Churchill standard. (Fallon, Nev) 1903-1908, 1906-01-20
THE CARSON SINK PROJECT
A Column Of Information of Interest to the Home
seeker. Facts Furnished by Reclamation
Department Officials.

department officials.
Churchill County, Nevada, is one of the driest portions of
the A merean continent. The annual precipitation is from tour
to SIX inches. Were It not tor the mountain streams flowing
from the eastern slope OF the hIgn SIERRA Nevada Range, 1t
would be one vast desert. Fortunately nature has provided an
abundance OF water Tor irrigation OF this desert, 1t being the
part Gilman to carry this water to the dry and thirsty lands.
The thrifty inhabitants OF the country along Carson river,
as could be easily and economically reached from private bitches,
and the income from lands thus irrigated has been large in pro-
The drainage from the Serras west of Churchill county, is
escaping during flood seasons usually IN the spring and early
and d large portion finding its way into inland lakes
and sinks where 1t evaporates under the influence OF constant
sunshine.
To control this flood water, and save it for use in irrigating
thelands within It's reach, and to carry it to those lands is the
purpose OF the Truckee-Carson project, in Nevada, under the
National Reclamation Act, and a number OF large reservoirs have
been located Tor the purpose of storing the water for such use.
several OF the large mountain lakes within tins drainage basin
afford natural reservoirs, and to connect the waters of the two
rivers, a main canal 81 miles i'll length has been constructed.
The waters OF Truckee and Carson rivers thus united flow
eastefF some four or he miles to a diversion reservoir and DAM
from which two large main distributing canals carry them out
turn distribute these waters over a wide area of territory. AL
together 1t is estimated that about 100000 acres of productive
irr1gabe lands can be reclaimed from the canal system of the
government IN Carson Sink Valley. Other canal lines will bring
under irrigation perhaps as much or more land, but the purpose
OF this article is to describe the distributing system in Carson
The elevation of this valley is about 5000 to 1000 feet above
sea Level. The rule is constant sunshine, the exception a cloudy
day, and 800 days OF constant sunshine have been known. In
summer the maximum temperature Is ABOUT w. during the
hottest days, the average maximum heat being about 80 above
zero. The nights are alwaysc cool and pleasant. Sultry weather
IS unknown here. There is no sunstroke. In winter the Their
mometer ranges from fifty TO sixty degrees above zero Ill the day
llInt, OF luG average NSdlhSl l III dNSldSS Nhol NI"ESl lul
are around from 20 to 40 degrees above zero at night, and con-
slderabN higher IN the daytime. 1t is an ideal winter climate
In this climate lung and throat troubles disappear within a few
months.
schools, and recently 1t has been decided at an election to build
a county high school, wmcE Will be located at Fallon, the county
seat, winch IS III the geographical center OF the irrigation belt IN
tins valley. Fallon Is a thrifty town rapidly building up. 1t has
a number ofsuDstantlal brick, stone and cement business and
other buildings, churches, schools. electric lights, a water system,
and1s soon to nave It railroad, tor the 5. +. Company has recently
located a line from hazen to FaIon, and has acquired the right OF
way between these towns and terminal facilities IN FaIon'
Inc principal crop, heretofore III the valley has been alfalfa
although wheat, oats, and barley OF excellent quahty has been
raised Oh irrigated lands, and tins yield has Indicated that these
vii be very prontabe crops. Pears, prunes, pIums, apples, and
pumpkins, potatoes, cabbage, cauhaower, beets, turnips and all
garden vegetables give abundant crops under irrigation: 80
Under the Reclamation Act, the lands to be reclaimed will
belong to those who actually reclaim them; The intent OF the
law is that the lands reclaimed shall be held III ownership OF
those who reclaim them. To this end the only means OF OBJ
tanning any lands under government irrigation is through the
Homestead laws ofthe United States, which require actual con,
tinuous residence thereon, and improvement and cultivation OF
the land tor five years Residence must be established on the
land within six months from date OF entry.
The government furnishes water tor irrigation through ITS
canals. and this water will cost the irrigationhts under tins pro
ject S26 per acre OF lrrigaole lanl, paIap na, III =" 1t n ~ tbe vea
ments, without interest commencing December ISL Oh ne yea
year. Title the public lands is not gwen until All water rlents
have been paid in full. The i la I'd to o be a ,rG'g iGe an nave e ee6n e s"J,
tract having been first examined by soil 4kp and G;nn ITS ;d snrf hs
survey we'd to determine its irrigahllity, The preValing iuea mas
been to make each farm unit capable of sustaining IN comfort
Land entries are made in the United States land ohee IN
Carson, Nevada, and at talon, Nevada, before the United States
Commissioner. The railroad station nsaf res I'll ne n ,anu' line w"" Of
The Central Pacific railroad, about fifty miles east OF Keno. -,
The county owns ana operates Il He lSNphohe -"
reaches the major portion OF the homes in the valley. 1t Is con
nected by rail and telegraph with the rest OF the world, ana san
Francisco and Salt Lake daily papers reach he most emo Pol-
tons ofthc valley the day after issue. .Es
10 n,rna the work of construction of the canal system IN this
galley the Government and its contractors have employed large
Va'eN 'P .a ~ ,ro,k !. still in progress. The wages
na;d are equal t., the standard OF American wages @lsewnel
uniformly good The headquarters OF the government ree,ama-
t;mn G,re is at Hazen. Nevada. This project is under the charge
of Mr. l. H TAYLOR, supervising engineer, in the Uu.'ed STATES
Geological Survey, to whom all inquiries tor information Jul
be addressed. u, on.;u, of Churchill
county will welcome all intelligent worthy ana tnnhtS a n"md
so oS who have the courage and ambition to become ndepenIu-
et landed proprietors under the benihcent influences OF he
Reclamation Act.