The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1879-02-04
DAILY SILVER STATE.
Tuesday. .........February 4. 1879.
ARTESIAN WELLS.

EOiesSOr W. T. btoWdTt, OeuhtOI
from Storey county, Las introduced a
joint resolution petitioAing Congress to
donate arid lands to athens who shall
perfect flowing artesian wells in this
State. The petition sets forth the facts
that the climate of Nevada is as tenn.
perate as that Of Ohio and Kentucky,
and is exceptionally favorable to the
rapid growth and perfect development
of the various fruits, cereals and vege.
tables peculiar to the north temperate
zone; that the soils of the valleys of the
State are mainly composed of the
eroded debris of limestone and volcanic
mountains-elements which guarantee
the fertility of arabic lands-and that
there are millions of acres of these rich
alluvial valley lands which are now ut
terly valueless to the General Govern.
ment, and of little use to the people of
Nevada by reason of their aridity and
lack of facilities for artificial surface ir.
rigation. and that the Typographical
and geological configuratiou of the val
leys alluded to indicate the pracsicability
of obtaining an abundant supply of ar.
tesian water for irrigation purposes.
In view of these facts it is resolved
by the Senate and Assembly conformity,
that our Senator'S and Represen tatives
in Congress be requested to use every
reasonable effort to induce the Federal
Government to grant from the public
domain In this State. liberal donations
OF arabic lands to citizens of the United
States who shall successfully cause
water sufficient for practical agricultural
or grazing purposes to flow upon the
surface of the arabic lands to be 80 do
mated by the Federal Government.
The resolution will of course NEST
the approval of every citizen of Nevada.
The facts stated are apparent as such to
all observing persons who have travelled
through the State. Millions of acres of
land capable of producing fruits, cereals
and vegetables, if irrigated, are now
useless in consequence of the scarcity
OF water, and will ever remain so unless
the climate changes, which is not
probable, or water is obtained by arti.
fetal means for irrigating them. The
Government would lose nothing and the
State would be benefited by donating
at least five thousand acres of land to
every person. company or corporation,
that will get flowing artesian we'll on
such land. capable of producing suffi
Gent water for the cultivation of trees.
grasses, grain or vegetables. 1t would
also be to the interest of the State to
encourage the boring of such wells by
giving special premium in money to
every person. company or corporation,
who. or which within a specified time.
will show the praoticability of irrigatipg
lands by artesian wells. 1t is of the
greatest Importance to the future of Ne.
vada that its arid valleys should be re.
claimed. and that the sagebrush should
be supplanted by forests. and waving
fields of grain. and it is not improbable
that In country where all the streams
sink, and none have a surface outlet to
the sea. that subterranean rivers NAV
be found by boring. which will supply
sufficient water to make the deserts as
valuable for agricultural purposes as
the prairies of the Western States.