Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1885-01-31
GRAZING IN NEVADA.
Surveyor General Preble in His
Report has the Following to
Fay in Regard to NeVada's
Grazing interests

SEhZAhE hhhGECSbh
The impression abroad is that this
State is strictly mining State, and that
no other interests exists here. The er-
ror is very apparent when we notice the
reports of constantly growing farming
communities, and the large and constant
shipment of beeves from the State.
Nevada Is fast assuming the position Of
a great cattle State. The bunch grasses
Of the mountains afford excellent pas
turage during the Summer, while the
seeming barren waste of deserts is the
safeguard of Winter. The SHOWS Of
Winter, falling deeply in the mountains
drive the cattle, horses and sheep to the
dry vallies and deserts where the snow
fall is never deep, and they find good
browsing on the white and black sage
and water in the pools Of melted snow.
No long stretches Of wide prairie exist.
ing in the State the fierce winds of. Win.
ter do not gather that force that drives
cattle for miles and miles against all
resistance, but the high broken ranges
of mountains stand as bulwarks to
break the winds and shelter is afforded
in every valley. Farming being con.
fined to the lands in the vallies, border.
ing Immediately OH stream, the vast
territory on the outside is devoted to
grazing, and instead of Nevada being a
solitary thinning camp among the bar
rem mountains" thousands Of cattle,
horses and sheep find fattening and
nutritious food in the bunch grasses that
grow in the vallies and the "barren
mount aims" The beef and mutton
produced in this State is of exceptional
quality. being juicy. firm and tender,
and is sought after by butchering firms
of more noted States. Beeves are ship
ped both east and west, to Chicago and
San Francisco, and command the high
est market price. On account of its
superior climate Nevada is looked upon
as the natural home OF the horse, and
for breeding purposes OF both horses
and cattle 1t is equal, il not superior,
to Kentucky. Cattlemen Of the south,
who have considered different grazing
ritory for that business. Cattle ranges
are b-ing sought for and large acreage
is being sold annually by this Office for
that purpose. The most desirable spots
are of course "takeh up" but sill a
large territory of good grazing land is
left open and is for sale. A vast amount
Of land unit for farming, but we'll
adapted 10 grazing, could be disposed Ct
very readily if the price could be ad-
justcd below one dollar and twenty five
cents (st 2sl per acre, and | would an.
wise the dIsposing of mountainous land,
unfit for farming, in large, solid tracts,
at graded rates. In this connection
valley land ought to be disposed OF at
graded rates, and a grading commission
should be formed, as lands worth five
dollars per acre are sold for the same
price as lands worth twenty-five (z5)
cents, viz: One dollar and twenty five
cents (SI 75). Good grazing land is in
demand and large investments in stock
ranges have been made in the last year
by foreign firms. Several ranges have
been disposed OF with cattle to residents
of California. English capital has also
been used in purchasing ranges in Elko
county, and over a million dollars has
changed hands in the last year, AL
though the assessors reports do not show
it, learn from reliable authority,
stockmen, associations, &C., that there
are nearly 700, 900 head of cattle in this
State and 900, 600 head OF sheep.