Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1893-02-05
THE IRRIGATION BILL.
A Plain Exposition OF its Prcyis.
ions.

4
duced III the Senate by Mr.. La
Grave is a measure of great import
ance 10 the people of this State, at
fectlng as it does, matters of vita
Importance to our whole agriculture
population, and having, in the opin-
ion of the writer, such a direct bear
ing on the future of our State, it MAJ
be of interest to your readers t.
know some Of the reasons that hav,
prompted the proposal OF such sys-
tenn Of water laws for this State.
To begin with, the productivenes.
and value af land in Nevada depends
almost wholly on its water supply
and everything which impairs the
validity of the right to this, lessons
the value of the land and threatens
the progress and stability of irriga-
ton. The titles to water. therefore,
should be as definite and secure as
deeds to land. This is not the case
now, nor can it be, so long as the
nature and basis of appropriations
are so lily defae ed and SO misunder-
stood. and Sc long as GU statutes
permit the continued overappropria
of our streams.
The most important section of the
bill introduced by Mr. LtGrave is
that providing fer the creation of
Board of Control by which the set
Element of water right questions is
taken out Of the courts and vested IN
officers who make them a subject Of
special study, beng burdened with
no other official duties, and who,
having the responsibility for the
work placed squarely upon them,
must Of necessity exercise great care
and rare Judgment in making decis-
ions.
This Board not only adjudicates
claims, fixing the order Of pri prities
and the amount of water to be al
lowed, but it also controls the divis-
ion a;..ong appropriations, to he end
that each shall receive that to which
he is justly entitled.
The advantages claimed for this
procedure are that It places the set
tlement Of water right questions in
the hands Of those best informed
best qualified by training and ex-
perience to solve them-and the most |
in the success o. tie sys
tenn. 1t corsolidates, simplides, ex-
pedites and cheapens The settlement
Of water right controversies, or the
of title to the use Of water,
and tends to create body of spec
ally informed ard skilled admins
traitors of water right laws.
If we ever hope to extend agricul
ture in this State; if we desire to re-
claim the millions of acres of sage
brush 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 determine
ion of all existing rights, SO that we
nay know whence the water requir-
ID is to come
1t may be well to state that it has
never been the intent of the trainers
If this bill to deprive any appropri-
tor of water of any rights, which he
las already acquired, nor could this
'e done was such the desire. All
ested rights must be respected, and
II parties will be entitled to the
'ater which they legally claim under
xisting laws. Under the proposed
w priority # Appropriation gives the
etter right
This brings me to the next section :
the blA, providing for State !,
ugineer. That such an cffi,er is
ecessary part of any irrigation sys-
N that may be adopted by the !.
ate surely cannot be doubted by
~ thoughtful person. As in every :
ing else, and prominently SO in
matters, their supervision ;,
the operations of all connected 9
erewith. Besides this, the crea- J.
IN of such an office provides the
ly proper, reliable and economical
cans of collecting the data absolut-
7 required if we propose to develop
e agricultural resources which we !
lieve Nevada to possess. ~
1t is not believed that any argu-
snt is necessary iffavor of divid- !,
. the State into wafer divisans