The Fallon standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1920-1958, 1922-02-01
Farmers Support
Williamson Fight
Water Users Refuse to Endorse Fac
tion Opposing Williamson at
Mass Meeting Saturday
MINORITY LEADER EXPLAINS
ACTIONS AND ASKS OPINION
Bitter Alteration Waged Over Many
Matters Pertaining to Reclama-
tion Service and Project

son, member of the board of direc-
tors of the Newlands irrigation dis
trict, in acting on that board, was
supported at mass meeting OF the
water users of the district, held In
the chamber of commerce rooms
last Saturday afternoon.
Approximately two hundred farm
ers filled the rooms to capacity In
response to a request made by Will
hanson that the water users take
some action, either In supporting
his policies or calling for his resig-
nation. Every chair in the hall was
occupied and many men and women
were standing in the rear.
Williamson called the meeting to
order and s. j. Rogers was chosen
chairman of the meeting.
Williamson was asked to explain
the object of the meeting. He said
that the meeting was called, Ito
find out what you want from me as
a member of the irrigation board
of directors" The situation, he
said. had a great deal of personal
interest to him but he added that he
would not have called the meeting
had he not felt that there were a
great many things of common inter-
eat that should be taken up.
Williamson stated that he had
been elected to the board of direc-
tors a year ago and that he was
willing to quit IL the water users
wanted him to or was willing to
continue If there was concerted ac-
tion. II have thought that the ma
jority we're In favor of my actions"
he added.
Speaks OF Delegation
1.-The most disastrous defeat that
| have suffered" the speaker con-
tinued, was when the directors au-
thorized l. II. Kent and True Ven
Gill to go to Washington. The
delegates, he added, are friends of
the project manager and met with
his approval He asked that the
meeting draw up some general in
struetions for the delegates.
In speaking of the drainage
question Williamson stated that
there Is plenty of waste land for
the waste water and that the big
thing was the development of the
Carson lake area. The diagonal
drain, in his opinion, is a complete
waste of the peoples money. 81
told them that I didn't want them
to take my word but to employ a
disinterested engineer to oversee the
work" At present, he stated, there
is no one responsible to the people
for the work that is done. Already
the people have lost enough,
through mistakes of the reclama-
tion service, to pay an engineer for
several years. he added.
Considers Reorganization
Williamson also stated that he
wished the board to take action on
the question of reorganization of
the reclamation service. At pres
ent. he said, IL is operated under
the directions of one man, A. p.
Davis. Davis, the speaker added.
has made a failure and the people
of the reclamation projects should
demand his removal I'VE will get
He then spoke of the general policy
of the reclamation service. saying
that the work should be carried out
on a definite plan, that the land to
be settled should be thoroughly in
vestigated before work was started
"The Spanish springs reservoir
does not control the flood waters of
the Truckee river" Williamson con-
tinued. Complete control is wanted
and larger reservoir is necessary
The policy of the reclamation
service should be so changed, In
Williamson's opinion, so that the
settlers could be assisted in devel-
oping the land. II costs them about
$4,000 to put In 80 acres of land.
1--WE who are here know the difficult
ties and should insist on the
change" he added.
''The plan of making the settlers
pay the total expense of the reela-
nation work, we are beginning to
believe more and more cannot be
worked out" he concluded. In
speaking of the construction charg
es
Latin Supports Board
George W. Latin said that the
meeting reminded him of old times,
when the water users used to meet
and often get into wrangles and
never get anywhere" He then
spoke OF the congressi nal investi-
cation that was carried on in the
project several years ago and OF the
discord that predominated at that
time saying. may we not do any
thing here that will cause the peo-
pie in the East to say that the same
old people are at II yet"
He then said, I'VE can only act
through our board. II we don't like
the reclamation service or what II
does, take II up with the board of
directors. They are elected to do
that work. 1t is absolutely neces-
sary, he continued, to make the pro-
ject a success.
The people in the East, he added,
are begrudging every dollar that is
spent here and they must be shown
that their money will be returned
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