Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1886-08-07
yEyADA'S RESOURCES.


duetry.
The editor of the NorthzVesteyn Lire Stock
1ouynathas been writing up Nevada, espec.
;ally the Humboldt and Truckee yallies, with
reference to its grazing resources. Extracts
from his articles have appeared in the SHE,
.Sfat< from time to time. Now his descrip
ton Of the Humboldt valley and Central
Pacific Railroad and Government lands is
printed in pamphlet form, and from it the
following is copied:
THE HUMBOLDT VALLEY,
Including the territory adjacent on either
side, the Truckee, Carson, Walker, ETC., is
one Of the best watered sections in all the
arid regions Of the United States. Along
the margins Of each of these streams and ad-
iacent to the main Humboldt river are thou
sands upon thousands of acres Of level land
that can easily be irrigated by constructing
bitches from the streams Of flowing water.
All Of the tributary streams may be turned
onto the valleys at small expense, because,
the banks are low and the necessary dams
may be cheaply constructed. There is suf-
6cient water in these side creeks, il all util-
lied, to irrigate large per cent. of the
available bottom lands contiguous thereto.
And the aggregate Of these lands runs away
I'D into the hundreds of thousands of acres.
The Humboldt is itself, paratively speak.
ing, easily handled. Dams can be put in SO
as to retain, and bitches be made to carry all
of its waters out over the level lands on
either side. A careful study Of the ground
and the water supply convinces the writer
that if properly utilize d, there is sufficient
water in the Humboldt river and the hun
dreds Of small streams that empty into it, to
irrigate such per cent. Of the rich bottom
lands as would supply an abundance OF hay
TO Winter feed all stock that could be kept
in good condition on the mountain ranges
during the Spring, Summer and Autumn
months. That it would pay can be easily
shown.
THE DEMAND FOR BEEF
Is growing more rapidly than are the herds
increasing. In 1860 there were SI4 cattle in
the United States for every 900 of our pop
ulation. To-day there are only IT'S head of
cattle to each 1000 of our population, very
considerable falling off in the relative sup
ply, notwithst anding that during this period
the whole Of Montana, Dakota, Idaho, East
ern Oregon, Nevada, Wyoming, Colorado,
Arizona, most of New Mexico and nearly
one half Of Texas have been withdrawn from
the dominion of the Indian and filled to ov.
erAowing with cattle. The increase in these
States and Territories alone, since 1860 has
been over IS, 900, 900 head of cattle. Still,
with this wonderful extension of the business
into new fields, and the saving of every fe
male animal of the bovine race for breeding
purposes, the increase of population has been
so rapid and continuous that we have not
been able to keep up our beef supply. No
one for a moment will dispute the statement
that the population of this country will go
on increasing at proportionate rate, and
that in consequence in the year 1910 we will
have loo, ooo, 900 people to eat beef. Where
is this supply to come frome There is no
more unoccupied country. AS a general
the country is full of cattle.
With our population doubled, the demand
for beef will be doubled.
HOW CAN THE DEMAND BE MET.
Only by producing double the amount of
beef on the same ground now occupied.
This condition can only be reached in
small area of the country, for the reason that
the larger per cent. of the arid region, or
permanent range country, has no adequate
water supply and no greater number OF cat
tie can be raised than can gain their sub
stance from the range in its present condi-
ton. Then it is safe and reasonable con
clusion that year by year the beef supply
will grow less per capita, and that there will
be gradual advance in prices in proportion
as the supply is short. If, then, there is no
danger of an over supply, and consequent
lowering of prices, as business proposition
it is safe to expend money in the develope-
ment Of country where increased supplies
may be had, so long as you keep these ex-
penditures at point below which you can
secure a present return. The future will