The Churchill county standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1908-1920, 1915-09-22
EMINENT ENGINEER
LEAVES FALION
NEXT MONTH
Review of Work Performed by d. W.
Cole on Truekee-Carson Reeia-
nation Project.

ARaAAA AaHiAAt.tA II ". 80tt ttit
Sunday afternoon for San Francisco
where he viii attend to matters in
connection Win Lake Tahoe and 9TH
er project affairs While there he
will also attend the. National Irriga-
tien Congress and the International
Engineering Congress. both OF which
vii meet III San Francisco during
tho coming week Mr.. Cole expects
to return to Fallon about next Mon
day and will then be occupied for
about a week winding up various
matters 1t the project office prepar-
atory to leaving for the east about
October 1st.
When asked his reasons for leay-
ING the Ffuokee-earson project, Mr..
Cole stated that number OF per-
sonzi matters have been demanding
his attention for some time, and he
feels that just now he can place pro-
jaet affairs IN about as coed shape
to permit of his absence IS at any
time. During his more than nine
years Of continuous work in the Rec
lamation service, Mr.. Cole has lad
no vacation, and it would seem that
after so long g time he is certainly
entitled 10 rest and to q. breath
ing spell free from official duties.
10 permit his giving attention to per-
.sonal affairs
Mr.. Cole expects to detach him
sell from active engineering work
for about sixty days, after which he
vii be ready TO again "enter the
harness, IN the Reclamation Ser
or elsewhere.
As to whether Mr.. Cole viii re-
turn to the Carson project
after his period of absence. it may
be said that that depends ON what
plans are adopted for the future con
duet OF the project II the project
is to be pushed to completion; if
adequate drainage is TO be provided
in the near future: If necessary ad-
dieonai storage on the Truskee river
followed By construction of tie La
hontan bench and Pyramid Lake
Units are to be undertaken soon; If
Congress authorizes tho construc-
ton OF works in the Upper Carson
valley; if any or all of these various
features are undertaken at an early
date. as they should be. then every
effort should be made to induce
Mr., Cole to return to this project.
#. on the other hand. the pow
ars that be" decide to let matters
drift along as they are. Mr. Cole will
undoubtedly not return to this pro-
Jet. During Mr.. Coles absence on
leave Assistant Manager T. G.
IIough viii doubtless be in charge,
and If the project is to remain on an
operating basis for some time, it is
considered very possible that there
will be no further change in the
management.
Mr Cole has been project engi-
neer and manager for a little over
Ave years. During that time a num-
Der of large and complex problems
have been mel and handled by Mr..
Cole In a manner rejecting great
credit upon him, and resulting to
the decided advantage of the pro-
ject.
Upon his arrival in the summer of
1910 Mr.. Cole found that the pro-
jeet had suffered water shortages
during several preceding years on ae-
count OF lack of storage facilities
One of his first moves was to recon-
mend the discontinuance of settle
ment until storage could be provid-
ed that would adequately supply the
settled lands as well as the portions
not yet covered by entries or water
right contracts. This recommends
tion resulted in the withdrawal on
October l, 1910, of all public notices
as to lands not entered or applied
for. on that date.
! Meantime plans were being laid
10 secure the necessary storage by
constructing the Lower Carson stor-
age dam, later known as the Lahon-
tan Dam and by continuing negotia-
tions that had been in progress since
the inception of the project. for ae-
quiring control of Lake Tahoe for
storage surplus waters not owned by
existing rights and utilizing them
for project lands.
The largest engineering feature
undertaken by Mr. Cole was the La
hontan dam the design of which was
prepared ia the project Office during
the fall OF 1910 It's construction
was approved by Secretary Ballingel
early in 1917, ind active construc.
ton work was commenced during
the summer of that year. All feat
ures Of the dam were completed bs
June 80, 1915 at cost of upward,
of 100000 less than the estimated
cost, which was s1.530,000. Tn,
ldam Is an exceptionally fine piec,
1of work and one that excites the ad
miration of all competent judges o
large construction work. II stand
as monument to Mr.. Cole and hi
Continued on Page Four