Churchill standard. (Fallon, Nev) 1903-1908, 1905-12-30
LAND
Facts Regarding Carson Sink
Prepared by Reclamation
Service
Few Localities Favored to as
Large a Degree


from four to six inches. Were it not
not for the mountain streams flowing
from the eastern slope of the high
Sierra Nevada Range, it would be one
vast desert. Fortunately nature has
provided an abundance of water for
irrigation of this desert it being the
part OF man to carry this water to the
dry and thirsty lands.
The thrifty inhabitants of the country
along Carson river, have for many years
irrigated such portions of the adjacent
lands as could be easily and economical
ly reached from private bitches, and
the income from lands thus irrigated
has been large in proportion to the
investments.
The drainage from the Sierras west
of Churchill county, is through the
Carson river. The bulk of the water
escaping during food seasons usually in
the spring and early summer, and a
large portion finding its way in
to inland lakes and sinks where it
evaporates under the influence of con-
stant sunshine.
To control this flood water, and save
it for use in irrigating the lands within
its reach, and to carry it to those lands
is the purpose of the Truckee-Carson
project, in Nevada, under the National
Reclamation act, and number OF
large reservoirs have been located for
the purpose of storing the water for
such use. Several of the large noun
tain lakes within this drainage basin
afford natural reservoirs, and to con-
meet the waters of the two rivers,
main canal 81 miles in length has
been constructed.
The waters of Truckee and Carson
rivers, thus united flow easterly some
; four or five miles to a diversion reser-
volr and dam, from which two large
main distributing canals carry them
out over the lands of Carson Sink
Valley, and other lateral canals in
turn distribute these waters over
wide area of territory. Altogether it
is estimated that about 100000 acres OF
productive irrigable lands can be re-
claimed from the canal system OF the
government in Carson Sink Valley.
Other canal lines, will bring under ir-
rigation perhaps as much more land,
but the purpose of this article is to
describe tthe distributing system in
Carson Sink Valley.
The elevation of this valley is about
5000 to 1000 feet above sea level. The
rule is constant sunshine, the exception
cloudy day, and 365 days of constant
sunshine have been known. In summer
the maximum temperature is about 100,
during the hottest days, the average
maximum heat being about 80 above
zero. The nights are always cool and
pleasant. Sultry weather is unknown
here. There is no sun stroke. In win
ter the thermometer ranges from fifty
to sixty degrees above zero in the day
time, of the average weather. The
average winter temperatures are around
from 20 to 40 degrees above zero at
night, and considerably higher in the
daytime. 1t is an ideal winter climate.
In this climate lung and throat troubles
disappear within few months.
Within this county there are num-
Der of excellent public schools, and re-
Gently it has been decided at an election
to build county high school, which
Will be located at Fallon, the county
seat, which is in the geographical CEN
ter of the irrigation belt in this valley.
Fallon is thrifty town rapidly build
ing up. 1t has a number of substan-
4 tial brick, stone and cement business
and other buildings, churches, schools
electric lights, a water system, and Is
soon to have railroad, for the $. p.
Co., has recently located line from
Hazen to fallon, and has acquired the
right of way between these towns and
terminal facilities in Fallon.
The principal crop heretofore in this
valley has been alfalfa, although wheat,
oats, and barley OF excellent quality has
been raised on irrigated lands, and the
Weld has indicated that these will be
very profitable crops. Pears, prunes,
p,ums, apples, and the harder fruits
Weld abundant returns, and berries,
melons, pumpkins, potatoes, cabbages,
eauliaower, beets, turnips and all gar
den vegetables give abundant crops
under irrigation.
Under the Reclamation Act, the
the lands to be reclaimed will belong to
those who actually reclaim them. The