Sacramento daily record-union., 1882-05-12
NORTHERN NEVADA.
SOMETHING ABOUT MIEEs-THB DECLINE
OF MINING INTERESTS.
Stock Raising and It's Political significance
Fertile valleys-The Climate
and Geography.

counties of northern Nevada recently made
has convinced me that the State is not at
present in very fourishing condition. 1t
is useless now to discuss the accuracy OF
any of the numerous causes assigned for the
apparent decay. The principal cause, how.
ever, is indisputable The mines all over
the State have failed for several years to
yield in accordance with the expectations
based upon former productions. This par
tial failure has carried with it CORE.
spending depreciation of values, and
withdrawal of all kinds of Incidental bust.
ness no longer necessary to sustain the
former mining activity.
EUREKA
Possibly may be considered an exception to
the general statement that none of the
mineral districts OF Eastern Nevada have
fulfilled the magnificent nticipations of
their discoverers Not that they are abso'
lutte failures, or likely to become such,
Austin, Unionville, Paradise, Lewis,
Cherry Creek and Ploche still retain con-
siderable mining population, hopeful and
industrious, and the time may soon come
when a mineral resurrection may restore
the old.time cheerfulness. In EIko county
Tuscarora is not the bustling town OF five
years ago, but it is still considered good
camp, and liable to speedily become
better one. Bat We look in vain for the
once hourishing Mountain City, Cornuco-
pia, Mineral Hill, Sprucemont and Buel,
which predicted great things ten years
ago; and even Bullion City, in Railroad
district, is still plant of slow growth.
The slow, steady tide of emigration to-
ward the north, east, and south, shows
lack OF faith in any Immediate revival OF
business activity This constant drain OF
population, of course, carries with it
corresponding injury to the teaming, mer-
camille and agricultural interests, destroy
ing the demand, and causing a general
spirit OF unrest and uncertainty. These
northern counties Of Humboldt and Eko
have particularly suffered from this cause.
Three years ago
THE EMIGRATION
From Nevada set strongly toward Wash
iugton Territory; two years ago toward
Arizona and Colorado last year toward
Wood River and Mexico and this spring
Idaho aud Montana are recruiting from
Northern Nevada particularly, Wood
River, Butte City and the Yellowstone
being the favorites. | find this true among
the resident population here, and expressed
by the large number of passengers on the
railroad northward bound. First impress
sions formed along the line of the Hum.
boldt river are generally unfavorable to the
country. The scenery is not inviting.
Dusty, sagebrush plains, backed by black,
frowning mountains, are not attractive.
The stranger recalls the tales of the '49srs,
closes his window with jerk, and loses his
curiosity in something more entertaining
than rocks and >artemisia. This continues
most Of the year. Sagebrush may have a
lively green for couple of months, but the
spring is late and short. In fact, it can be
said to scarcely exist at all. Winter
jumps suddenly into summer storms and
chilly winds are speedily succeeded by ex-
cessive heat. In June the hills are bright
with flowers, and the river banks green
with willows In September all is brown
again, hot and dusty. In the western por-
tion of the State, about Reno and Carson,
the summer comes earlier and stays longer I;
but as far east as Elko county frosts are
not unfrequent even in August, though
seldom dong much damage for a month
later. This spring the season is over
A MONTH BEHIND TINE,
And can hardly be said to have yet put in
au appearance anywhere in Nevada. Snow
st this date still marks the line along the
mountain ranges Of the Humboldt, but the
main valley is dry, and occasionally dusty.
But hidden away behind those gloomy
mountains in the distance there are hun
dreds of fertile valleys undreamed of by
the stranger. Paradise and Quin River, in
Humboldt, and Ruby, Lamoille, Clover
and Independence, in Elko county, are dot
ted with the homes OF farmers whose isola-
ton has been compensated by gradual
prosperity, evidenced by improvements that
would do credit to any country supported
by home markets in ad AGENT mining towns,
and the increase of Sheep horses, hogs
and cattle. If some Of these anxious emi-
grants from the East who load the cars
and tramp the ties could be persuaded
that anyone along the line of the railroad
could possibly speak the truth, perhaps
more of them would fLd these valleys
and go to work at S25 or S35
per month. A good workman can
get these wages at this season of the year.
But agriculturists here are mainly depend
ent on home labor. A man bound for
California usually goes to San Francisco
and fares worse; the old settler stays on
his ranch and raises barley. This business
was, however, overdone last year. Too
many confined themselves to barley alone.
The demand fell off, the prices tell down,
and general growl followed. Now they
have commenced plowing for the crop of
1882, and some have grown wiser and de-
termined to add little wheat to the grist.
Eureka has been the usual market fc bar
ley raised in Elko, but the price has 80 de-
preciated that some was even shipped to
California last winter. This was excep.
tional, and not likely to occur often.
ONE OF THE LEADING INTERESTS
OF eastern Nevada is stock raising. Occa.
sionally disappointed and disgusted miner
is heard to declare that in his opinion that
is all this country is good for. These roll.
ing, grassy hills are natural and immense
pastures. Thousands of cattle are annu-
ally driven to Wyoming Territory, and
shipments frequently made to San Fran
cisco and Chicago. England's roast beef
is largely fattened on Nevada's table-lands.
California capitalists have found consider
able use for their money in this business.
Many industries are subordinated to this
interest. Many old issues and antago-
nisms, fought over and settled long ago in
California, have been, and to some extent
still are, live questions in Nevada-the
rights OF settlers and of land monopolists
water privileges; fence or no fence.
Such questions as these have more or
less, at different times, agitated the
people, and made or unmade narties and
politicians. These issues are gradually
settling themselves satisfactorily by the
settlers allowing the stockowners' cattle TO
tear their hides into rags against barb wire
fences, or by the settlers themselves be-
coming stockowners in a smaller way.
Necessity as well as inclination compelled
this course. As a general rule the stock
interest has been more successful in the
Legislature and in the Courts than the op.
position. Its energies were better concen.
trated, strong in the power which wealth
gives over many employees widely dispersed
and personally Indifferent, and over inter.
ests and affairs remotely or indirectly in.
terested. Such an influence must alwavs
possess financial and political power even
within State as distinctively classed as
mineral as this. More than once. united
to the other
DISCONNECTED ELEMENTS.
It has materially assisted to change the
political complexion of the State. The de.
feat of Tritle in 1870, of DIR. Hazlett in
1874, and the election of Governor Brad.
ley, was not due to any CHANCE of no,;,;o,,