Wadsworth semi-weekly dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1899-1904, 1899-08-16
A PERFECT WATER SYSTEM.

ton hopes to double the storage ca
pacity on the upper Carson next year,
which will give them 1000 acre feet,
and then double that again the follow
ing year, making 1000 acre feet, and
SO on until capacity Of about o,ooo
acre feet is acquired. Mr.. Martin. like
many others in Carson Valley, has been
studying this question carefully for
many years and has we'll matured ideas.
1t is his belief that when The storage
system which H. F. Dangberg has un-
der way along the east side of the val
ley, between the Twelve Mile House
and old Desert Station is perfected
and the system of natural reservoirs
recently acquired by the farmers cor
poration are brought up to their full ca
pacity, an abundance of water can be
stored at flood time, without interfering
with the natural flow of the stream
after the 5oth Of June. to irrigate every
acre Of tillable land In Carson Valley
from the mouth of the canyon to the
Ormsby county line. And that these
plans will be carried out is only ques-
ton of time. Their completion means
that Douglas will be one of the richest
counties in the State. In Mr.. Martins
opinion the canal and system Of small
storage reservoirs which Mr.. Dangberg
is constructing, that skirts the low hills
along the eastern side Of the valley will
materially help the land below it, Dur
ing the flood season and during the
winter the surplus water of the river
will be allowed to flow through this
canal from one reservoir to another.
The water will naturally percolate
through the soil. mostening the land
Efar down in the valley. This alone,
Mr.. Martin thinks, will save 20 per
cent of water during the dry season.
This means that there will be a surplus
of 20 per cent left in the natural stream
at tie very time it is most needed.
All Of this progress in water storage
points to a higher development in irri-
cation and means the adding of untold
wealth to Carson Valley. 1t means an
increase Of taxable property, lower
rate of taxation the addition of a fam
lily here and there, and the increased
| demand which they witt naturally create
in merchandise and general supplies,
which means an increased volume of
business all along the line.
While we confidently look for i'm
portant mining developments and fully
appreciate their importance, yet there
is an exceedingly bright future await
ing Carson Valley independent Of willy
fortunes of mining booms, for here is
steady and healthy agricultural growth
that will be carried on. and on. from
year to year with unfalterlng zeal and
unfailing energy until the industry Of
this section becomes as permanent as
the snow-capped and rock-ribbed
mountains that surround this beautiful
valley. sSsT NJ yffs1 40 7
The surplus water will be held back
during the freshets. When the dry
season comes and the grain is just
filling out; when the water gives out in
the river and the farmer sees every
head Of grain shrinking and swiveling
for want of moisture; in the meadows
here and there he can count the tons
of hay he is losing because there is not
enough water to mature the crop; his
pastures are drying up and his stock
suffering for feed-then is the time
that the reservoirs will be thrown oper
and the life-glving fluid will be poured
out upon field and meadow, adding tons
upon tons Of grain to the harvest
fairly swelling the alfalfa stacks anc
IL. l. Il