The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1893-02-11
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY Il, 1893.
THE IRRIGATION BILL.
A Plain Exposition Of its Provisions.
Carson Appeal.

To the Editor Of the Appeal.-As the
Irrigation bill recently introduced in the
Senate by Mr.. Laeirave is q measure of
great Importance to the people OF this
State, effecting as it does. matters OF vital
Importance to our whole agricultural
population, and having in the opinion of
the writer such a direct bearing on the
future of our State, it may be Of interest
to your readers to know some of the rea-
sons that have prompted the proposal
of such a system OF water laws for this
State.
To begin with, the productiveness and
value Of lands in Nevada depends almost
wholly or its water supply, and every
thing that impairs the validity OF the
right to this, lessons the value Of the
land and threatens the progress and sta
bility Of irrigation. The titles of water
therefor, should be as definite and as
secure as deeds to land. This is not
the case now or can it be, 80 long as the
nature and basis of appropriations so
lily defined and 80 misunderstood, and
so long as u statutes permit the owe
appropriation Of our streams.
TIL BOARD OF coNTRoL
The most important section of the bill
introduced by Mr.. LaGrve is that pro-
viding for the creation of a Board of Con-
troll by which the settlement of water
right questions lie taken out OF the courts
and vested in officers who make them
a subject of special study, being burdened
with no other official duties, and who
having the responsibility OF the work
placed ~squarely upon them, must neces-
sarily exercise great care and rare judge
ment in making decisions.
The Board not only adjudicates Claims
fixing the order OF priorities and the
amount OF water to be allowed hut also
controls the division among %appropria-
tors, to the end that each shall receive
that to which he is justly entitled.
THE ADVANTAGES CLAIMED
For the procedure are that it places the
the settlement OF water right questions
in the hands of those best informed
best qualified by training and experie nce
to solve them-and the most interested
in the success of the system. 1t consol-
idates, simplifes,~ expedites and cheapens
the settlement of water right controver-
sizes or the acquiring OF title to the use of
water, and tends to create a body of
specially informed and skillful admins
traitors Of water right laws.
If ever we hope to extend agriculture
in this State if ever we desire to reclaim
the millions OF acres of sagebrush lands
now lying idle by the application of
water-and in this lies Nevada's only
chance for future growth and prosperity
we must speedily proceed to the de-
termination of all existing rights, so
that VIZ may know whence the water
required is to come.
VESTED RIGHTS.
1t may be well to state that it has
never been the intent Of the formers of
this bill to deprive any appropriation of
water of any rights, which he has al
ready acquired, nor could this be done
was such the desire. All vested rights
must be respected, and all parties will
be entitled TO the water they legally claim
under existing laws. Under the proposed
law priority of appropriations gives the
better right.
STATE ENGINEER.
This brings me to the next section Of
the bill, providing for 9 State engineer.
That such an officer is \ necessary part
of any irrigation system that may be
adopted by the State surely cannot be
doubted by any thoughtful person. IA
in everything else, and preeminently 10 in
irrigation matters, their supervision OF
the operations Of all connected there
with. Besides this. the creation of such
an office provides the only proper, reli-
able and economical means Of collecting
the data absolutely required if we pro-
pose to develop the agricultural resources
which we believe Nevada possesses.
DIVISIONS.
Ii = 80 hal:o..ol 49,