The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1922-11-14
THE POLICY OF THE UNION PACIFIC
IN NEVADA
IN NEVADA

General Manager II. Y. Plat, of the Oregon
Short Line under date of October goth, 1922, has
this to say regarding the policy of the Union Pa
ciic System in the matter of irrigation and develop
ment of the productive lands in the State of Ne
vada in the event the Central Pacific were grouped
with the Union Pacific:
"On October 10Th, took this matter up with
President c. R. Gray, of the Union Pacific System,
as follows:
"'Quite an interest in Nevada is centered on
what the policy of the Union Pacific will be with
reference to irrigation and development of produc-
tive lands in that State in event Central Pacific
were grouped with Union Pacific. Are authO-
rzed to say that same active plan of development
and irrigation will be pushed in cooperative
way has characterized development in other
similar sections by Union Pacific Lines.
"And the same date received his reply,
which quote for your information:
"The Union Pacific has carried out consist
ent policy of construction to benefit irrigated and
productive lands in Idaho and Utah. Has just
made extension of Homedae Branch in IDAHO con-
sructed line to Fillmore, and is preparing to
struct line to Cedar City, 1t has recently completed
forty mile extension to irrigated lands in
Nebraska and Wyoming It's policy has been
sstently to aid in the development of it's territory
and the same policy would be pushed in a co-opera-
tive way on Central Pacific Lines if latter are ac
qured by this company
"In our conversation the last time you were in
Salt Lake. told you thought it was fortunate that
so many of the officers of the Union Pacific System
western and understand the possibilities
of western development and know piece of sage
brush when they see it. and the bigger the sage the
better the land In other words, few people can
either realize or appreciate the possibilities of
barren stretch of country unless they know from
first hand experience and observation the produc-
tive possibilities in connection with irrigation We
are differed with that type of and as you
know, our agricultural and colonization depart
ments are paving the way for development in every
section OF the country served by our rails.
''The development of the southern and central
part OF Idaho stands as monument to co-opera-
tive reclamation work, and as far as Oregon Short
Line policy went with no thought of railroad COM
petition as an inducement or prod to its share in
the development. You get better idea of
what l refer to by referring to map of Idaho
which shows in the upper Snake River country, in
the Twin Falls District, and in the Boise, Nampe
Payette and Weiser sections that the country has
been developed by the construction of branch lines
with a view to reducing the wagon haul by farmers
to a reasonable distance to reach loading points
we know that farmers cannot work their stock in
the spring, summer and fall without giving them
some rest in the winter and that hauling stuff 25 or
80 miles to shipping point is handicap against
settlers and developers not only in the matter of
time and money but well in actual competition
with market conditions"
UNION PACIFIC SYSTEM