The Fallon standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1920-1958, 1924-12-24

III ElWoOd mead, commissioner CT
Reclamation, who has advocated the
building of Spanish Springs reser-
voir, in an article in the Country
Gentleman, makes the following re-
ference TO the Newlands project:
tThe Newlands Project in Nevada,
is striking illustration of the pub
lie benefits of this policy Without
federal aid it would not exist
The state could not have made the
attempt because of lack of taxable
wealth and population. Out of its
great domain of 70,000,000 acres,
only $500 acres were farmed II
1920. Law and order have to be
maintained and supported by 1900
people. This is a little over one to
the square mile counting children.
This handful of people is doing
sorprising things. 1t is proving farm
practice, supports fine educational
system and Is building concrete high
ways.
1t is interesting. therefore. to con-
slider what part national reclamation
plays in providing an economic foun-
dation for these activities.
The Newlands Project has cost
thus far about $s. 100000. On the
land reclaimed by these works, are
modern towns, with electric lights,
schools and churches. creameries and
beet-sugar factories.
More than 10000 people live on
the project. More than one-third of
the states aricultural products come
from its farms
The Newlands Project is now only
| partly completed. A costly canal bull.
to utilize the water of the Truckee
river is amost unused because the
stream fails in the summer and farm
ers cannot settle on the land it COM
mands. A reservoir to hold the spring
floods is needed. Building this will
enable 1000 forty-acre farms to be
opened up to settlement.
| Factories which would otherwise
go elsewhere will be located in Reno
Stockman can have more fodder and
range. Without this, population Is
not likely to increase. because min
ing is declining, and the lumber in
dustry is nearing its end.
What ever helps Nevada grow in
population and wealth is a national
benefit But settlers cannot advance
The four or five million dollars the
work will cost; neither can the state
The money must come from recla-
nation fund and be provided on Its
generous terms.
These are the conclusion OF
board of experts from the University
Of California, the University of New
ada, the department of agriculture
and bureau of reclamation. appointed
to investigate the project.
The report of these Investigations
show that the lands under this ex-
tensions are fertile. That forty acreas
will make a farm. That two acres
will mean independence for an Amer
lean farm worker and his family.
The report shows that these farms
will not compete with those of Iowa
or Illinois or states farther east. The
re will be more dairy farms but the
milk, butter and cheese will go TO
Reno, Los Angeles. San Francisco,
and islands of the Pacific.
Completion of the Newlands Pro-
ieet will do for Nevada what the Salt
River project has done for Arizona.
OF the states 100000 acres. only
$4,000 acres were cultivated In 49,
90. One-third of this area, or204 ,00nI
acres was irrigated from the canals
of this scheme. Value of last years
crops was 1S,0O0.OO0, or nearly.
half the value of the agricultural
products Of the whole state
What would Arizona be without
enough local wealth and local credit
in the Salt River valley to maintain
and extend this enterprise. II has
been turned over to laeal control
Payments to the government are being
made and extensions to cost $4,000,
600 are planned