Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1904-06-10

among thOs" present whuparticipnt-
rd IN the discussion following thcah-
dress.
Following the meeting of the Acn-
denny Of Sciences. Professor Elizabeth
Weir. chairman Of the committee ON
organization of the Nevada Ilisturi-
chl Society, gave Il very interesting
and encouraging report of the work
If the committee. Over sixty MEM
hcrS had already pledged themselves
to membership in the provisional or
ganiZatiOn.
Following is Mr.. Chambers adj
dress:
IItIIGATiON DEVELOPMENT s. Ne
NADA.
Science Is the Investigation oftruth
for its wi sake. The pure scientist
labOrS aud searches in field ami lab
OrltOry ami study in the hope Of cN-
tending his knowledge of facts. An
Piled science %riZrS these truths and
u|CS them To the advantage of the
material world. In II way the an.
piled scientist j. in constant oppuSi-
ttOn To- Nature. and this is especially
irur Of the Hydraulic engineer. To
him Natur" presents II character
which in its wantun CapriCiOusnr<S
i certain proof Of her icmininitv.
Sh" ScowlS and fruwnS AMI cries
over lis when We would rather enjoy
u merry burst Of sunshine and Us
wi!fully muckS H. with warm smiles
when W" had hoped for tears. Ii Is
In the correction Of this dire way
wnrdn">a that the engineer uses his
applied science to assist in the bet
i"rmcnI Of conditions surrounding
human life. II il therefore prOpcr
that the Academy Of ScicnCc should
he Interested in hydraulics. and Ow-
ihg To our Immediate environment
that branch al hydraulics called Irri-
%atiDn brCOImS Of paramount I'M
pOrtanCc.
In the early iifticS the gold excite
mcnt III California induced thousands
al treasure X IO cross the al
most unknown wastes al what j.
now NrvIHH. The great overland
trails camr into existence aud where
they met nud followed the natural
water ways trading posts We're cs.
tnblishcd. The posts on III" muun-
tain streams OH the eastern SLOPES Of
the Si"rraS were especially prosper
Gus. The creeks were easily diverted
To Hood the adjoining land. and veg
"tahlr~. huy and grain brought such
fabulous prices hat man turned
their atl"dtiun to Turning.
~ the mountain streams Owingto
their heavy grades could hr far more
easily diverted than the main rivers,
their waters were first appropriated.
Then rude AMI Inexpensive bitches
were constructed To convey water
from the river. to the lauds-each
plpn nNuiu,T IiL avn liinh A.
Gnrms multiplied. two or more OWL
crS combined AMI built u single ditch
to supply their needs, and thus the
sO-calird company ilitchS came into
being. Latter mines were discovered
in all sections OF the state and the
watrrctI valleys in their vicinity were
uuiCkly tnicn up tO meet the wants
OF the pupulOuS CunlpS. AND In the
valleys uIar off from the mines. the
catticmuu saw his opportunity. lie
gained control nj the riparian lands
and there raised hay for winter feed
Ing. When the luck uf the mining
man turned ana his camps were de
serted the nri%hbOring farmer lost
his ready market and he too found
his salvation in stock raising. SO
today. the great crop of Nevada Is
hay and nlfnlfn-thc forage plants.
TlIrrc has been but little develop
mcnt In ditch building. We have an
almost hrlplcssly large number of
small private and company bitches.
4 few OF the larger bitches have been
incorporated. but cvr they urc al
most insignificant when compared
with the magnitude Of irrigation
works in some Of our ncighbOring
states.
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