The Fallon standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1920-1958, 1923-09-12
RECLAMATION OFFICE SEAKE-TJP
Near Finish In
Drninage Work


work with the drag lines on the
drainage surveys the estimates of
work have exceeded all expectations.
Originally it was anticipated and
estimated that possibly 100 miles of
drain could be completed for the
100000 that was made available
for this purpose, while the first gov
ernment estimate called for sS5O.-
600 for approximately lis miles of
then surveyed drain lines.
As the drain excavation comes near
an end it is now estimated that 140
miles of complete drains will be built
with the other construction incident
al In connection with the work for
the 100000.
In speaking of this matter Mr..
Walker, engineer in charge, states
that he anticipates that 40 miles of
drains will be completed by the first
of the year, which will about ex-
haust the available funds. He also
states that it is realized that several
additional miles of drains should be
built and that 1t is unfortunate that
all cannot be taken care of. The
work has been directed to q large
extent by the recommendation of
the water users association at the
OCULAR meetings resulting in the
aeFeral districts receiving their share
Of drain canals.
A portion of the Soda Lake section
needs drains, so does a section of
The Saltwater end of the project and
tEere are . number of small sections
that should be drained and could be
i the money was available, state
ir Walker.
Pot Holes Need Drainage
With the completion of the pro-
gram there will be a number of pot
aoles, or sinks, in this section that
should receive drainage, it was point
ID out by Mr. Walker. In such cases
Unless there is ample drain room they
soon fill and render the ground use
less. He is in hopes that some pro-
vision can be made to take care of
.aeh instances.
Much Water in Canals
To the surprise of the engineer,
md those working on the draglines,
the quantity of water has not dim
nished materially this season, and
50me of the new drains opened up
I've given canals filled with water.
n many places the water table has
oeen lowered materially, but the
lerge volume of water that continues
te flow is the surprising feature of
those keeping tab on the operations.
Keeps Tab on Contents
A system of keeping record on the
run off water in the drain canals is
being maintained at the experiment.
al farm, and some of this wator
shows a very heavy per cent of salts,
alkali and other minerals that before
drainage were running the top soils
Of tho country.
In several cases il has been neces-
sarD to replant alfalfa owing to the
lowering of the water table in tho
district. The roots failed to connect
with the water and died. as the table
had been dropped several feet below
the established root system of the
elfalfa.
Where it has been necessary to
reseed excellent results are being
shown. A considerable acreage that
has been regarded as ruined is again
being brought back to cultivation,
and there is at the present time
drainage sufficient to take care of
double the farming interests that are
engaged today.
Question of Future
The reclamation officers are as
much at sea as any of the people as
to the future work in the drainage
program. The establishment of the
very complete drain system was a
necessity and without it this project
would have been drowned out. 1t is
the future that is the question, as it
/ is realized that while over a 40 per
cent gain was made ON estimates,
/ yet there are a number of holdings
that should be taken care of to per-
feet the work Just how this is 10
be worked out is a question that has
not been decided.