The Evening critic., 1882-01-09
EVADA.
The Development, Growth. Pros
perity and Financial Condition Of
Nevada - A Young Stntesmap's
Nfpua-


this morning met the Hon. c. c. Powning,
State Senator from Washoe County,
Nevada, and editor and proprietor of the
daily and weekly Nevada State Journal.
Mr.. Powning, although young man, is
one of the Republican leaders in his State.
He is an aggressive as well as progressive
young man, and is thoroughly posted in
politics as well as other great questions
which agitate the people of his State. The
modest reporter began his interrogatories
by saying:
"Tell me, my journalistic friend, some-
ing about your little State u"
"Well, SIR" said the statesman and
journalist, Nevada is all right. You
Eastern people have a very erroneous i'm
preston of the mining, financial, political,
business and social affairs Of our State. The
condition Of the State is by no means as
deplorable as has been represented. True,
the Aladdin days of the good old bonanza
times have apparently passed away, but
the mining situation is full of hope and
promise. During the past three years an
immense amount of dead work has been
done on the Comstock, and the mines arc
now in shape to be thoroughly prospected
at great depth The present indications
mines and before 1882 expires the opinion
is general that the old lode will be out of
borasco and into bonanza, when there
will be a renewal of the lively times of
1S75-6-7. Prospecting is being as vigor.
ously prosecuted in various other sections
of the State, and the output of bullion will
certainly show steady increase in the fu-
ture.
"Our yield for 81 was only S9,5O5, 81 Al,
of which Eureka County produced about
one-t third, and Storey only One-sixth. The
State and counties received S76,00311 as
taxes on the net yield of two millions and
a-half.
"The great evil of the outside camps has
| been the lack of easy transportation and
| reduction facilities. These will be sup
| piled by the new railroads which are now
being built and those contemplated, so
that in two or three years the most remote
| portions of the State will be easy of ac-
| cess.
"Then you are doing something in rail-
road building?'' asked THE CRITIC.
"The Carson & Colorado narrow
| guage has been extended from the
| Virginia & Truckee Railroad to Candel-
aria, one of the richest mining camps in
| the State, and is being pushed on down to
the Colorado" said Mr.. Powning. "An-
other road" continued Mr.. p, "is being
constructed from Eureka to connect with
| the Utah system. Still another is being
built nortbward from Reno to Southern
Oregon. And the Central Pacific folks talk
| of building road right north and south
through the State, tapping Eastern WASH
ington Territory and Oregon and connect
ing south with their Southern Pacific,
hoping to carry the wheat crop of that
Northern country to the Gulf and thence
to Liverpool. The construction of these
| new roads will be the making of Nevada,
if Through any of them we shall be enabled
to have direct communication with the
East, so that our freight can be delivered
to us without being compelled to pay what
is in effect through rates to San Francisco,
and then local rates back. Once relieved
from the grasp of the Central and Union
Pacific roads, in the matter of fares and
freights, and an impetus will be given to
business and the development of the State
alike as profitable as it will be astonishing
Our people have about abandoned all hope
of relief from Congress, through the regula.
tion of Interstate commerce, either in the
passage of the so called Reagan bill or by
any measure of similar character. Oul
| hope now is in new railroads and competi
tion from that source, but knowing that
competition is impossible where combina'
tion is possible" it is almost like hoping
| against hope to imagine that our isolated
position will not forever keep us at the
mercy Of the railroad leeches that usurI
Governmental functions and literally tax
us at their will.S
"You are satisfied with the financial sit
uation of Nevada, are you noty'' queried
the newsman.
"The financial condition of the State is
much better than any State in the Union
if except New Jersey and Illinois. The
total debt of the State is S532, ,000 $3S0,00
of which was assumed from the Territory
The State debt proper is but $152,000, and
to Offset this we have 1914 900 in coin on
hand. The State is now building an $780,,
600 insane asylum at Reno. Our schoo
tuition the State is limited to debt of $500,
600 exclusive of the S3S0000 assumed from
the Territory. The present rate of taxation
is ninety cents, but retrenchment and re-
form has been the order of the day ant
| commencing January l, 1888, seventy
five-cent rate will be sufficient TO meet tn,
current expenses of the State government
even should the total valuation Of taxabl,
, property fall to $So,Ooo,Ooo, which is not a
all probable"
, "The general outlook is favorable, you
! Think"
"We have increased 10000 in the pas
decade. Our agricultural, grazing, borax
| soda and salt interests are constantly i'm
proving, and when the general "boom
) reaches the Slope, Nevada will secure an'
retain her share.
i "Tell me" said THE CRITIC, something
about politics in the rotten borough"
|. Nevada" said the distinguished Nevad
r ian, is no more deserving of that Oppro
. bious appellatiOn, sir, than New York
l Pennsylvania, or many older and large
: States. Unfortunately, all men are no
t honest, and many persons entitled to vot
Q | in this country have but a faint idea G
: the true worth of the ballot. The corrupt
S | ing influence Of money has its effect upo
t some voters in Nevada, but see no mate
: rial difference whether it is improperl
G used by individuals, as has sometimes bee
the case in my State or by oil and railroa
Q companies here in the East. What is don
\. in Nevada is only ON a very small scale i
comparison with the Eastern method {
corporation collaring, intimidation, tissu
= ballots, and things of that kind.
/ How do you folks take to the ne
# Administration? put in the reporter.
!. Nevada Republicans are true blue" ol
"a served the statesman-edtor. They recol
q nize in President Arthur one of the be
n Republicans this country ever produce
~ They have confidence in his ability, inte
~ rity and honesty. They believe that
a. has the interest Of the whole country
heart and that he will grow with th
growth and strengthen with the strengt
of the grandest political organization tn