M1VADA. 



19 



suggestions. They have been popularized by pho- 

 tographs and engravings. 



NEVADA. This State lies east of California and 



v YVTT exte "d s to tne ll^tli meridian W. from 



367 i 3 6 tr reenw ' cn - I' s remarkable geological 



Am Rep') ' features have been largely discussed 



under GREAT BASIN (q. v.). In spite 



of the manifest sterility of a large part of its surface 



there was a time when it was thought to give promise 

 of rivalling California in prosperity. In 1858 its rich 

 silver mines were discovered and in ] 861 it was sep- 

 arated from Utah, of which it had formed a part, and 

 organized as a Territory. In 1864 it was admitted as 

 a State, though still having much less than the full 

 ratio of population required for a single representative 

 in Congress. The population, which by the census of 

 1860 was only 6857, had probably quadrupled, and it 

 was expected to increase rapidly. In 1870 it was 

 42,491, and in 18SO it reached 62.2f>r,, showing an 

 increase of 46 per cent, for the decade. In the pres- 

 idential election of 18SO the total vote was 18,343, the 

 Democratic majority being 879. In the presidential 

 election of 1884 the total vote fell off to 12,771, the 

 Republican majority being 1615. In November, 1886, 

 the total vote tor L".vernor was 12.3H2, tlie Republican 

 majority being 594. These returns indicate that the 

 present population scarcely exceeds that of issn. It 

 is certainly less than half of the average required for 

 a representative in Congress (154.32.")). 



The failure of Nevada to realize its early expecta- 

 tions is due not merely to the aridity of the larger 

 portion of its surface, which prevents profitable agri- 

 culture, but also to tlie diminution in amount and 

 value of the prodaoti of its mines. Their enormous 

 output for several years had astonished the world. 

 The sudden excess of silver violently disturbed the 

 ratio of the precious metals ami .so alarmed the 

 nations of Knrope that they joined in demonetizing 

 silver. The depression of the silver market of the 

 world reacted disastrously on the "Silver State." 

 Congress, however, has endeavored to sustain its 

 interests, not only by maintaining the double metallic 

 standard which other nations nave discarded, but 

 by ordering the secretary of the U. S. treasury to 

 coin $2,iMX>,<Mio or more of silver each month. This 

 law still holds in spite of protests of more than 

 one secretary of the national treasury. But phys- 

 ii-al causes also contributed to the depression of 

 the people of Nevada. The bonanzas of the Coin 

 stock mines were exhausted. The ores, taken from 

 great depths at greatly increased expense 1 , showed a 

 very low average assay. Deep mining was finally 

 abandoned and all the interests of the State suffered 

 in common with the one whieh had given Nevada its 

 early promise and bright prospects. 



Since | wi. however, in the upper levels of the 

 famous Comstock mines there have been discovered 

 valuable deposits of ore, which were overlooked while 

 the search was directed chiefly to bonanzas, or masses 

 of almost pure silver. Some of these mines, after an 

 interval of five or six profitless years, have again begun 

 to pay dividends. Mines were discovered and opened 

 in other parts of the State. In 18K" the bullion from 

 the Comstock mines exceeded .">,< M MM MX), more than 

 twice the amount for 1885. In 1888 (lie total output 

 for the State was estimated at $8,000,000. 



' Grazing is the next most important 



interest to mining. Sheep-walks and cattle-ranges 

 have become numerous in the northern counties, 

 though less than a fourth of the total area is devoted 

 to this purpose. The counties of Washoe, Elko, and 

 Humboldt take the lead, but others are advancing in 

 this respect. While the native bunch -grass, and even 

 some varieties of the sage brush which everywhere 

 abounds, have been found excellent food for cattle, the 

 nutritious alfalfa has been largely introduced for this 

 purpose. _ In the peculiar climate of the Great Basin 

 the grass is cured on the soil without human aid. In 

 1887 there were in Nevada 17,683 milch-cows, valued 

 at $638,256; 317,059 oxen and other cattle, valued at 

 $6,949,933; 674,486 sheep, valued at $1,153,371; 

 14,543 hogs, valued at $77,339; 44,654 horses, valued 

 at $2,461,449; and 1657 mules, valued at $121,251. 

 There has been no loss in Nevada from pleuro- 

 pneumonia, which has made such ravages elsewhere. 

 Cattle from Nevada are largely shipped to San Fran- 

 cisco. 



Agriculture. Although the greater part of the soil 

 is unfit for agriculture, there are fertile regions, espe- 

 cially in the valleys. Here the climate and soil are 

 well adapted to the raising of cereals and vegetables. 

 The fruits of Nevada are of excellent flavor and quality. 

 At the New Orleans Industrial Exposition in 1884-5 

 Nevada made a very creditable display of productions, 

 mineral and vegetable. To this State were awarded 

 the first premiums for wheat and for potatoes, and the 

 silver medal for apples. 



Irrigation. A proper system of irrigation and legal 

 regulations for the use of water are greatly needed in 

 Nevada. While there are in some places corporation 

 ditches and several Legislatures have discussed the sub- 

 ject and passed various laws, the State has not yet 

 undertaken to provide storage reservoirs in which 

 water could be collected during the flood season and be 

 distributed as needed during the dry season. Until 

 this is thoroughly and effectually done, nine-tenths of 

 the water will continue, as at present, to run to waste. 



Constitutional Ain/'iuhncnts. The State Constitution 

 requires that an amendment shall be passed by two suc- 

 cessive Legislatures, and then be submitted to a vote 

 of the people and ratified by them before becoming 

 part of the organic law. As the population is stiU 

 fluctuating ana their needs and desires are rapidly 

 changing, these restrictions on their legislative action 

 have been found too severe for their circumstances. It 

 has, therefore, been proposed to alter the Constitution 

 so that a proposed amendment, if passed by a two- 

 thirds vote of the Legislature, may then be submitted 

 to the people. This amendment is to be voted on at 

 the election in November, 1888. Ten other amend- 

 ments are pending at various stages. One abolishes 

 the office of lieutenant-governor, others relate to the 

 power of the Legislature and its time of meeting, and 

 one imposes on the State instead of the several coun- 

 ties the duty of providing for infirm and indigent 

 citizens. Another proposed amendment is to make 

 women eligible for school-officers, while another is to 

 deprive Mormons of the elective franchise. There is 

 a general tendency, in the interest of economy, to di- 

 minish the number of State and county officers, and to 

 lessen public expenses. 



Finances. Tne total assessed valuation of real and 

 personal property, and of the net proceeds of mines 

 during the year 1887, was $27,997,339. From this the 

 State obtained, by a tax of 90 cents on $100, a revenue 

 of $251,976. The amount paid by all the counties 

 (save one) was $225,374. The total State receipts for 

 year ending Jan. 1, 1887, were $794,702.58. The ex- 

 penditures for the same time were $702,670.52. The 

 total amount raised by taxation was $537,499. The 

 lebt was $484,484, funded partly at 4 and partly 

 at 5 per cent. 



i:<i!li-nit<l*. There are in Nevada altogether 922 

 miles of railroad. The Central Pacific is the grand 

 trunk line of the State. It has 450 miles of main line ; 



