Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1884-04-16

The Chang Ing Conditions, About us
and Their Effect.

and Their Effect.
The atmospheric conditions in Nevada
for the last two or three years have ex-
cited the interest Of many thoughtful per-
sons. 1t is believed by some that our
climate has undergone marked and proba-
bly, permanent changes. There is in this,
OF course, a decided element of specula-
ton. To speak definitely on such sub
iect requires q great deal OF painstaking
study, based on information got by many
observations of weather phenomena. But
going back two years and noting such
facts as come under everybody's observa-
tion, we recall the extraordinary 'falling
weather" of April, year ago, when we
had continuously for ~ days either snow
or rain here every day. This season the
fall Of snow and rain has been still more
remarkable already, as regards quantity,
and the barometer indicates continuance
OF similar weather. A great portion OF
Eastern Nevada has been thoroughly
soaked, and places that have hitherto been
dry and thirsty are now moist deep
below the surface of the soil, while all
ordinarily damp places have been con-
'SApOu AAtO pOhub db0 AOi hiAdobAO oAOats-os
The beds of creeks and rivulets that have
been dry for years are now charged with
booming currents that make the larger
streams of Nevada more worthy OF the
name of rivers than ever before. The re-
suit this Summer will be to make larger
part of the State than ever for long time,
valleys and hills, an immense, rich
pasture field. Nutritious bunch grass
areas that were given up as eaten
down and trampled out of existence
as such, will be made as
fresh and as luxuriant again as they were
before herds were ever driven to browse
upon them. 1t is becoming better known
from year to year, also, that the soil of
Nevada is capable of producing q great
variety of crops. Grain, vegetables and
potatoes are grown in abundance almost
anywhere. Those who have carefully
tested fruit growing have found in many
places that plums, peaches, grapes and
cherries may be successfully cultivated
and that these fruits raised in Nevada are
very substantial and have flavor decid-
edly superior to similar California fruits,
excepting the grape. A number Of in
stances might be cited to demonstrate the
progress made in this department of
farming. Is this success due merely to
the fact that the adaptability of our soil
and climate has been gradually brought
to light by enterprising ranchers and
horticulturists in the course of expert
ments2 Doubtless, for 20 yeaas ago it
was thought that even the cottonwood
tree would not grow if transplanted in
Carson City. Now, gentleman there is
successfully cultivating black walnut
trees and getting fruit from them annu-
ally, though they are very sensitive to late
Spring frosts. This and other expert
ments show by their result that the eli
mate of the State has materially
changed and that with it, to some
extent, there has come a corresponding
change in the conditions of the soil.
Il is part of the physical history of the
globe that extreme changes in climate
have gradually taken place. Where gla-
ciers moved centuries ago, the fauna of the
temperate zone now appears. Even in
Nevada unmistakable traces of a glacial
period are noted. Where, under a tropical
sun, vegetation was long ago varied and
luxurious, ice mountains now mark re-
gions of frigid waste. All we need in this
sagebrush country is water. With plenty
OF this, which the weather signs give US
reason to hope for, and less liability to the
early and the late frosts, which danger,
also, we seem to have less reason to ap-
prehend from year to year, Nevada, with
its healthful atmosphere, would become q
populous State. Farming of every kind
would make the face of the country smile,
while ages of profitable mining in more
cheerful and stable manner would be left
for the thronging generations that succeed
US. There is promise of these better con-
ditions, and the present generation OF
ms the nrnmiaQ nartiQlIV
fulfilled.