The Churchill county standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1908-1920, 1918-04-17
r. |. DOUGLASS GIVES REASONS FOR
OPPOSING AN IRRIGATION DISTRICT

In reply to statements published
In former issues of local papers
wherein 1t was made to appear that
was to blame for having blocked
the organization of an irrigation dis
trict at the eleventh hour, In expla-
nation of my action in this matter l
wish to say that it is my opinion
that the majority of the water users
will agree that l was right and en-
tirely justified in my action after l
relate past experiences with the rec
lamation service and showing the
stands taken by the Government Of
ficials in the past and up to the
present time.
At the time this irrigation project
was started, those who we're here
and also those who read government
literature sent out over the land will
we'll remember that the original cost
of construction as estimated by gov
ernment engineers was eleven dol
lars per acre. Then when entries
were subsequently accepted the rate
was established at $1,000 per acre
which rate prevailed until January.
1908, when 1t was thought necessary
by government officials to increase
this rate to $4,000 per acre, which
estimate held until 1909 when all
lands were withdrawn from entry
until 1914 when the Lahontan res
ervoir was nearing completion.
Then the government engineers had
another guess and placed the cost at
$4,000 per acre for construction.
nearly five times the original esti-
mate.
In the same literature referred to
above l quote you from Govern
ment Lands In Nevada" Page Z, is
sued under the direction of the gov
ernment and circulated broadcast by
them and the Southern Pacific Rail-
road, which reads as follows: AL
kali occurs In varying quantities In
some soils, but the lands which have
been selected for homestead settle
ment by the government are general
ly free from harmful quantities Of al
kali or other injurious minerals. To
prevent alkau from being washed In
to the soil by irrigation waters, the
government has dug drains, SO that
each farm Is we'll drained. Good
drainage prevents the rise OF alkai."
Then in the face of this comes the
real thunderbolt from q previously
clear sky, in q circular issued by D.
w. Cole, project manager, and dated
April %, 1915, In which he states
that the estimated cost for SO miles
OF drain bitches will be $4,000 per
mile or $352,00O, or $500 per acre
for $4,000 acres. This after former
engineers had advertised that ample
had been provided, this be-
ing only the first estimate. Since
then other officials OF the Reclama-
ton Service have frankly stated that
this estimate will not hold good. Al
a further example of government es-
I quote you again from
Government Lands in Nevada"
page s, which reads as follows:
Land has this year been cleared,
leveled and prepared for seeding for
less than $1,000 per acre, other
lands cost - high as $25.00 per acre
when everything II hired and the
land not advantageously located, the
average price of leveling land should
not exceed $40 to SIS per acre II
intelligent methods are used" How
many of you water users will agree
with this estimate.
Mr.. Cole in his circular of April
22, 1915, also had this to say:
your only practiCaDie aiterudllsc
would be to organize as a drainage
district under the State Laws and
this agency to issue bonds
and proceed with the work by con-
tract or with your own force. This
would present legal, financial. and
difficulties which to
my mind are almost insuperable." 1t
will therefore be seen that Mr.. Cole
what we are now expert
encing.
In regard to the estimated cost Of
and operation and for
the benefit of the water users l want
to say that ever since the operation
of the project began there was and
Is yet 81 water users representing
over 5000 acres of land paying .
maximum maintenance charge Of 40
cents per acre per annum, which un-
der existing rules cannot be in
creased, although we are advised
that the annual maintenance and op-
GRAFTON charge for 1918 will be about
$1.25 per acre for all those not hold
ing 40 cent contracts. In the face