Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-11-08
The New state Of NeYnda.

The New State Of Nevada.
President Linc"ia's proclamation conse-
quent upon Nevada adoption Of State Con-
stitution, in accordance with the enabling act
passed at the late session of Congress, admits
that Territory into the Union Gs State, on
an equal footing with other States. Her citi-
zens will next Tuesday elect their State Off
GERS and Legislature, one member Of Con-
gress aud three Presidential Electors; and in
a few weeks hence the Legislature will elect
two United States SenatOrS-thus completing
all the steps necessary 10 put in motion the
machinery of independent local government,
and to perfect their connection with the re-
mainder Of the Union. Nevada makes the
thirty sixth State admitted to the Union. II
embraces the territory lying between the 9th
and 42d degrees of North latitude, and the
3Sth and 43d degrees Of longitude West from
Greenwich being bounded by Oregon on the
North, Utah on the East, New Mexico on
the South, and California on the Southwest
and West. In shape it is nearly square, its
southwestern angle being cut off by the Cali
fornia boundary, and it is about 800 miles
long by 800 wide. 1t contains an area Of up
wards OF 81 900 square miles. All the New
England States contain but 65,036 square
miles, New York only AZ 900, Pennsylvania
$4,000, Missouri $1,000, Virginia $1,000;
while there are but four larger States, namely
-TeXas, California, Minnesota and Oregon.
Nevada may be described as an elevated pla-
teau, with general height above the sea Of
from 1000 to 5000 feet, crested with numer-
nus mountain ranges, that rise from 1000 to
$500 feet above the general level OF the
basin. The country abounds in evi-
dences OF comparatively recent volcanic
action, in mineral springs, and IN vast
alkaline depooits. 1t is generally bare Of
timber, except on certain Of its mountain
slopes, and along the banks Of its small rir-
ers, and has an uninyiting, barren look. But
it contains immense deposits Of mineral
wealth, and its river valleys embrace prob
ably not less than a million acres Of arabic
soil, which yields good crops of hay in its
able paSturage and are susceptible of cultiva-
ton to some extent. Originally the new
State formed portion Of Utah Territory,
and the first white settlements in it were made
nv Mormans, who com nenced cultivation OF
the soil in Carson and Washoe valleys, and
has founded two towns, which, under other
names, have since expanded until they are
among the most important and thriving
places in the new State, one OF them-Car-
son City-being the capital. Gold was
frund in gravel deposits as early as 1850,
and n few of the immigrants occasionally
stopped to prospect or work the places on
their way to California. Traders from this
State used to meet the immigrants in the
Territory to buy their stock, and the only
communication between the two regions,
other than this, for many years, was the
occasional passage Of an -expresSman from
Placervile TO Carson, this transit being made
in the winter on snow shoes. In 1851 the
Mormon settlers were recalled from Nevada
by an edict Of Brigham Young, summoning
them to repair to Deseret to escape the wrath
which they were told awaited the gentiles.
They parted with their property at great
sacrifice, all but half dozen out of some
forty families blindly obeying, though many
afterwards returned to their deserted homes.
By this time population Of several thousand
Americans had gathered in the Territory,
which came TO be known as Western Utah,
and the county of Carson had been erected
by act Of the Territorial Legislature. James
NJ. Crane-a man Of ability, earnestness and
determination, who was living at Carson
urged its separation from Utah. The theo-
cratic and immoral rule Of the Mormons was
repulSre to the so-called "GentIles," who
complained that they could expect neither
proper legislation nor a just administration
of the laws over region SO remote from Salt
Lake, and settled BY people so essentially
different. Crane was elected a delegate to
lay the matter before Congress. and labored
assiduously and intelligently to that end. He
wrote pamphlet containing an admirable
statement Of the character, condition, re-
sources and prospects Of the Territory, which
be first called Nevada, and gave the Govern
a., hn,e uAa
quate ideas Of the interesting region to whose
welfare he had devoted himself. He did not,
however, succeed in his main object, and
early in 1859 the people Of Nevada effected
a partial and informal territorial organiza-
ton on their own account. The legality OF
their action was denied for various reasons,
but Judge Crane was elected Congressional
Delegate under it, and was on the eve OF re-
pairing to Washington again, when he died,
inst as the newly discovered silver mines were
attracting a gre.; dow Of population and
weslth to the Territory and promising an
early realization OF his predictions. Con:
gres, subsequently afforded partial relief
from the evils complained Of as the result OF
Mormon sway and remoteness from the seat
of iustice, by making Western Utah sepa-
rate judicial district, over which Judge Cra-
dlebauRh, who had shown courage, faithful
ness and independence at Salt Lake, was ap-
pointed to preside. The informal Territorial
Government was allowed to die during the
excitement that followed the silver dis
cnveries, but in March, 1861, Congress pass
ed an act organizing the Territory OF Ne
vada, and James w. Nye was appointed its
Governor. It's growth since that time has
been very rapid. Its population was last
summer between 10000 and $4,000, Indians
included its taxable, wealth was estimated
at $50, ,OO0, 900; its annual product Of silver
was about Sl5, 900, 900 its agricultural lands
had been so fur occupied and titled that
successful Fair was held the area OF mine
raj discoveries had been extepded until they
embraced nearly the whole area Of the Ter
ri,ory the ten counties Of Douglas, Ormsby,
Washoe, Storey, Lyon, Churchill, Esmer
aida. Roop, Humboldt and Lander had been
Organized; one city had been built which is
the most populous and wealthy on this coast,
next TO San Francisco; and the preliminary
steps had been taken BY Congress and the
people TO give Nevada place among the sis
tprhood OF States. Nevada is the child Of
California, and while she has exhibited equal
energy in developing her natural resources
has shown equal devotion to the glorious Re.
public of which she has now become 4 full
integer. An excess Of speculative mining,
some dishonesty in the management Of real
ly good mines, a judiciary tainted with the
vices that professional politicians carry TO
every new Territory, have co-operated during
the past twelve months to produce reaction
which has given Nevada temporary check
but with good use Of the lesson to be learned
from these circumstances, and proper care
In the selection Of her officers, the young
State will soon enter upon career OF inore C,'