Churchill standard. (Fallon, Nev) 1903-1908, 1906-01-13
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 fou
10 SIX inches. We're It not Tor the mountain streams flown.
rom IN eastern slope OF the hlsn SIERRA Nevada Range, l
would be one Vast desert. Fortunately nature has PROVIDED al
abundance OF Water tor irrigation OF TINS desert, il beng th
part OF man to carry this Water to the dry and thirsty lands.
The thrifty inhabitants OF the country along Carson river
nave o many years irrigated such PORTIONS OF the adjacent lands
DIS could be easily and economically reached from private bitches
and the income from lands thus irrigated has been large i'll pro
portion To the investments.
The drainage from the Sierras west of Churchill county, is
escaping during flood seasons usually III the spring and earl,
summer, and a large portion hnd1ng 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 irrieatine
thelands within Its reach, and to carry It to those lands is th
purpose OF the TruckeeCarson PROJECT, in Nevada, under tm
Nalonal 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 basir
afford natural reservoirs, and to connect the waters OF the tive
rivers, a main canal 81 miles III length has been constructed,
The waters OF Truckee and Carson rivers thus united flow
easleriy some tour o + i've miles to a diversion reservoir and dam
from winch two large man distributing canals carry them out
over the lands ofCarson Sink Valley, and other lateral canals in
urn distribute these waters over Il VIDE area OF territory. Al
together 1t is estimated that about 100000 acres OF productive
government III Carson Sink Valley. Other canal lines will bring
under irrigation perhaps as much or more land, but the purpose
Sink Valley.
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 100, during the
hottest days, the average maximum heat beng about 50 above
zero. The nights are always cool and pleasant. >ultry weather
IS unknown here. There is no sunslroke. In winter the ther
mometer ranges from fifty to sixty degrees above zero i'll the day
time, OF the average weather. The average winter temperatures
are around from 20 to 40 degrees above zero at night, and con
sderably higher III the daytime. 1t IS an ideal winter climate
In ms climate lung and throat troubles disappear within a few
Within this county there are a number of excellent publ,
schools, and recently II has been decided at an election TO bulC
d county high school, VINCE Will be located at Fallon, the county
seat, winch IS III the geographical center OF the irrigation belt IL
chs valley. Fanon Is a thrifty town RAPIDLY building up. 1t has
a number of suDstanual brick, Stone and cement BUSINESS anc
other buildings, churches, schools, electric lights, a water system
ioe' ,t ai :" n t1la Towns and terminal farInt1el n Eallon gu
Tne principal crop, heretofore III the valley has been alfalfa
although wheat, oats, and barley OF excellent quality has beer
raised on irrigated lands, and TINS yield has Indicated that these
will he yer lrOntaDle TOPS. Pears, pTuneS, plumS, apples, ant
che harder fruits yield abundant returns, and berries, melons
pumpkins, potatoes, cabbage, caullaower, beets, turnips and al
garden vegetables give abundant crops under irrigation.
Under the Reclamation Act, the lands to be reclaimed vii
belong to those who actually reclaim them, The intent OF Tho
law is that the lands reclaimed shall be hello III ownership o
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
unuous 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 for irrigation through it
canals, and this water will cost the irrigahonlsts under this pro
iet S26 per acre OF irrigable land, payable IN ten annual install
in which water is first delivered to the consumer III April OF that
year. Title the public lands is not given until all water right
divided into farm units of 40. so, 100, and 100 acres each, eacl
tract having been first examined by soil experts, and its surface
surveyed to determine it's irrigabilty. The prevailing idea hM
been to make each farm unit capable OF sustaining III conlfor'
'N Land entries are made in the United States land office il
Carson. Nevada, and at Fahon, Nevada, before the United State
Commissioned. Tie railroad station nearest the lands beng
brought under irrigation Is Hazen, Nevada, on the main line Q
the Central Pacific railroad, about fifty miles east OF Reno. -,
The county owns and operates a Tree telephone system Whicf
reaches the major portion OF tie homes IN the valley 1t Is con
nected by rail and telegraph with the resi- OF lie World, ana ID
Erorcisco and Salt Lake daily papers reach the most remote por
tions of the valley the day after issue. -.
During the work of construction OF the canal system IN tins
valley the government and its contractors have employed large
numbers OF men and this work IS stu III progress III WAYS;
na;d are equal t., the standard OF American wages, elsewhere
uniformly good The headquarters OF the government Iee,ahna
ton force is at Hazen, Nevada. Tins PROJECT It IS , hn' T,ta Il S Sfate.
of Mr. /. II. TAYLOR, supervising engineer. IN IN Ou'eu 9la'FS
Geological Survey, to whom all inquiries for information shouI'
be addressed. . o.iuae ~ Churchill
county will welcome all intelligent, worthy and Thrifty nome
seeL.ers who nave the courage and ambition to become lndeIen'd
~ landed proprietors under the beniticent influences OF tn
Reclamation Act.