The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1923-07-12
ENGINEER Tells
OF WATER RIGHTS
Says That Adjudication of River
Rights Is Practically in Effect
and Anticipates No Very
Serious Litigation

An insight as to the exact condi-
ton of affairs on the Humboldt
river adjudication was obtained yes
terday by the Elko Free Press in an
interview with John Mueller, assist
ant state engineer, who was in the
city on water matters.
According to MIR. Mueller, the
order of determination which was
compiled by Governor Scrugham
during his term as state engineer,
after many years spent in check
ing and rechecking the findings of
the engineers of the department, is
in effect at the present time, and
The water being used by the various
ranchers along the Humboldt system
is the amount allotted to them under
this order of determination.
Judge Bartlett's decision of few
weeks ago, when he upheld the CON
stitutionality of the water law of
the state has settled the matter and
with the exception of few objec-
tons which have to be passed upon
by the judge, the water rights will
stand as they We're in the order of
determination which~was made pub
lie last fall.
The hearing for these objections
has been set for September 4, and
following the final decision on these
cases, ninety days yet remains for
other objections to be filed if any
there are. 1t is expected, however,
that the entire affair will be COM
pletely settled by the first of the
year, and thus complete one of the
most beneficial pieces of work ever
accomplished by the state engineers
office in Nevada-the settlement
once and for all Of every water
users water rights on the Humboldt
river and tributary streams.
Concerning the storage of water
along the Humboldt and showing
the. prevailing idea concerning same
in the city to the east of Winnie
mucca, the Elko paper further says:
With the end of the many years
of uncertainty as to the water
rights of the Humboldt river in
sight, as is explained in another
column in this paper, plans are now
going forward for the installation
Of the water storage system, which
was included in the plans of Gov
ernor Scrugham, while still state
engineer, according to Morley Girls
void, who departed for Carson City
where he will represent the Elko
county water users association at a
conference called by the state engi-
neer on this matter.
The plans as they stand at pres
ent are thought to include four diff
ferent reservoirs, the two larger of
which are to be on the North and
South Forks. II has been estimated
by the state engineers office that
on an average of 10000 acre feet
of water goes 20 waste every year
in the Humboldt sink, during the
winter and early spring. All of
this water can be conserved, and it
is to take action on this matter
Immediately that the conference has
been called in Carson City.
The four reservoirs to be built
in Elko county are to have a ca
pacity of 10000 acre feet, while
the Battle Mountain district is to
be provided with storage capacity of
100000 acre feet and Lovelock,
10000 acre feet.
The fact that the work on the
plans for this water storage is
proceeding at the present time will
come as welcome news to all of the
communities along the river, to
whom storage of this water means
increased prosperity and a much
larger community, owing to the
arge amount Of land which at pres
mt is worthless, which will be
placed under cultivation when this
arge amount of water becomes
AVAILABLE.