The Record-courier. [volume] (Gardnerville, Nev.) 1904-current, 1922-10-06
CELEBRATION
AT TOPAZ LAKE

Over two thousand people were
present at Topaz Lake last Saturday
and attended the formal opening of
the first unit of a reclamation pro-
ject that will ultimately bring over
100000 acres of land under cultiva-
tion and which has been fostered by
the farmers of Smith and Mason VAL
leys through an organization known
as the Walker River Irrigation Dis
trict. Long before the hour set for
the beginning of the celebration auto
mobiles from many parts of Western
Nevada began to arrive at the lake
and before eleven o'clock three hun
dred machines were parked near the
gates of the vast storage system.
The Indian school band from Stew
art was present and entertained the
visitors for an hour or more while
members of the Yerington band We're
also present and assisted In the musi-
cal program.
At 1880 big gong was sounded
and the 1000 visitors were invited to
participate in a barbecue that had
been prepared under the supervision
of the Smith and Mason Valley farm
ers and civic organizations of that
district. Roast beef, lamb, beans,
pickles. bread and coffee were served
and SO we'll were the arrangements
carried out, that every person present
was amply cared for.
At one o'clock, with both bands In
procession the big crowd started to
the speakers stand which had been
built over the intake .of the tunnel.
Here the gradual slope of the hill
formed perfect ampi-theatre where
the people assembled.
Pete Henrichs, president of the
farm bureau of Lyon county, acted
as chairman and introduced the
speakers, the first of whom was J.
l. Wilson, president of the Walker
River Irrigation District. Mr. Wilson
expressed his qualification of what
had been accomplished after years OF
dreaming. He also gave short
resume of the history OF Smith and
Mason Valleys.
Frank Stickney told of the uphill
work that was met and how finally
the obstacles were overcome and the
great irrigation system came into be-
ing. He also gave a complete history
of the work of the district, the cost
of the first unit of what will eventu-
ally be the outcome of the great
reclamation works.
Charley Knight. of the Reno Cham
Der of Commerce; Walter Clark, pres
ident of the University of Nevada
Joe Yeager, farmer of Smith Valley;
Charles Norcross of Reno; Congress
man Sam Arentz, VIM. Pitt of Love-
lock. Emmett ID. Boyle, Governor of
Nevada, and others addressed the
vast assemblage.
Following the speaking the gates
were formally opened by the Misses
Charlotte Penrose and Esther Ryan
of Yerington and Beatrice Carter and
Marie Mann of Smith Valley. As the
headgates of the reservoir were OPEN
ed a rushing, surging torrent of
water was released and sped ON It's
way through the great cut to the
Walker river and on to the fields in
Smith and Mason Valleys, and the
sights was witnessed by the great
crowd of people.
The water from this storage reser-
voir was used for the maturing of
crops during the past season, some
sixteen feet of water having been
drawn from the lake. Smith and
Mason Valley farmers took special
delight In telling just what the great
system meant to them. Those with
late water rights, in past years, have
been without water for their second
crop of alfalfa Stock has been
watered from wells and gardens have
burnt up for lack of moisture. This
season things have been vastly diff
ferent. A good second crop of alfalfa
was cut, 1t was no longer necessary
to pump water for stock and gardens
thrived in all parts of Smith and
Mason valleys served from the West
Walker river. Boosters, we'll that
word hardly fills the bill for the
enthusiasm displayed last Saturday
by those pleased agriculturists In the
neighboring valleys.
1t was great day, not only from
the standpoint of a meritorius cele-
bration of great achievement, but
as gathering place for politicians
of both political parties They were
present in droves and singly, and that
was not all. Not far from the main
point of attraction, an automobile
parked and John Barleycorn carried
on his line of business without
molestation save by those that car
ried with them to Topaz Lake a
thirst that could not be quenched by
pure sparkling water.
Following Is brief outline of the
reclamation work being carried out
by the Walker River Irrigation Dis