Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1885-01-14
THE RESERVATION.

Congressman Cassidy has procured
yhe passage af bill, by the House Oh
Representatives, which permits pros
pectors to enter Indian reservations,
ksste and work mines, thereon, and
arquire valid title to the property.
Tts bill will, doubtless, pass the SEN
MIA, and Mr.. Cassidy is entitled to the
credit OF having been mainly instrn-
MENTAL ID the adoption of measure,
y;aich will materially increase the
sniaeral productions Of the country ana
open road to employment Tor many
itnspsaAds of our underground to ers.
Should nothing else be done, this
biT, il it becomes law, will remove
lhe restrictions preventing miners
dsSeloping the minearl deposits, which
nuw lie, neglected, in the two mount
aSa ranges which fringe the Walker
River Reservation. There is more to
he considered, however, in connection
with this Reservation than merely the
snines within its limits. There is no
nxeessity for its retentien, as the Piutes
For whose use it is set apart have prac-
tirallv aband oned 1t; they live, almost
spsirely IN and around the mining
gzmps and settlements of the white
pcotle. There, they get their food
nd clothes. partly by work and partly
y begging and stealing. There, also,
fksy occasionally earn money, with
vAach to gamble or traffic in watered
whisky with INSCRIPTIONS white men
inwhich traffic, they usually get the
vast of the bargain and the worst OF
whisky. A Mason Valley correspond
eSshas a communication in another col
pnn, in which there is q rather one
slfed view of the case taken. By some
error Reno paper. in enumelating
rtasons for the abandonment of the
Reservation, stated that there was
sEDugh arabic land to furnish homes
or 1000 families, at least the agrcult.
ural mind af the editorial rancher re,
eFsved that impression. There are not
hGnesteads for anything near 1000
families, but there are homesteads for
some few, and including the mines,
Gkheries and wood, there will, event.
ually be living for probably fully
1000 people, and doubtless fortune for
many. The correspondent who has
evidently never seen the southern end
Of the reservation, fasiens upon the
agricultural end as the point of attack
and assumes to show that there is
neither land, water nor vegetation.
He seems to be ignorant of the fact
that the first settlers took up ranches
in the lower end of the valley, which
vas considered by them TO be the best
portion. When the reservation was
sct apart, they were driven off by the
authorities, but not without remon-
STRANGE. This is the land over which
the cattle from the upper end of the
valley now range and which free past,
ureage would be greatly regretted by
SOME of the large cattle men of the
Valley, should the reservation be
abandoned. The farming lands are
The least of the benefits which the
Slate will derive from the territory in
question, when white occupation is
permitted. Walker Lake is within the
rssrvation boundaries, and it is abund'
ss6'y supplied with fish. The fisheries
next to the mines, should the reserva-
ticu be thrown open to white industry,
vculd be of great service IN adding to
IA resources of the State. Again, the
4ountains along ihe western shore of
tke lake are covered with nut pine,
which though not valuable for timber
n II great value as fuel, and would
cane into almost immediate use on
srxo0nt of the comparative ease with
winch 1t can be brought out. OF
cszrse, the Mason Valley people no
Anxs use for the Government range
sEr not anxious that the country should
In opened to settlement, and those who
~ BOT aware of the extent of the res
srsasion are not to be blamed for being
~pagnorance as to the mines wood and
kAsries. When they learn all the
hEss. they will join in the call for the
abandonment and will be willing to
Ead the few Plutes. who prefer Gov.
anment rations and regulations to
Waite mans hogadi and freedom, to
fgranid, wheIe there is plenty of room
fEsAem and where they would rather
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