The Fallon standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1920-1958, 1920-12-16
Project Water
Is Threatened
Spanish Springs Reservoir Project
Is Threatened by Power Com
pany's Pull and Insistence

The Nevada Valleys Power Com
pany. sometimes referred to as the
Canyon Power Company, is pernici-
ously active in its project to approp-
riate certain public lands lying
along the Truckee river between
the McCarren ranch in Washoe
county and the point further west
chosen by the reclamation authori-
ties as the practical place of diver
sion of the flood waters of the
Truckee river into the proposed
| Spanish Springs reservoir, upon
which there Is at this time active
reconnaissance work under reelama-
tion department auspices. The Fail
Ion Standard learns this week on
excellent authority that the Edison
f. Adams interests, owning the Me-
yada Valleys Power Company, has
carried an appeal to the secretary
of the interior, decrying the recla-
nation service which is blamed for
the withdrawal of the power-site
lands desired by the power COM
pany, and that these interests stand
an excellent chsnee of thwarting
the plans of the governments recla-
nation officials looking to the full
est possible development of the
lands of western Nevada unless arid
land reclamation partisans in this
state assume an unwonted degree
of activity.
Two applications were made un-
der existing land laws by attorneys
representing the Edison f. Adams
interests some time ago, these APP
plications being later denied en- the
ground that to allow them would
conflict with plans for arid land rec
lamation in this and Washoe coun-
ties that have long been entertained
by the federal government. APP
peals have been taken portesting
the action of the reclamation de-
partment and more or less mislead-
ing citation has been made by the
private interests that If needed by
the secretary of the interior would
completely annul the plans of his
ouDOA dAHdbSG Win hC 10 IA q
sumed to pursue a policy of eoordi-
nation But all government depart
ments and bureaus do not eoordi-
nate at all times and it is empha-
sized at this time that unless Ne
yada's delegation in congress gets
busy and far seeing Nevadans do
not interest themselves in the broad
| ly constructive proposal that in
cludes the building of the Spanish
Springs reservoir and the irriga-
tion of about $4,000 acres of new
lands in Churchill and Washoe
counties, Adams and his associates
will put over their coupe and the
surplus water of the Truckee river
will be lost to the government foI
all time to come.
Adams proposes to build n hydro
electric plant near the McCarrer
ranch that would create energy t.
the amount of 4,200 horsepower
which would be developed accord
ing to the plans entertained, from
| the waters of the Truckee river
This power unit is projected to tax,
| the place of the Lahontan plant up
on the expiration of the lease with
the reclamation department which
expires three years hence. To al
would deprive the government o.
the water needed for storage a
Spanish Springs. should a reservoir
be constructed there, for 1t is pateni
that the flow of the Truckee will
not suffice for both purposes. The
question naturally arises, (which il
of greater consequence in the ulti
mate: the development of 4,20t
horsepower of electrical energy un
der private auspices, or the irriga
tion of $4,000 acres of fertile lands
that would, in the event of the di
version of the surplus waters o.
the Truekee, be lost to society foi
lall time to come. On one hand WI
would see happy, prosperous home
that would mount up into the thous
ands; on the other hand we woul,
see a single coporate and extremel.
selfish interest occupy the role o
the sole beneficiary.
II Surely we find here an excellen
subject for Reno commercial clu
activity and one that may we'll b
made the basis for immediate aC
ton on the part of the members o
Nevada s congressional delegation
who admittedly have Nevada's in
terests at heart. The Fallon com
mercial club may very properly as
sumo the initiative in tthe move
ment to combat and annul once an
for all the Edison f. Adams propa
ganda that has been carried to tn
interior department, bearing /
mind at this juneture that a politi
cal administration change is AZ
preaching and that administratio
changes usually carry untoward az
tion. A retiring official frequentl
let's the bars down in an effort [
make himself good fellow an
those eonversant with politics
practice will leave nothing undon
{ at this time that will help to saw
J to western Nevada a needed waite
! supply.