Churchill standard. (Fallon, Nev) 1903-1908, 1906-02-17

An Interesting Article From
The Pen Of Thomas H.
Means, Soil Expert.
Table Showing Comparative Yearly
Flows of Truckee and Carson.

about concerning the changes which
have been made in the channels of
Carson river. a man who is not well
acquainted with the science of hydrau-
lies can have little conception of the
relative carrying capacity of two chan
nels Slight variation in grade or fall
OF the channel make a great difference
in the amount of water which can be
carried and for this reason many think
that Old Carson too small.
The Old Carson river channel is de-
signed To carry all the water which
comes down the river from the canvon
above the Carson dam. South Fork and
New River channels have been cut off and
all water which comes down must pass
on toward the sink by way of the Old
River. This channel has been in part
corrected by cuts and fells making a
straight course for the water with a
capacity of 5000 cubic feet per second
This Is in excess of tire greatest food
which has ever occurred SO far as is
known. The best records we have
show the river to have carried more
water in May 1890 than in any other
month. What the maximum flood
was that month there is no telling but
certainly there is no reason to suppose
it was in excess of 5000 cubic feet per
second for a stream like the Carson is
not subject to sudden and violent
floods. The capacity OF the two canals
taking out at the Carson dam is 2l5O
cubic feet per second, an amount be-
lieyel to be in excess OF the carving
capacity OF both South Fork and New
River combined. Many local Citizens
will laugh at this statement but en-
gineering data carefully collected is
much more likely to be true than the
mere guess OF the best guesser among
the ranchmen and in the absence of
more certain figures | am much in
clined to take the engineers figures. If
a flood occurs this spring we have the
old channel well able to carry 5000
cubic feet per second and the two canals
which can carry 2l50 cubic feet per
second, making total capacity of 1850
cubic feet per second. This is nearly
equal to the highest recorded flood down
the Truckee and everyone knows the
Truckee is a bigger river than the Car
son.
1t certainly seems that the fears of
the few is not likely to be realized
There is every reason TO expect big
flood this year but no reason for ex-
pecting such floods as occurred in 1890
and 1904. If floods no larger than these
occur few people in town will not know
OF the occurrences unless they visit the
river bank.
WATER TURNED on.
Water was turned down the main V
line canal on the south side of the Car
son River Monday afternoon. On
Thursday evening it was flowing down
the "S' line north OF Fallon
and small amount going down
the l. line south of town. Enough
water was being sent down the south
fork to irrigate 1900 acres OF land if
properly Aandled and as there are less
than that amount OF irrigated land
along the old bitches taking water from
South Fork, the ranchers down that
way can soon have water for irrigation
and water to spare. The box at South
Fork can supply water for over 10000
acres of land ii necessary.
Water for Saltwater will go into the
New River through four lateral canals
and into the saltwater slough through
the fall at the end of the / line. This
fall will be completed Tuesday and
water will be in the slough at Still
water in short time.
For the first time since its compile
tion good stream of water is going
over the 26-foot fall at the power house,
seven miles west OF Fallon TN thurs
day eight inches were going over the
great wall making beautiful sight.
Water was started down the Soda
Lake canals on Wednesday and the
amount will be increased rs rapidly as
possible until the canals are fully
tested.
Water is now running through the
Truckee canal and down the chute INTO
the Carson river. There is no need for
any large amount to be sent through
the Truckee canal but this amount
can be increased at any time the oc-
casion demands.
FLOW OF TRucKEE AND CARSON RIVERS.
The two tables which follow show the