The Fallon standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1920-1958, 1924-01-23
Secretary Work Opposes Completion
Of Spanish Springs Reservoir
Governor Sorteham Comes to Defense of Project a
Fact Finding Convention. Many Projects in Protest

0 contract should be postponed until
after completion OF the reservoir
II is very unlikely that our farmers
would vote it,
again a prominent citizen of your
state whote last July as follows:
on the Spanish Springs development
he started before any vote OF the
electors of the Truckee-Carson dis
trict be taken on the contract for re-
payment
Again we have copy of resolu-
tions by the district board dated Aug
ust II, last, in which the construc-
ton of the reservoir is ugred and
any assurance of reimbursement Is
omitted although we are informed
the question. was discussed at the
meeting.
"In the face of such an attitude
and n view OF the law 1t seems
hardly fair to charge the department
with negligence In not pressing the
matter more than IL has. In fact
there is at best grave doubt Of the
propriety of proceeding to construc-
ton involving a federal investment
of millions of dollars without more
assurance OF repayment. To pro-
ceed would invite severe criticism
from congress and opposition, en-
dangering the whole project. This
attitude of congress is illustrated by
the recent discussion before the ap-
propriations subcommittee consider
ing the requests from the depart
ment for additional appropriation
for the Spanish Springs reservoir.
There was sharp questioning regard
ing the arrangement for reimburs-
ing the reclamation and apparent
disposition to withhold such sppro-
priation or to divert 1t to other pro
iect purposes pending solution OF
some OF these problems related to
Spanish Springs.
You make comparison with work
in Idaho. but the situation with re-
spect to that work is very different.
The principal work there at present
Is the American Falls reservoir. In
connection with that the local people
have not only given the most defi-
mite assurance OF repayment but have
proceeded vigorously to finance the
reservoir TO a considerable extent by
repayment The bulk of the lands
benefited have been organized as
reservoir district embracing town and
agricultural property with an as
sessed valuation approxim1 1ting $780,
100000. This district by a vote OF
ten to one has favored the issuance
of bonds amounting to s2,700,000
for the purpose of contributing funds
toward construction of the reservoir.
The district had by contract obligat-
ed itself accordingly.
you speak of the Idaho work as
'newer'-but the particular things
IN hand are not newer than the Span
ish Springs reservoir plan. Aside
from operation and mainteance, the
other substantial work under way in
Idaho Is the construction of a dam
on the Payette river and related
things. Here again the lands related
TO the work have been organized as
irrigation districts, have offered to
make all necessary contracts TO as
sure repayment, and have actually
made such contracts In every way as
required by the United States. Re
Gently It was necessary to increase
the liability of one district in that
connection and the necessary con-
tract was Immediately forthcoming.
II am very conscious of the situa-
tion in Nevada respecting reclama-
ton and the unusual importance of
irrigation relatively to that state. II
is my earnest desire to be helpful In
forwarding such work, but to make
any real advance in that direction we
must at the outset give confederation
to the requirements of the law and
the conditions that exist.
Sincerely yours.
HUBERT WORK, Secretary"
Washington, January s.