The Courier. (Genoa, Nev.) 1899-1904, 1901-09-27
HOW NEYADA,s DESERTS MAY
BE MADE GREEN.
Senator Pettigrew Endorses Nswlands
Plaps for the Reclamation OF the
Great Arid West.


kota. Senator Pettigrew is repre-.
sentative Western man and has made
in the Senate record for ability, cour-
age and ggresslveness equaled by few.
Toe Senator was here looking at min
ing properties:
"Reno and its vicinity show in re-
markable degree the result of irriga-
ton What must have originally been
an arid sagebrush plain has resolved
itself into a magnificent and fertile
valley, productive of wealth, support
ing large and comfortable population
and making of itself the site of the
metropolis of the Great Basin, city
for which presage splendid future.
"What has been done here can be
accomplished throughout the arid west.
A lesson is to be learned from the agri-
culturists of the Truckee Meadows and
it is but fitting that n resident of your
valley should take the initiative in ma
tional legislative halls in bringing the
government to see the advantages that
would ensue from legislation favoring
water storage and irrigation.
1.-THE largest landed proprietor in
the arid and semi-arid States is the
United States Government, which owns
not only the land, but the water,
therefore the Federal Government
should take the initiative with the dis
position of the land and water under
its control.
81 think it has been demonstrated by
actual investigation that at least 100,-
100000 acres that are now desert can
be properly and economically changed
to productive soil by using the avail
able water within these States.
1.-THE reclamation of this vast area
would furnish homes for at least 25,-
100000 of people.
''rhis population would consume
more of the American products and
furnish greater market for our manu-
facturers than all the Orient.
''To bring this about is more impor--
tant than any other question that now
confronts the government. so far as its
economic interests are concerned.
"a bare statement of these facts is
sufficient before we seek assistance
from foreign outlets in distant lands
for our productions. We should de-
velop this resource at home.
sit is my opinion that Congress is
about ready to commence this work
and that legislation can be secured
within the next two years which will
furnish many millions of dollars for
construction of storage reservoirs, irri-
CATION bitches and development of ir-
rigation projects.
"Many plans have been suggested,
but the one that is most liable to re-
ceive immediate and favorable con-
sideration is the plan presented by Mr..
Newlands to devote the proceeds of
the sale of public lands to this purpose.
Last winter much progress was made.
Congressman Newlands called
meeting at his house of Senators and
Congressman from the arid and semi
arid States, and after a full and free
discussion of the whole question, Mr..
Newlands' plan was endorsed. 1t was
unanimously agreed that an effort
should be made to prepare and present
an amendment to the sundry civil SER
vice appropriation bill to appropriate
gross proceeds of the sale of public
lands.
Congressman Newlands was made
chairman of "a committee to prepare
the necessary bills and amendments.
"He prepared and introduced a bill
for this purpose and also appeared be-
fore the Senate Committee on Public
Lands and urged favorable action,
which was secured by unanimous vote
of the committee. A report was made
on the bill and it was reported that the
amendment be placed upon the sundry
civil appropriation bill.
''The bill and amendment were also
reported favorably by the Committee
on Public Lands in the House and also
by the Committee on Irrigation of Arid
Lands.
"Mr. Newlands was the life of the
whole movement in both houses upon
the subject and there is no question
but that success can be obtained if the
advantage is followed up.
''The advantage to Nevada is as
great if not greater than to any other
State in the Union, in that it will Sc
cure an increase in population and
wealth many fold.
During the flood season in the
spring the mountain streams of Ne
vada lose more wator than enough to
reclaim an area many times greater
than what is now irrigated during the
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