Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1902-08-15

80
the subject that interests every resident
OF Nevada. Mr.. Newell tnlks straigh
from the shoulder and gives some tips
that the people OF Nevada will be wise
to follow:
III the peo.' lo are to profit by the new
irrigation law, they mnsi get together
and demonstrate to the satisfaction Of
the Interior Department that they mean
business"
MIR. Newell was asked where the gov
eminent would begin the work Of con.
structiug reservoirs, what money the
department had to begin with, and what
would be the proper course for II
community To pursue III order to get
government aid for irrigation.
"There is now between $1,000. O0) and
s6.0OO,OI0 in the treasury available Tor
the prosecution Of he work under the
irrigation law was the reply. "Of
course. You understand that this work
ot reclHiming the arid lands of the West
Is to be self SUSTAINING. by that | mean
that the money that is expended IN the
construction 0f reservoirs and the open
ing up to settlement OF what is now arid
land ia to be returned to the trearury
from the sale OF the government lands
tn settlers. The has ic idea of the law IL
thnt by the conservation Of the waters OF
the streams and rivers that now 90 to
waste large areas Of fertile lands M
be reclaimed; these lands with the per
petual water right are 10 be sold to set.
tiers, not more than lG0 acres 10 any
ouc man; and in this way it is expected
Ia get funds to carry on the work in
detinitely.
".As 10 when and where the WORK OF
constructing rrsei voirs will begin. that
is Il matter hat rests with The people
themselves. And this is Il point TINT |
wish to impress upon the minds of the
people with all the force at my COM.
mnnd. The people who have conflicting
rights in any stream Oh body OF water,
must get together; they must compro-
misetheir differences and be ready to
place the whole matter in the hands Of the
general government. or we will be able
To do nothing. What | mean by this is:
Say Il number Of people have settled
along a certain stream and acquired
rights i'll the waters Of the stream.
Our engineers conclude that by con.
structing Il reservoir and taking tue
waters of the stream, a very much
larger field can be opened up and put
under irrigation, and that this eau be
done without deprivIng any of the orig
InHl owners OF any OF the water; and,
i'll fact, they have more water after the
reservoir is built. In such Il case as
this these people must form some sort
Of organization and relinqu-,h their
rights to the government. II they re-.
fuse to do this We can do nothing
-But suppose the people refuse to re.
linQuish their rights and form such an
nrganizatioD?'
Then nothing will lie done. The gov
ernment is III no hurry. IL will not
force this matter upon tho people
against their will. 1t will simply wait till
they are ready to accept assistance; It
may be ten years and it ma he iweniy.
but Uncle Sam viii wait until tho poop.
10 are ready. This will determine
whore the first work will he donn. Tho
government doesn't care whether it is in
Utah, Nevada or some other State. The
work will be done first whore the poop.
10 are ready for it and where the ont.
look is TOR the best returns. BY that |
mean where the expenditure OF the least
amount will result IN the reclamation OF
the largest mount.
This il a business proposition, pure
and simple" MIR. Newell said,
to- his subject. The widc-awako bust.
ness man knows that il the country
abou, him 10 settled up with prosperous
farmers his trade will DO better than il
no is surrounded 10y an arid waste. The
commercial clubs, the progressive bust.
ness men, the citizens who are Interested
in the welfare Of their State, should take
hold Of the matter in broad aud com.
prehensive spirit, and only III the way
will good results be- secured.
"iou ask me how the people Of my
given locality should proceed To get
government aid Tor irrigation. First,
they must get together and adjust their
differences. Tho government will do
mono Of this for them. Uncle Sam will
settle 10 lawsuits, and he will not get
into litigation tU build u reservoir for
Anybody. When the people Of any com.
munity have a definite proposition 10
submit, they will find the department
ready to listen. Tho proposition will
then be investigated by the government
engineers in the field and Il export and
recommendations sent TO the Secretary OF
the Interior through Charles 4. Wolcott,
Director Of the Geological Survey. A
report will also be submitted by an
independent engineer Of high standing.
The proposition will then be passed up.
ou 10y the department. and il il meets
with official approval funds will be M.
propriatcd and the work needed will be
DONE