The Churchill county standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1908-1920, 1909-04-22
De EvEL0P MENT
PRESENT SEASONS WORK IS
MARVELLOUS.
Appros Last Weeks Article,
A Few Facts are
Given.

It is notion quite generally held that
the Truekee-Carson irrigation project
is slow of development. This notion is
true only as applied to the three pre-
eeding years of its history before the
year 1903 was ushered in, but certainly
such an idea docs not truly apply to the
present season. For the benefit Of
those who persist IN retaining such no.
tions in their heads, it should be stated
that during the present season mere
actual development of new lands has
occurred than during the entire three
years preceding it, and in justice to
the old land holders. it should be stat
ed that they are rivaling the new laad
owners in the point Of acreage devel-
oped for crop growing.
The project engineer Thomas Il.
Means estimates the new acreage Of
this year, that win actually be in crops
with the commencement Of the growing
season, which is now upon us, at ten
thousand acres. A census will be TAX
en- along early in May. 70 get an aceur-
ate line on the new producing lands and
make a comparative showing with for
mer years. but Mr. Means knowledge
ef the projee. affairs is sueh that
census will serve only to exonerate his
opinion, for his grasp Of affairs IS COM
prehensiye and accurate.
At the present time the canals Of the
project are carrying only ffty second
feet less water than was carried at the
maximum irrigating period last season
and Mr.. Means states that none Of this
water is going to waste. This
he says would indicate that
at the maximum period this year
something like so per cent more water
viii be used than at any time last year.
but this is not TO be taken TO indicate
that the acreage is 80 per cent greater
for new lands absorb vastly more fluid
than old lands.
According TO Mr.. Means, the great
er part of the new acreage has been
sown to alfalfa, our staple crop, but
a very considerable portion has been
devoted to grain culture exclusively.
Particularly does this apply to the
Island Ranch and the Saltwater sec
tions, where ideal grain growing soil
exists. In most instances, as is Gus
tomary in this section the new alfalfa
acreage has been sown with alfalfa
seed mixed with wheat or other kinds
Of grain, as the grain serves to protect
the alfalfa seed from the winds, during
the roofing period.
Mr. Means states that of the various
districts of the project, the Fernley
section leads in point of actual new deve-
lopment. Over there nearly all of the
railroad lands have passed into private
ownership, and work is going on at
rate that would indicate early cultiva-
tion of the entire available crop raising
lands. The Island ranch section is sec
ond in point Of development with the
Saltwater country close third.
The Indian allotment lands lie in the
latter district. and the Piute, proverb-
tally thriftless, has been following in
the footsteps Of the whites. They are
developing their allotments at a sur
prising rate and the greater part of
the work done by the Indians in level
ing and improving their lands is excel
lent in character. II is only a matter
of short time, when many of the
tribe will be prosperous land ownels
and self sustaining.
Indian Agent Walter A. Van Voorhis
is doing everything in his power to en-
courage and aid the Indians and is
meeting with marked success.
A matter that presages much for the
project a thing in fact that is of Wit
al importance to our project and a diff
Guilty thet has done more TO retard its
development than all other things COM
bired. is now practically settled, ac-
cording to Mr.. Means, and in the fu-
ture the matter of the control of the
Lake Tahoe flood waters, will no long
er be a bone of contention between the
government authorities and the private
power companies, who have eombated
the governments efforts to divert
these waters to this project for irriga-
tion purposes. Mr.. Means tells us that
during the present week an agreement
looking towards a favorable settlement
will have been signed and the dispute
ended. The terms of the settlement
are secret at the request of the pow
err companies, but it is understood that
they are reasonable. This settlement
insrres this project plenty Of water at
r..