Gardnerville record. (Gardnerville, Nev.) 1898-1902, 1898-09-13
AnIncreaSed WaterSupp|y.
HOW THE PROBLEM CAN BIB
SOLVED.
Remarks Of Men Who Have Made
Water Storage Study.

Remarks of Men Who Have Made
Water Storage Study.
At the meeting held in Gardneryille on
the 9th instant, OF The farmers and mem-
bers of the Alpine Land and Reservoir
Co, several addre= Ies were made on the
subject OF water storage which may prove
of great interest to those who we're not
present, and whose property interests
are 80 closely connected with the subject
matter.
VIM. NJ. Thornburg of Markleeville
spoke as follows:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen.
NV remarks to-day will be directed prin-
cipally to those OF you who have given
the sobiect but little attention and have
never seen the dams and reser voir sites
now owned and being improved by the
Alpine Land and Reservoir Company
for the purpose of storing water to be
used in the irrigation and reclamation
of lands in this valley. to those of You
who are Interested and have investigated
the merits OF the proposition, no argn-
ment or explanation will be necessary TO
convince You Of the great necessity, val
ue, and practicability of the undertaking.
Now gentlemen rs yon are eontem-
plating the purchase and development
of this property, it is proper for yon to
first inquire into the necessity and feas
ibility of the proposed system OF water
storage and irrigation; and the tirst
thing you should inquire after should be-
is more and additional water needed Ill
the Carson valley and will this demand
oontinuey We answer most certainly
The demand is growing each year. We
| Gnd conclusive proof of this assertion
when we look ON the parched and dryed
fields and farms about us, and on the
thousands of acres OF rich level lands I'M
cultivated, and unoecnpied, all for the
want of water When we see the pres
ent supply OF water gradually but
surely decreasing each year, we feel
convinced that the present short.
age of water will not only continue,
but will increase This decrease in the
natural flow OF water in the Carson river
is perhaps caused by the diyertion of q
portion OF the water OF the river by small
gardeners and farmers far above this
valley in the State Of California, and
this will continue and increase rs there
are vet many acres of land along the
Carson river from 3 to % miles above
this valley that can and will be cult
waited The timber Is being cut from the
mountains which may also effect the
natural flow of water; and now having
fully satisfied ourselves that more water
is now and will continue to be needed III
this valley, the next thing to enquire
into is, how eau the necessary quantity
OF water be supplied.
You who have watched the flow OF
water in the Carson river know quite
well that there is surplus in the winter
and spring months of each year which II
stored and turned out onto the land at
the proper time would irrigate three
valleys like the Carson. Now gentlemen,
we have found that nature has caused a
demand for water, furnished sufficient
supply to satisfy every demand IN this
valley, and also places where the same
can be stored safely and cheaply. All
that is required is for man to do his part
and utilize what nature has provided.
Next we want to inquire how will 1t ef-
feet the present farmer, his markets, and
the general prosperity OF the community
il the surplus water is stored, and new
additional lands are cultivated and crops
raised thereon. This can best be ans
wered by inquiring how increased pop
nlatlon. the settlement and cultivation OF
more lands has effected other places.
We find that in the State OF Kansas the
lowest prices of farm produce, the poor
est home markets, and the highest rates
of transportation existed at time when
the State was only partially settled. Only
a small portion of the lands were then
cultivated.
We also find when most OF the lands in
that state were put into cultivation, when
the quantity of farm produce had been
increased two or three times, and the
population increased in like proportion
freiphts and fares were reduced, the
prices Of all kinds of fam produce ad'
yanced. manufactures sprang up, and
every class of business prospered. These
are the natural results every where, and
wonld operate the same in Nevada and IN
the Carson valley. Even in a greater
degree because the state of Kansas is all
: or nearly all farming lands, whose main
resource is agriculture, while the state oil
Nevada has her gold, silver. copper, and
other mines, fine building stone, marble
ouarries, plenty OF timber for lumber,
free and fine water power for driving
machinery for manufacturing purposes
. This will always furnish good hom'
market for her farm produce. We CLAIM
and assert that the storage OF water, set
4 tlement and cultivation of all the arl'
lands in this valley, wonld be an injur,
to no one, and would greatly benefit thi
community, county, and state, and 1t
It beneficial effects would be felt IN the ad
d iacent counties of the state of Californii
4 1t means great increase Of populatio