The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1914-04-18
NEvADANS AT IRRI-
CATION CONGRESS

Plans proposed by Nevada dele
gates to the irrigation congress at
Denver for making conditions easier
upon farmers buying lands on the
Lahontan project, were considered
favorably by the congress, it is stat
ed by returning delegates, says the
Gazette.
G. A. Norcross, commissioner Of
irrigation agriculture and industry,
reports that the Nevada delegates,
with Governor Oddie in the lead,
urged upon Secretary Jones, Mr.. New
ell, head of the reclamation service,
and Mr.. Hobson, chief engineer of the
reclamation service, the Importance
of land leveling on the Carson-Truc-
kee project at Fallon, as an aid to the
settlers, and also the early commence
ment of construction work on the pro-
posed storage system ON the head wa
ters of the Carson river for the recla-
nation of the 10000 acres of rich un-
cultivated land in Carson valley.
They were informed that both these
subjects were being given present
consideration and that Mr.. Holmes,
Immediately after the conference,
would visit the Carson valley in rela-
tion to the latter project.
| Nevada was represented at the
conference by Governor Oddie, Attor-
ney General Thatcher, w. M. Kear-
ney, state engineer, DIR. J. E. Stubbs,
president of the university, F. B.
Headley, superintendent of the irri-
cation farm at Fallon, and G. A. Nor
cross.
Nevadans On Committees.
Four committees were appointed,
consisting of one member from each
of the sixteen states represented. DR..
| Stubs served on the committee on
government reclamation projects;
Kearney on that having to do with
Carey act; Thatcher on that relating
to irrigation districts, and Norcross on
the committee on desert land laws.
1t was shown and admitted, Com
missioner Norcross states, both by the
reclamation service and by persons in
terested in or familiar with, such en-
terprises in all the western states that
the government must do something
more than merely to provide the wa
ter system for the irrigation of the
lands. That the high percentage of
acbtlciS WHU ldlltu Ou tueSe 6ut6T-
prises, losing their entries and the
time, labor and money they had in
vested therein, demanded that a
remedy for this situation be provided.
It was shown that the diversion of the
payments into 10 equal annual install
ments was too ouerous, since from
three to four of these payments came
| due before the settler ordinarily was
able to get his land cleared, leveled,
checked and in crops such that at the
end of the season income against out
lay was in his favor. =.
True On All Projects.
1t was shown that this was not only
true on the Truckee-C Carson project
but on all the other government pro-
jects. The remedy proposed in this
instance met with the concurrence and
approval of the interior department
and was agreed to by the delegates.
In substance it was that in addition
to providing the water supply system
the reclamation service clear and level
all, or at least portion, of each en-
try so that the settler, instead of hav-
ing to do that tedious and time-con-
suming work himself, can begin grow
| ing crops on a substantial portion Of
his acreage the first year. Second,
that the government advise the set
tier what crops to grow, the best
methods of cultivation and exercise
over his early efforts in establishing
himself more or less paternal interest
and care. Lastly, that the payments
required of the settler in payment for
his land and water right, during the
first five or ten years, be light, per-
haps not more than sums sufficient to
meet the maintenance charge, and
that the period of liquidating what
he owes the government for its outlay
cover at least ten years additional.
Resolution Adopted.
Norcross was assigned to the COM
mitteee ON desert land laws by Gov
ernor Oddie and proposed the follow
ing resolution, which was adopted
unanimously in the committee and
unanimously with the exception Of
California by the irrigation congress.
Governor Oddie secured its adoption
by the governors of the states repre-
sented.
"Resolved, That this convention
recommend to congress amendments
of the following nature to the desert
land act:
"0D That the entryman's proof
of citizenship in the state wherein he
makes a desert land filing be changed
from the time of fling to the time of
proving up;
"(2) That the requirements of rec
lamation be enlarged to embrace the
alternative proof of cultivation by
the actual growing crops by the dry
farm methods on double the acreage
required if by irrigation