The Churchill county standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1908-1920, 1909-08-05

Tahoe watershed, valued at many
millions of dollars.
Now, as a matter of fact, the articles
in question do the governments cause
an injustice. OF this there can be no
doubt. The government really gave
nothing away. and their solution of
the problem was the only logical end
ing to controversy in which they new
er held the best hand and the adjust
ment made was eminently fair and of
great future Importance to the True
kee-Carson irrigation project. The
government had thoroughly established
the merits of their side of the case and
no one familiar with their side of the
case would be foolhardy enough to say
that the reclamation officials could give
away concessions which they never
owned. If this paper properly under
stands the matter, the government
received its emolument from the set
tlement more in consideration for drop
ping condemnation proceeding than for
anything it owned. For the fight was
at all times that Of the government on
behalf of the public good against vest
ed rights acquired along the Truckee
river and in the Tahoe water shed be-
fore this project was ever dreamed of.
1t develops out of the building of the
eoutrol dam, which is already under
way, that fear is more or less gener-
al among the owners of Tahoe realty
that their lake shors belongings will at
certain periods of the year be sub
merged, while at other periods they
will be high and dry. In this connect
ion it should be stated that the govern
ment has assumed all liability for dam
ages arising from the building Of the
control dam. II does not seem likely
that any radical measures will be taken
in controlling the food waters, but
that the How will be regulated in 5
manner that will admirably serve the
interests of this project and at the
same time not interfere with property
rights at Lake Tahoe. But if it came
to choosing between utilizing the wat
ers of the lake for reclamation of arid
lands or leaving them undisturbed that
few of Caifornia's millionaires may
disport themselves during few spare
moments in the year, certainly, pub
lie opinion should be in favor of the
project interests as against pleasure
seekers; another case of business be-
fore pleasure.
Secretary BalliDger is now in the
West and in an interview with the
Associated Press denied any knowledge
of the privileges accorded Harmon.
1t is expected that his formal approval
of the contract will be Forthcoming
soon, for certainly the acquisition of
the waters of Lake Tahoe are of the
utmost stragetic Importance to this
project. and the project officials and
their superiors in the reclamation SER
FlCt TGdiiLt III AullCst iCdotAC tuS Hopt
to accrue from the new deal. If Sec
retary Bnllinger should fail to co-incide
with the recommendation of his
subordinates in this instance, the ac-
ton would be nothing more or less
than calamity to the Truckee- Car
son project.
1t appears to this paper that the gov
eminent officials have made an excel
lent deal with the power companies,
because to go back to the first, the gov
ernment had nothing to trade in pay
ment for its privileges acquired. 1t
was either case of making satisfac-
tory deal with the riparian owners or
commence expensive condemnation
proceedings and they rightly took the
logical and more economical course
compromise without sacrificing single
important right. The deal is of the ut
most Importance to this projects inter-
ests and time will ever make this fact
more anparent