The Churchill county standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1908-1920, 1917-05-30
BILL OF FAR REACHING
IMPORTANCE TO PROJECT
Introduced i'm Congress and Provides
for Clearing, Leveling and I'm
prOveme.at of Lands

A bill of the utmost Importance
to the Truckee-Carson Project and,
in fact, to all federal reclamation
projects was introduced in the House
of Representatives on May IA, 1917,
by Congressman Edward r. Taylor,
chairman of the Committee of Irri-
cation of arid lands The bill is
known as II. b. 4431, entitled "A
bill to stimulate the production of
food upon private and public lands
within the reclamation projects and
for other purposes; which was in
troduced by Mr. Taylor in April. The
new bill contains all of the desirable
features of the old bill and in addi-
tion makes provision for:
l. The preparation by the Gov
ernment of unentered public lands
on reclamation projects by clearing,
leyeling and improving the same.
The cost of such work to be repaid
by the settler on the same terms
and conditions as other construction
charges are paid under the recla-
nation law.
2. The clearing, leveling, and eul-
tiyation by the Government of pri-
vately owned or entered lands in
Government Reclamation Projects.
The costs of such work to lie repaid
by the owner or entryman with in
terest at five per cent. per annum.
3. Legalizing the lending of mon
eys by Federal Land Banks on farm
lands within the reclamation pro-
jeets
These important provisions would
be of incalculable benefit to the per-
manent development of reclamation
projects and particularly the True
kee-Carson Project, as well as TO the
immediate object of increasing crop
production to meet the demands oc-
casioned by the war. 1t is of the ut
most importance that every effort be
made to secure the prompt passage
of this act. Western senator's and
representatives, also Western Gov
behind the measure and to be ex-
erting every effort to secure favor
able action. The bill has been re-
ferred % the Counsel of National De-
Tense and ii is believed that If the
Counsel recommends the measure it
will pass Congress. On May 25,
Governor Boyle sent the following
wire to Senator Pittman concerning
the bill; Strongly urge favorable
consideration of II. r. 4431. With
proper federal assistance production
of the Truckee-Carson Project can be
immensely increased. Please present
this recommendation to the Counsel
of National Defense and department
of Agriculture.
Irrigation Manager, f. G. Hough,
advises us that during the past few
weeks the Reclamation Office has
been besieged with requests from
water users, both homestead entry
men and private land owners, for
the Government to level and prepare
their lands. The indgidual areas
have varied from five to several
hundred acres. 1t has been necces-
sary to inform the applicants that at
present there is neither authority nor
funds for doing such work. How
ever, If II. r. 4431 should become
law, it will be possible for the Gov
ernment to Immediately undertake
an active leveling campaign for the
project land owners; for the bill not
only authorizes such work but por-
vides an ample appropriation for
financing II.
1t is understood that the Secre-
tary of the Interior and the officers
of the reclamation service, also Dr.
Elwood Mead has been secured to
advise with the Truckee-Carson and
other reclamation projects on me-
thods for increasing crop produe-
ton, are all strongly supporting the
bill now pending in Congress and
that they are prepared to promptly
inaugurate active operations on
large scale as soon as the bill be-
comes law. 1t is we'll known that
the Truckee-Carson project is con-
sidered to be one of the most fay-
orable for work of this character
and one upon which such work by
the Government is especially needed
in order to promptly increase crop
production and TO facilitate project
development and the return of the
Governments expenditure foI con-
struction of the irrigation works.