Churchill standard. (Fallon, Nev) 1903-1908, 1906-02-10
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 horizons O
The American continent. The annual precipitation is from toul
rom the eastern slope OF the hgh Sierra Nevada Range, II
would be one vast desert. Fortunately nature has provided an
abundance OF Water TOR irrigation of this desert, it being the
part OF man to carry this water to The dry and thirsty lands.
e thrifty inhabitants OF the country along Carson river
w lT many years irrigated such portions of the adjacent lands
as could be easily and economically reached from private bitches
ana tMe income from lands thus irrigated has been large in pro-
The drainage from the Sierras west of Churchill county, is
through the Iruekee and Carson rivers, the bulk of the water
escaping during. Hood seasons usually in the spring and early
summer, and Il large portion finding its way into inland lakes
sunshine.
To control this flood water, and save it for use in irrigatine
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 a number of large reservoirs have
been located for the purpose of storing the water for such use
several OF the large mountain lakes within this drainage basin
afford natural reservoirs, and to connect the waters of the two
rivers, a main canal 81 miles in length has been constructed.
The waters OF Iruckee 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 the lands of Carson Sink Valley, and other lateral canals in
turn distribute these waters over a wide area OF territory. AL
together t is estimated that about 100000 acres of productive
rrlgable 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
Sink Valley.
The elevation of this valley is about 5000 to 1000 feet above
sea level. The rule els constant sunshine, the exception a cloudy
day, and 800 days OF constant sunshine have been known. In
summer the maximum temperature is about LOO, during the
: nnlknoIyn 3e.e There is n q snnsfrokr In winter the thar
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
,lderablv higher IN the DAYTIME. 1t Is an ideal winter climate
In TINS Climate lung and throat troubles disappear within a few
months.
Within this county there are a number of excellent public
schools, and recently II has been decided at an election to bulld
Il county high school, winch Will be located at Fallon' the county
seat, winch Is III the geographical center OF the irrigation belt III
this valley. 'Falon Is a thrifty town RAPIDLY building up. 1t has
a number OF substantial prltk, stone ana cement business and
other buildings, churches, schools. electric lights, a water system,
and Is soon to nave a railroad, for the >. +. Company has recently
located a line from hazen TO faloh' ana mas acquired the right OF
way between these towns and criminal facilities IN Falon.
fe principal crop, heretofore III the valley has been alfalfa
although wheat, oats, and barley OF excellent quality has been
raised ON irrigated lands, and tins yield has Indicated that these
the harder fruits yield abundant returns and berries, melons,
pumpkins, potatoes, cabbage eanl1fower, beets' tnrnlps and all
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 in 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 OF. the United States, which require actual con
tinuous residence thereon, and improvement and cultivation OF
the land tor five years. Residence must De 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 irrigauionlsts under this pro
ieet $40 per acre Of irrigable land, payable IN ten annual install
ments, without interest commencing December LIST, of the yea
in which water is first delivered to the consumer n April OF that
year. Title the public lands is not given until all water rights
divided into farm units of 40, so. 100, and 100 acres each, each
tract having been first examined by soil experts and Its surface
surveyed to determine it's irrigabillty. The prevailing idea has
been to make each farm unit capable OF sustaining IN comfort
oe and entries are made in the United States land office in
Carson. Nevada. and at Fallon, Nevada, before the United States
= Commissioner. Tie railroad station nearest the lands being
,he Central Pacific railroad, about fifty miles east OF Reno.
The county owns and operates a tree telephone system winch
reaches the major portion OF the homes in the valley. 1t is CON
nected hv rail and telegraph with the rest of the world, and San
Francisco and Salt Lake daily papers reach the most remote por-
t;ons of the valley the day after issue.
During the work of construction OF the canal system IN this
valley the government and its contractors have employed large
numbers OF men and this work is still in progress. The wages
oaid arr equal t. the standard of American wages, elsewhere
uniformly good, The headquarters OF the government reciana-
ton force is at Hazen, Nevada This project is under the charge
of Mr. /. II. TAYLOR, supervising engineer. in the uuted States
Geological Survey, to whom all inquiries for information should
be addressed.
The Churchill Standard, and the good citizens of ChW chill
county will welcome all intelligent, worthy and thrifty home
seekers. who have the courage and ambition to become iIdepend
emf landed proprietors under the benifcent infuenc es of tn
Reclamation Act.