The Fallon standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1920-1958, 1924-10-15

A partial approval of the suggest
ed Spanish Springs reservoir scheme
has been made by the committee hay-
Ing this matter in hand. This report
follows the investigation that has
been under way for several months
here and the Reno end OF the pro-
posed new unit The committee that
had charge of the investigation and
from the recommendation of further
investigation is advised is composed
OF Professor Weeks. Professor Ste
wart, c. w. Creel. s. b. Doten and
r. B. Headley.
Naturally on this half finished re-
Port the Reno Journal at once ad-
vises the public that the report Is
entirely favorable to the Spanish
Springs unit. The facts. when they
are sifted down, do not confirm such
a statement, as there are so many
suggestions made that will necessi-
tate further Investigations and esti-
mates that this report is but pre-
liminary.
PrOn1D1t1ve OOstS
At the outset the costs per acre
are given that In itself should have
made the advocates of this new unit
hesitate. The committee figures that
the 1880 acres of available land
under the proposed new unit will
cost the settler first 1920 per acre
for water, second that $40 per acre
for domestic water and $40 per acre
for raw land Is estimated, bringing
this land before IL is ready for crops
10 the sum of s140 per acre.
Figuring Water Supply
II must be admitted that the water
findings are faulty to cay the least,
as the report, while IL adopted would
OF itself take water from this project
does not recommend furthef develop
ment of storage on the Carson 10
provide for the abstraction on the
Truckee. This matter. before IL goes
TO congressional recommendation,
should be gone over again and the
Carson end OF the water supply,
which seems to have been entirely
overlooked, should become the con-
trolling element in the enlargement
OF acreage. Professor Weeks report,
while II is but a survey of the condi
tions as he found them, lacks the
material details that most likely will
be ultimately filed.
Cuts Lahontan Acreage
The report cuts the acreage of the
Newlands project materially. Instead
- 81,
port places the possible irrigable
acreage at $4,000 acres and grants
$1,000 acres under the Spanish
Springs dam. AS this project has
been gwen reservation of water
right for $4,000 acres the same
should have been included In the
Weeks report. This is another mat
ter that will have to go to adjudica-
tion before there is any subtraction
from the water rights under the La.
hontan dam.
The determination of classified
tion of lands and the subtraction Of
lands from this project that new
ono may be created Is possibly the
most dangerous feature OF the par
liti itib 10 a biaA-
ter that needs no superficial survey,
such as has been given, but one that
needs tie supervisional work OF an
engine : appointed by the water
board In conjunction with members
OF this Mead appointed party. The
loss of any irrigable acres to this
project means the additional subtrac-
tinp Of wafar fro,,. ho Dc
project to be added to the proposed
Spanish Springs unit, as 1t will have
10 be an individual unit. as the peo-
pie and homesteaders of the New
lands project have repeatedly stated
TO all investigators that there will
be no affiliations with Spanish
Springs II would be impossible to
vote such a new obligation onto tho
people of this project
That the proposed cut in acreage
on the Newlands project may not be
misunderstood Mr.. Weeks report
states:
Storage development to the ex-
tent of 100, 900 acre feet at Spanish
Springs and necessary distribution
systems would involve an expendi-
ture of approximately $122 per acre.
Limiting the storage to this capacity
would mean q curtaiment In total
acreage. The extent of this reduc
tion in area cannot be determined
without further analysis. Whether
II will be more economical to increase
storage capacity at Spanish Springs
at higher acre cost or cut down
the acreage under the Newlands prof