Churchill standard. (Fallon, Nev) 1903-1908, 1906-02-24
THE CARSON SINK PROJECT,
A Column Of Information of Interest TO the Home
seeker. Facts Furnished by Reclamation
Department Officials.

the American continent. The annual precipitation is from tour
to six inches. We're 1t not tor the 4nountaln streams flowing
rom the eastern slope OF the hgn Sierra Nevada Range, II
would be one vast desert. Fortunately nature has PROVIDED an
abundance OF water tor irrigation OF this desert, IL being the
part OF man to carry this water to the dry and thirsty lands.
The thrifty inhabitants IL the country along Carson river
nave o many years irrigated such portions OF II adjacent lands
as could be easily and economically reached from private bitches,
and the income from lands thus irrigated has been large in pro
portion to the investments.
The drainage from the Serras west of Churchill county, is
summer and - large nortion fndina its wny ;nrto inland n 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 its reach, and TO carry 1t to those lands Is the
purpose OF the Truckee-Carson PROJECT, in Nevada, under the
National Reclamation Act, and Il number OF large reservoirs have
been located tor the purpose OF storing tire water tor 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
easterly some four or five miles to a diversion reservoir and dam,
from which two large main distributing canals carry them out
over thu. lands of Carson Sink Valley, and other lateral canals in
r or I her 1T is !, estimated that about GOO 600 acres Of nrodnc,ive
lrrlgabe lands can be reclaimed from the canal system of the
government III 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 i'll Carson
sink Valley.
The elevation of this valley is zbout 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 100, during the
hottest days, the average maximum heat being about 50 above
zero. The nights are always 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 i'll the day
'd.raHiv h,ahnrI IN the davtime II Is . n IDEAL Winter Climate
In this climate lung and throat troubles disappear within a few
months.
Within this county there Ire a number of excellent public
schools, and recently It has been decided at an election to bullc
a county high school, which will be located at Fulon, the count
seat, which Is Ill the geographical center OF the irrigation belt II
this valley. Fallon is a thrifty town rapidly building up. 1t has
a number of substantial brick, stone and cement business mC
other buildings, churches, schools electric lights, a water system
and is soon to have a railroad, tor the ). +. Company has recently
located a line from Hazen to Fahon, and has acquired the right o
way between these towns and terminal facilities in FalIon.
The principal crop, heretofore III the valley has been alfalfa
although wheat, oats, and barley OF excellent quality has beer
[ sMS "a. Oh narv HT "a IM' rro "' Pears, pruncs, " nInms ap ols ="
h harder rultS Weld abundant returns, and berries. melons
pumpkins, potatoes, cabbage, caulaower, beets, turnips and al
parden vegetables give abundant crops under irrigation.
Under the Reclamation Act, the lands to be reclaimed viii
belong to those who actually reclaim them. The intent of The
those who reclaim them. To this end the only means OF oh
homestead laws of the United States, which require actual con
tinuous residence thereon, and improvement and cultivation o
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 it,
Jet 90 PEI h "vt tera nsron men December 1st' of the yea,
in which water is first delivered to the consumer i'll April of tina
year. Title the public lands is not gwen until all water right
divided into farm units of 40, 80, 100, and 100 acres each, eacI
tract having been first examined by soil experts, and It's surface
been to make each farm unit capable OF sustaining III eomtor
'N Land entries r made in the United States land office il
Carson, Nevada, and at Fahon, Nevada, before the United State;
Commissioners. The railroad station nearest the Lands beng
brought under irrigation Is Hazen, Nevada, on the main line o
the Central Pacific railroad, about fifty miles east OF Reno.
reaches the major portion OF tie homes in the valley. 1t is con
nected by rail and telegraph with the rest OF t, the wofld, ana S"r
tons of the valley the day after issue. -
During the work of construction oil the canal system III tins
valley the government and its contractors have employed large
numbers of men and this work Is still IN progress. The wages
Maid are equal to the standard OF American wages, elsewhere
uniformly good. The headquarters OF the government reclama
tion force is at Hazen, Nevada. This project is under the charge
Of Mr.. /. H. Taylor, supervising engineer. in the Outed States
Geological Survey, to whom al inquiries tor information shouIo
be addressed. ,-,,
The Churchill Standard, and the good citizens oil Churchill
county will welcome all intelligent, worthy and thrifty home
seekers. who have the courage and ambition to become 1ndepend
ent landed propretors under the benncent influences OF the
Reclamation Act.