Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1914-03-06
GREATER HUMBOLDT COR
PORA1OA FOR A GREATER
HUMBOLDT VALLEY
Winnemucca. Nevada.

Dear SIR
A friend sent me q clipping from
the Free Press a few days ago,
commenting upon tn fact that
fifty of the water users and land
owners Of Elko county had com,
bined to carry out a water system
in Humboldt Valley, for the bene-
fit Of themselves as we'll as othrrs,
and calling upon the County Com
m'ssioners to take action against
such a menace to the country.
AS that paper has some readers
who might believe there must be a
good reason for this. / would like a
little space in your paper to give
ii few pertinent facts.
Under present conditions, the
lower irrigators are receiving a
full supply of water for their 3D.
600 acres of land only one year in
ten.
U. S. Government measurements
show there is an average loss OF So
per cent of the waters of the val
ley between Battle Mountain Basin
and Lovelock Valley: only 81 per
cent reaching them.
An increase of the irrigated area
at the upper end of the valley
means a corresponding decrease at
the lower end. For every 100
acres of land placed under irriRa-
ton in Elko County there must be
a decrease Of 81 acres below.
Should there be 100 900 acres Of
new lands placed under irrigation
above Rattle Mountain Basin, no
water at all would reach Lovelock
Valley. This is proven by the re-
cords of dry years. To illustrates:
1905 was a dry year and the
amount Of water flowing into Bat
tie Mountain Basin was just about
what would flow into the valley
there on ar average year il 100 900
acres more land was being irrigat-
ed above.
During the two months, May
and Jnne.-of that year, about
10000 acre feet of water flowed
into Battle Mountain Basin.
During the same two months,
only 927 acre feet Of water reach
ed Lovelock Valley. The flow rails
ed to 9 1882 acre-feet in July, due no
doubt to irrigation stopping above,
but too late for use by them.
In 1902 and 1903 there were
similar conditions, a little more
water reached the lower end, but
uot sufficient for much irrigation.
The cause of this great loss is
the lack of a proper channel to
carry the water down.
1t is proposed to construct such
channel as will carry the water
down first of all.
Then part of that surplus water
can be allowed TO flow down to the
lower water users, and part can be
held back, and used by the Elko
County land osners.
1t has never been intended that
all The water saved by such works
should be carried below but those
fifty water users want to irrigate
more land and they know that, -
before they can safely do it-they
must see that water they want to
use is no, needed by men who have
a first right to it below. So they
propose to provide that the lower
man shall get what he has a right
to, and then they a go ahead
and use more themselves.
There is an ample surplus OF
water. so the fifty men can in
crease their irrigated areas, and
give the man below the SEINE
chance, IN this way building UP
the whole valley.
The fact that the plans of the
Greater Humboldt Corporation call
for increased use Of the waters to
be saved at all points Of the valley
above as well as below,--do not
warrant the Editor Of the free
Press, or anyone else, in condemn.
ing the fifty men who want some of
that water for use on their lands
AND THEY ARE GOING ToGET
1T; and the man below is going to
get the water he has a right TO,
AND HE IS GOING TO GET
WATER FOR MORE LAND IF HE
WANTS IT: and the nejvhboys M