Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1883-01-10
NARROW cAreE ROADS.

and in the markets was the rule. The
symmetrical development of a mine Tor
reasonable returns, on a fair business
prospect, was scarcely ever contemplated
The result has been. deserted mining
eamps. mortgages, a loss Of confidence
abroad in our mineral resources, sus-
picion and a 'blsck eye for the whole
Safe dad there not been this JOINT
reign of fraud and f~oliy--had mining IN
Nevada been carried on legitimately,
that is. on business principles such rs
guide men in all other departments OF
commerce-we might have been prosper
Gus. Notwithstanding all the drawbacks
that we have to put up with. The
difficulties and expense OF interior trans
portatiop would not have overcome US,
nor would even the distressing freights
charged by the Central Pacific Railroad
have grown to be the incubus that they
are now. We are unfalterin8 in our
belief that mining is in its infancy in
Nevada that, for the most part, the
ground has been scarcely scratched. We
are satisfied OF the fact, also, that the
present state of depression which pre-
walls is but the logical business conse-
ouence of recklessness, extravaganza and
dishonesty in Nevada mining, especially
in the earlier times, and still cherished
to some extent for temporary advantage.
We are, at present, suffering a reaction
which it is harder to recover from than
it would have been to contend against
difficulties that could have oppressed US,
such as we have alluded to Or any others,
in the way Of a prudent, business,hke
development of our mineral resources.
In the present condition OF things, a
recourse to legitimate mining everybody
recognizes to be the only hope. This is
certainly the remedy, but how to come
at it is the qlery Of q bankrupt. There
IS no longer Il chance to borrow money
in the East or III Europe. Millionshave
been sunk IN Nevada by sensitive eapi-
t~alists, who were induced to believe they
had { dead thing, and they have quit
listening to appeals for money TO be
invested in this section. In the future
We shall have 10 depend upon ourselves
and look TO the produce CT our mines
to reinstate Us in the confidence Of the
commercial world. We are not helpless
now; in fact we are getting along toler-
ably well. But Nevada has been, and
should again be. the chief bullion pro-
Queer Of the world. For this consumma-
ton devoutly to be wished Tor, We look
TO narrow-gauge railroads that will make
a network Of Nevada north and south OF
the Central Pacific. Having these and a
competing tra~nscontinental road south,
such as is mentioned elsewhere to-day,
in the State, access to mining regions
now almost terra ~incognita will be made
easy. Mountains OF ore that cannot now
be handled will be reduced at a profit,
never mind how small, and work will be
offered thousands. Old camps will come
into life again. Belmont, Phoebe, Ham
ilton and Aurora, and fifty other now
dead towns, will be busting again. New
camps will be struck in hundreds Of
places in q few years, and Nevada will
boom again in a legitimate and substan-
tial way. Legitimate mining is what we
need to pull us out Of the slough, and in
order to make even legitimate mining
available, now, narrow-gauge roads are
indispensable. They should be encour-
aged by legislation, and in every ether
way. They alone, we believe, can re-
create Nevada. Governor kinkead, in
his excellent message to the Legislature,
makes the following remarks upon this
important subject:
During the past two years the Car
son & Colorado Railroad has been ex-
tended to the southwestern boundary OF
the State, across the northern end OF
the White Mountain range, and ere
long its trains Will traverse the large
and productive valleys lying between
sA4DsC AIcAASaAAs ~ "a SiSas ElCILt
Nevada chain. The country already
rendered accessible by the further ex-
tension Of this road, is surpassed by no
section west OF the Rocky Mountains in
mineral wealth. The belts OF timber ad-
jacent to it's course will, with reason
able transportation charges, solve the
fuel problem in favor Of mining and
other industries now lying dormant.
THE Nevada & Oregon Railroad, |
starting from Reno, has been extended
to a point over thirty miles northward.
This road will open to market the pro-
ducts of a series OF valleys, large in ex-
tent and OF superior produotiveness,
and render available a vast belt of tim
Der situated on the eastern slope Of the
Sierra Nevadas.
~ am convinced that our prosperous
future as a State largely depends upon
the building of narrow-gauge railroads.
The transportation problem in this State
is. in my opinion. solvable in this man.
ner. Less expensive IN construction
and operation, they penetrate sections
otherwise practically inaccessible, and
bring to the main highways and marts
Of m the products OF valley,
mine and mountain, while in return
they carry the comforts and l~uxuries Of
our highest civilization to the hardy
p~rospector and Industrious pioneer on
the outermost frontier. Railroads are,
moreover, permanent investments. The
property is taxable; it is a fixed source
OF revenue TO the State and its county
governments, steadily and constantly
growing in value as traffic and population
over and along the lines increase"
A QUAKER DRAMATIST.
John G. Whittier writes the following
characteristic note ia resnonse to an In.