Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1899-08-25
x.Y.d.,. water supply.

hnu tne BrlcultuIal pO6SlDtuueS OF
the State. The meeting was called to
order by Edgar Reinhart and W. T.
Smith was selected to preside. Mr..
Smith briefly stated the obiec. OF the
meeting and introduced Mr.. Newell.
Mr.. Newell began by thanking the
people for the kind invitation to sd-
dress them; an invitation he could
not refuse. iIe then stated that the
Investigation he was making began
ten years ago by Prot. Powell. Chief
OF the U. S. Geological Survey, aud
that lie was one OF the first men en-
gagged in the work and was stin en-.
gagged in it. The work in Nevada
vas in charge Of Mr.. L. II. Taylor,
who has measured and surveyed the
Humboldt river and was now EN-
ployed ON the Truckee.
The leading resources Of the State
were mining and stock raising. These
industries had been followed and the
great agricultural u OF the
State had been neglected. Tho
water supply is a question that inter-
ests everyone and the problems son.
nected with il must be solved by tie
| people. The State has IN area OF
10000 square miles, OF which loo,-
600 square miles-nearly IS per
ceut-still belonged to the United
States; only l or . per cent OF the
land is owned by the people and cor
porations and pays taxes. This is ON
anomalous condition and cannot last
long. The utilization OF the public
lands OF the State wss the problem TO
be solved. The State has consider.
able water and it should be 30 used
as to give the best results. In order
to get these results there must be
united action. The Irrigation Con.
gress should be attended by dele
gates from the State who would
make its conditions known.
Only a small proportion OF the land
under private ownership yields any
returns. Tie large ranches must be
cut up into small holdings il the
State ever increases i'll population.
Mining and stock raising do not de-
velop and build up a State. To get
more people means to make the lands
OF the State more acceptable to the
home-seeker. This can only be done
by an intelligent system OF water
storage. Nevada is advertised less
than any other State in the Union
and does not occupy a very promi-
nent position in the sisterho"d OF
States. This, he said, is largely due
to the failure OF the people to make
the of the State known to
the world.
\ geological survey OF a country is
divided into several different branches
land surveying, photographic sur
veying, Typographical surveying. ETC.,
the fundamental purpose Of which is
the making Of a great, complete map
OF the United States. The map is
made in sections which show a limit
ed area. and each section consists OF
several different plates, which show
the elevations, soil conditions. water
supply, and geological formations,
respectively. These maps found a
basis for future study OF the country
by railroad engineers, miners, pro-
motors OF manufacturing enterprises
and canal builders, and are particu-
larry for the purpose OF sho wing the
geological structure Of the country,
illustrating to a certain degree it's
economic resources. Perhaps a
thousand or moro OF these maps are
made by the government. We study
the basins with a view to ascertain
ing whether artesian water may not
be procured, measure streams and
survey reservoir sites and are thus
able to draw n map which shall rep.
resent photographic condition.
The citizens must settle upon some
dciinate policy for utilizing the pub.
lie lands OF the State and get their
representatives TO present the exist.
ing conditions to Congress. A sun
OF money is allotted every year to Ger.
tain States as a river and harbor i'm
proyement fund. Nevada has no nav
rivers TO improve aud received
none OF the pork" The question OF
reclaIming the land OF the nrid States
would come beforeC congress this win
ter and something could be dono by
intelligent and united action ON tho
part OF the representatives OF these
The trouble has hitherto
been that the representatives from
arid States we're divided az to the
methods to be pursued. This din.
Guilty could only be overcome by
action. Nevada has many OK.
reservoir sites and q dozen or |
more could be constructed in Elko |
county. Water storage on a large
scale unless joined with land schemes
has always failed. II joined with land
they can be mado TO pay.IIe closed by
tho people to settle upon some
definite policy regarding the recla.
nation OF the arid land OF tho State
and to mako themselves heard
through their representative in Con.
grefs thia yintnr.