Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1874-07-08
RExOCRCES OF NEVADA.
From the Bcr1x Mincr.l

The first decade of our existence as
State is passing away. As great
changes have taken place during the
past twelve or fifteen years, on the
eastern slope of the Sicrr,S, and be-
tween them and Great salt Lake, it
might be well for us To inquire: Nhat
are The resources OF Nevada? Events
crowd upon the march 6f time, and
possibilities long dormant are being
revealed among the probable. soon to
enter the ranks of the positive and as
sumo Il place among the actualities of
life. to constitute the facts of history.
Little dreamed the emigrant who
wendcd his way across the plains and
deserts of the Great Basin in ls49 and
1850, hcholding only the general out
lines of the country through which he
passed. noting perhaps the craggy
, height of mountains grand, their gran
itc peaks. volcanic cones uphcaved and
fiss,red, hills rent and scorched 10y
volcanic force and fires, that these
grease wood, sage and sandy wastes.
80 arid and deSOlatc then, would ever
be anything better: or that the rock
ribbed hills. SO scattered, and moun:-
aims bald, were girt with belts of ore,
or bound in zones of argentine. only
u few years have passed. and the miner
who then took up his march scaled liil-
trodden heig hts to view the desert
wastes of salt. sand and alkali, can
now look from those SUBMITS and be-
mold the city, town or mining camp
perhaps NAV see the smoke from mills
and hear the hum and clang of their
movement and power. Where he went
forth without Il guide or trail to the
far interior. and his white face tAe first
gaZed upon by tho Indians, now teams
with desert schoonerS and trail way
Ons, go laden with merchandise and
miners supplies. People in some
countries can scarcely form an idea Of
what used to be known as the Great
Basin, where towering mountains
Stani forth alone, or range isolated
from range. surrounded or separated
by miles of barren waste, and ;he sum-
mits of the separated mountains twen-
~. thirty, perhaps fifty miles apart.
Rivers and streams How from many
Of these, vet some of them are dc>ti
tute of wafer and uncl;,d with soil or
tree. Some streams have green val
levs. rich with alluvial deposits. These
mountains, streams and axes. these
vai.evS, salt marshes and boraX
deposits, constitute the repositories
of NcVada's resources. The prnci-
pie of adaptation. the law of sub
Stitution an adjustment, aided
by the natural elements, must
be brought into relui>ition. and
be bounl to the ear OF progress. t!a;
what does exist may Yield and con-
tribute to mans COOL. These noun
tainS contain gold, silver, copper. lead
and iron. Soine of the marshes con-
tain salt, bora of lime, boratc of soda,
salpcttr, ina.nc>i:,, &c. som" streams
and lakes abound with fish /; other
Streams have none. In some Of the
valleys grass is abundant Il portion, of
the plains produce white SAGE brush.
bunch grass, etc.. suitable for ilocks
and herds anl Will, plenty Of wa'cr.
most of the SAGE brush land in valleys
would produce good grain. In some
places fruit would doubtless do we'll.
Now the inquiry arises: What can be
done to combine the elements. The agcn
ccS and forces III command, and 10y
the lltilza,i ion of common thingS. com
pei nature to yield her productions so
prOliticallv rs to increase the resources
nf Nevada beyond the largest precedent
of the past.