536 



NEVADA. 



to waste. The recent proposition of developing 

 electric power from the Truckee river at Floristpn 

 and transmitting it to the Comstock for service 

 in the conduct of mining operations has directed 

 attention to the tunnel's neglected source 

 iK)\ver The value of the proposition of thus util 

 i/iii" the drainage of the Sutro Tunnel is not 

 restricted to the economy of mining operations 

 on the Comstock, but it opens up the probability 

 that in many other mines lies a new factor c 

 profit in their drainage which has been hitherto 



overlooked." 



Agriculture. Projects for water storage 

 promise to add materially to the productive farm- 

 in.' lands of the Stale. One of these is a design 

 to store the waters of Humboldt river for irrigat- 

 in" the valley in the dry season. 



Legislative Session. The session of the Leg- 

 islature began -Ian. Hi and ended March 10. 

 1^-muel Allen was Speaker of the House, and H. 

 II. Cor veil Speaker pro ti'inpore. 



The term of William M. Stewart, United States 

 Senator ex pi ml. and he was re-elected. Other 

 candidates were: F. G. Newlands, W. W. Wil- 

 liams. A. C. Cleveland. N. H. A. Mason, P. L. 

 Flaiiiiiiran. and William Woodburn. 



Two constitutional amendments were proposed 

 and referred to the next Legislature: one for 

 assessing patented mining claims at $10 an acre 

 thev are now exempt from assessment and one 

 for admitting the incorporation of a lottery, and 

 to designate the amount to be paid by the cor- 

 poration to the State. 



Some changes were made in the election laws. 

 The act of 1895 regarding corrupt practices was 

 repealed. A method for takng the vote of elect- 

 ors in the United States military service out- 

 side the State was prescribed. Hereafter candi- 

 dates for the office of United States Senator may 

 be nominated and voted for by electors, just as 

 those for State offices, and the result given to 

 the legislature. 



Mining and other corporations may divide their 

 capital stock into shares of lesser denominations. 



A bill was passed for the reapportionment of 

 the Senators and Assemblymen. Compilation of 

 the laws of the State was provided for. 



It was enacted that any citizen of the State 

 instead of the United States, as before is en- 

 titled to admission to practice in all courts if 

 possessing necessary qualifications. 



A fund for relief of indigent patients dis- 

 charged from the asylum for the insane was pro- 

 vided for. An act of 1885 in aid of indigent vet- 

 erans of the Mexican War and of the civil war 

 was repealed. 



Itinerant trading was defined and regulated; 

 city councils and county commissioners may re- 

 quire licenses. 



The act granting bounties for planting forest 

 trees was repealed. 



A State committee on marks and brands was 

 created ; appointments are to be made by the 

 Governor. The office of State Live Stock Inspect- 

 or was created; it was provided that any five 

 freeholders may demand inspection. 



The shipment of certain wild game out of the 

 State was prohibited. County commissioners 

 have power to extend the close season indefinitely 

 for fishing in waters stocked by others than the 

 State. The law permitting the granting of public 

 lands to fish cultivators was repealed. 



Railroad companies are permitted to transfer 

 their franchises and property to other corpora- 

 tions. Telephone lines may be bought or con- 

 structed by county commissioners on petition of 

 two thirds of the taxpayers. 



The Board of Capitol Commissioners was en- 

 larged so as to include the Governor and Secre- 

 tary of State, as well as the Lieutenant Governor, 

 Comptroller, and Treasurer. 



The law on the militia was changed; the Na- 

 tional Guard is to consist in time of peace of 

 not more than 5 companies. Armories are to be 

 provided by county commissioners. 



A general law relating to guardians was passed. 

 It. was provided that notices of a hearing on peti- 

 tion for the distribution of the estate of a de- 

 cedent must be served personally on all interested 

 at least five days before the appointed time or 

 published at least three weeks in a newspaper. 

 Objections to the settlement of an estate may be 

 filed with the clerk if the court is not in session; 

 and the clerk may send notices without order 

 from the judge. The whole estate of an intestate 

 dying childless is to go in equal shares to the 

 surviving husband or wife and the father or 

 mother. Claims against an estate must be filed 

 within three months; they are to be treated as. 

 rejected if not indorsed within fifteen days there- 

 after. 



Other measures were: 



Giving the State Board of Education power to- 

 issue two-year certificates for teaching music, 

 penmanship, drawing, foreign languages, and kin- 

 dergarten classes. 



Permitting the State Board of Education to 

 issue high-school and grammar-grade life diplo- 

 mas; and also temporary certificates, to be good 

 till time of regular examination. 



Providing that persons authorized to perform 

 the marriage ceremony must first receive the 

 license. 



Making it a misdemeanor for a minor to mis- 

 state his age in order to obtain liquor. 



Repealing an act of 1875 prohibiting camels, 

 and dromedaries from running at large. 



Amending the law prescribing the manner of 

 locating and recording lode and placer claims,, 

 mill sites, and tunnel rights. 



Providing that stored water may be turned 

 into the natural channel and then reclaimed; wa- 

 ter appropriated by others must not be dimin- 

 ished. 



Providing for county boards of water com- 

 missioners and regulating water rights. 



Regulating the sale of public lands and pay- 

 ment of interest. 



Making mechanics' liens superior to any in- 

 cumbrance placed after work has been begun and 

 before limit of time for filing lien. 



Creating a Paris Exposition commission. 



Several resolutions were passed; one in favor 

 of the establishment of a national department of 

 mines; one concerning free and unlimited coinage 

 of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1, regardless of the 

 action of every foreign nation; one favoring the 

 election of United States Senators by direct vote 

 of the people; one in favor of the Nicaragua 

 Canal. 



The Governor vetoed a bill providing for a 

 constitutional convention on account of -the finan- 

 cial condition of the State and some informal- 

 ities relating to its passage. 



Political. The returns of the State election 

 of 1898 gave Reinhold Sadler, candidate of the 

 Silver party, a plurality of 22. William Mc- 

 Millan, the candidate of the Republicans, con- 

 tested the election on the ground that illegal 

 votes were counted in 4 counties, and that there 

 were irregularities at the polls. The case was 

 decided by the Supreme Court in September. The 

 court held that the statute calling for bipartisan 

 clerks and inspectors was directory only, and 



