Wadsworth semi-weekly dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1899-1904, 1901-12-03
MR.. NEWLANDS
THE FAKIR.
He Wants 500, 900 More From
the Farmer Than the Gov
ernmeRt Would Pay Him


obtain the irrigation Of vast tracts OF
fertile lauds in the arid States, is too
important to be used for mere personal
ACKNOWLEDGMENT by any man. 1t is too
near the hearts and purses of the peo-
pie for any mar to enact a spectacular
comedy on its lines, yet that is just
what Nevada's congressman, F. G..
Newlands, is doing. There are a few
matters in this connection that do not
seem to be we'll known IN Nevada,
thanks to the Newlands press bureau
which would lead Us to believe that
their hero is a second Moses to lead
us through the wilderness. says the
Carson News.
In the first place Mr.. Newlands had
little if anything to do with the irriga-
ton bill. The irrigation organization
was at Washington and formulating
plans for government aid. Mr.. New
lands rushed from one to the other and
begged to be allowed to introduce the
bill. He was finally permitted to in
troduce a bill made up by those inter-
ested, although there vas some oppo-
sition to him for the very logical reason
that he wa the sole representative Of
OF his party in either House Of Con-
gress. On the other hand this very
thing probably brought about the re-
quired permission. For 1t was also
reasoned that Mr.. Newlands being
alone in political standing, the irriga-
ton measure ought not to be considered
a political measure and would arouse
but little political opposition from either
the Republicans or Democrats. Thus
it was merely force Of circumstances
that connected his name with the bill
at all.
The Lower House, Of which Mr..
Ncwlands is a member, passed a bill
appropliating $780, 900 for preliminary
surveys in Nevada and other States.
The Senate amended by making the
appropriation $1,000 or twice the
amount suggested by the lower House.
The matter went into conference, and
here was MIR. Newland's chance to
put in a genuine stroke for irrigation.
But he did not turn his hand wei to
secure the increased appropriation and
with this passiveness on the part Of the
self-styled champion of irrigation, the
original amount was finally appropri-
ated.
Then again when the appropriation
had been made. Neva ians would just
ly have expected the Irrigation Cham
pion'' to strive to secure as liberal a
proportion as possible for the State that
sent him to Congress. But he did
not exert himself in the slightest ex-
tent and Nevada would have Jared very
poorly indeed had it not been for the
hard work done by plain residents Of
this community, who are striving for
results and not political advertisement.
Some years ago MI. Newlands pur-
chased with other property Bonner
Lake and q portion Of the land there
about, with water rights. with the
probable purpose of a reservoir site.
Mr.. Newlands paid about $4,000 for
MS interests there. Unquestionably he
mas paid too much. The Government
Engineers appraised the holdings about
Donner Lake at $4,000 only. and
thiS includes several that Mr.. Newlands
ooeS mol own. Our Congressman does
not propose to cone out behind the
deal, for he only asks the farmers of
the Keno valley TO pay him about
$4,000 for his share Of the Don
ner property, or SIS. 900 more than all
the property there is worth. Some
people have been 50 unkind as to say