The Fallon standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1920-1958, 1922-09-27
Water Users File Objections to
Canyon Power Go. Contract

Fadas stated III public meeting in
Fernley on Monday, last, that in his
opinion there was absolutely no
legal title vested in the power site
at Vista by the power company. At
torneys Of repute in the state have
offered to take this case upon a CON
tingent fee of being able to nulli-
fy the title OF the power company.
In other words, If they did not
win the suit they would charge moth
ing for their services.
rhird-The most valuable asset
OF the project today is the power
plant at Lahontan. The one asset
that holds a bright outlook for fu-
ture profit to this community is the
asset that is the most necessary to
the future growth of this commun-
ity is the Lahontan power plant
And by parting with 1t for ten ad-
ditional years we are practically Civ
ing and abandoning all of the natur-
al advantages and rights we control
Fourth-Kow ii is fair to assume
that the Canyon Power Company
would operate the Lahontan power
plant at profit during the next ten
years. While we do not know what
that profit would be, we think a fair
estimate would be $150,000 profit
for the next ten years. By using all
of the rentals they would give US on
the lease during the next ten years
in improving the plant, as it is pro-
posed TO do at an estimate of $780,
GOO, we lose $4,000 and also
$150,000 that it is fair 10 assume
the Newlands irrigation district or
the u. S. X. S. would secure if the
plant were run and In It's present
condition. making a total of $780,
600 Or. IL we made the same i'm
proyements as are contemplated, at
our own expense. we would still, ae-
cording to a moderate estimate, be
losing s150,000.
Filthy signing the present
lease we lose our rights and benefits
in the power plant during ten addi-
tional years without any guarantee
whatever that the Spanish Springs
project will ever be constructed. As
a matter of fact, there are many 9TH
er obstacles to be removed-and
some OF them as great as the power
site at Xista-before the Spanish
Springs reservoir system can be in
stalled. We have been told that the
land held in private hands could be
bought for $4.00 per acre; but We
know of one large lot of land be-
longing to w. j. Harris, of the
Farmers q Merchants National
Bank of Reno, in the Spanish
Springs valley, which has been in
his control for the last 15 years and
upon which he has spent more than
100000 in cash, and which could
only be secured from him at a less
sum after a successful law suit.
There are many influential people in
the vicinity of Reno who do not fav-
or the Spanish Springs project and
would be opposed to its construction.
Az far as the power plant site at
istas noW bldiuitu ny 1ho Nahs oh
Power Company. is concerned. there
is a very grave doubt that they have
ever contemplated actually using ii
as a power site as it would seriously
interfere with draining the lower
end Of the Truekee Meadows and its
construction would meet with the
united opposition on the part of the
people In Reno.
No Assurances That Spanish Springs
Reservoir VIII BE Built
Now we would say to your Hon
orable Board that suppose after you
have approved of the lease to the
Canyon Power Company for the La
hontan power plant for a period of
ten years beginning two years from
the present time and allowed them
to lower our reservoir by increasing
the capacity of the power plant
without any provisions being made
for additional water to supply the
deficiency thus created, that moth
ing more is done toward the con-
struction of the Spanish Springs res
eryoir or even that II is constructed
as proposed, which is estimated to
cover a period of ten years by the
T. s. r. S. before completion. how
are the people in Fernley or the
people In this district going to fare
for water2 VIII they not be worse
off for at least a period of five to
eight years than they are at the
present time?
II would be much better, in our
estimation, for the water users sup
piled by the Lahontan reservoir and
also the water users of the Swingle
Bench and Fernley districts to en-
large the Truckee canal and make
an additional appropriation of the
surplus waters of the Truckee river
to be diverted at Derby. We under
stand that there is 1900 feet of wa
ter of the Truckee river which has
been appropriated to be diverted
only at Derby: but the present ca
nal will not carry 1900 feet of wa
ter; in fact, at the upper end we
have been informed that IL will not
carry over coo feet of water. If
1900 more cubic feet of water is APP
propriated from the surplus waters
of the Truckee to be diverted at
Derby, we would have an absolute
certainty of filing our reservoir
from the surplus flow of water In the
Truckep river during the months of