The Churchill county standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1908-1920, 1914-03-25
CHIEF ENGINEER VISITS HERE
And Confcrs With Local Citizens Re-
garding General And Project Rec
Iamation Matters.


The first member of the recently
organized reclamation commission
visited Fallon last week in the per-
son of Arthur p. Davis. chief engi-
neer of the commission, who though
he has been connected with the rec
lamation service since its inception,
has never enjoyed the enlarged dut-
les now incumbent upon him as a re-
suit of Secretary Lanes new organi-
zation plan. Mr.. Davis was the
chief speaker at more. or less in
formal meeting of the local citizenry
Friday evening, held at the city hall,
when about fifty of the representa-
tive business men and farmers of
the community were present to lis
ten to very interesting resume by
the chief engineer of late and pro-
jected Developments within reclama-
tion circles.
His first remarks concerned the
reclamation commission and the
powers of this body. which he is cer-
tain will prove of inest 'mable bene-
fit to the settler and the arid west.
Leaving Washington two months ago,
Mr.. Davis has followed an itinerary
which has kept in close touch with
the recent travels of Mr.. |. d. o.
Donnell, member of the reclamation
commission who now enjoys th
sobriquet, 1.-The government boss
farmer That Mr.. Davis is an
O'Donnell admirer was well proven
by his remarks Friday evening. He
told those present that Mr.. O'Don-
nell would be in Fallon in the near
future and that his visit will be a
real treat. Being farmer In West
ern Montana, who has been not
able success, he Is likewise a public
speaker with vast fund of interest
ing data and ready wit, which COM
bined with his knowledge of the soil.
fits him peculiarly for the duties he
is called upon to discharge as head
of the government project operation
and maintenance.
1t is recited that Mr.. o'Donnell is
so good farmer that he makes a
640-acre tract of western Montana
land pay him an annual income of
$40 per acre or about $4,000. The
Northern Pacific railroad company
has long used for advertising pur-
poses photographed check In favor
of Mr.. O'Donnell for $4,000 in pay
ment for sugar beets raised one
S ason on a part of his Montana
farm. Beyond sugar beet culture 1t
is said OF Mr. o'Donnell that he has
never devitalized his farm by ship
ping the products to market direct,
stockfeeding being his main pursuit.
Reverting TO project affairs and
the proposed administration reela-
nation law. which is fairly certain
of passage during the present con-
gress. Mr., Davis said the proposal is
In response to a country wide de-
n and that government reclamation
be made to conform to conditions
actual and not theoretical. This
bill, which was printed in the last
issue of the Standard, has. according
to Mr. Davis the unqualified endorse
ment of the president, the secretary
80 he Iot f,-,.te 10 N
committees of both branches of con-
gress, which leaves little room for
doubt but that its cons deration in
its file number by congress will be
tantamount to passage.
This proposed amendment, Mr..
Davis thinks, will be largely, If not
altogether ameliorative OF the condi-
tions complained of in the govern
ment projects. That the secretary
may keep wholly in touch with the
progress of western aaairs. confer
ence between himself and his sub
ordinates and the governors of the
western states Is to be held on April
9th in Denver, Colo. at which time
the administration land policy and
particularly that bearing on govern
ment reclamation of arid lands. will
be discussed.
The reclamation fund was allotted
in his entirety. according to Mr..
Davis, last January for use in %
different projects. Much new work