and dam could BE- built
there with much less money than it is taking
to build the Carson river dam. Sufficient
material is close at hand, and cement and la
Dor would not be great item.
reservoir at this point would supply both
Smith and Mason VALUES with all the water
that would b. req ured to bring all the land
under cultivation, and in doing this it would
make Lyon the largest and finest agricultural
county in the State. Mason Valley has the
finest climate in the State. In the Winter
snow never remains on the ground more than
two or three days, and three crops of alfalfa
could easily be raised with sufficient sup
ply Of wafer. In lew years after such an
improvement was made Lyon county would
ta,ten for market more beeves than any two
counties in the State. !. d. L.