Sacramento daily record-union., 1889-10-05
NEvADA,s NEW INDUSTRY.
A Scheme That Promises Rich Returns
for the Boys.
from the Chicago Herald


IFrom the Chicago Herald.
"We have found new industry in the
State of Nevada which promises to revive
Reuben Stidger, of Elko, Nevada, who was
talking with some friends at the Grand
Pacific. 81 haven't anything to do with
it myself" remarked the Colonel, with a
slight cough" though l was member of
the last Legislature; but some of the boys
tell me that it promises bigger results than
a Senatorial election, and has the advant-
age of yielding pretty big cropeFery two
years"
And what is the new scheme, Colonel" !"
asked listener, who was pretty well ac-
uuainted in Nevada, :" and who's in it w
"Well, it's cinchIn' the Louisiana Lot
terry Company, an pretty near everybody's
in it, I amt, of course, bat nearly every
body else is. You see, Nevada's finances
are in pretty bad way. In fact the whole
State Is about as bad off as it can be.
Why, we've only got about 10000 taxpay-
ers and they've got to support the State
Government. -Four years ago some smart
Alexis cogitated on big lottery scheme,
and they formed a company and applied
to the Legislature for charter 1t was to
be called the Nevada State Lottery, and
was to run in opposition to the Louisiana
concern. Half of the net profits was to be
paid in the State Treasury for school and
other purposes, and everybody supposed
the lottery was fixed fact But the Su-
preme Court threw it out because such a
charter was unconstitutional-it was spe-
cial legislation. All this stirred up the
thing, and the Louisiana lottery million.
aires made up their minds to one of two
things-they would buy any charter that
might be granted, or they'd prevent any
legislation at all. The Nevada boys seer
this bluff and raised it at once. Two com
panies were formed, one to get charter
and hold it, and the other to get it and sci
out to Louisiana. The two got into row
of course. The first thing was 20 get ;
constitutional amendment, and this wa
put to a vote of the people last winter
The Louisiana sell-outs said they'd bea
this if the other fellows would not come
into their scheme. Aud, by Jove, they
done it. The Louisiana company pu
$4,000 into the State and knocked tht
amendment galley west. Then the boy
began to get their eyes open as to possibil
tiles, and they joined hands to cinch thu
Louisiana chaps every time. The mex
Legislature therell be new amendmen
before the people. That time Louisian;
will have put up big or the amendmen
will carry. Some of the boys are fgurin
now on getting big Doodle before tn,
election, then carry the amendment ant
hit 'em agin in the Legislature. Pm think
in that will be the course of events. TIL,
Louisiana company will pay million no
to have an opposition in Nevada, or the
will pay two millions for twenty-yea
charter if they can have it exclusive"
''But, Colonel, why don't the boys pu
through legal charter and get the tive
millions ?"
"Ah, but you see there are two sets o
boys" said the Colonel, "or would be a
soon as a charter was passed that didn't le
'em all in. Besides, the boys want to hi
the Louisiana both ways; that's the way
they always do, you know. You see, the
Louisiana charter expires in 1895, anc
there is no hope of renewal down there
By that time they must have charter il
Nevada, for no other State will grant one
But between now and 1895 the Nevada
boys is mighty hungry and gettin' hung
rier, and they've got three Legislature
yet to work in. A good deal can be done
in three Legislatures" said the Colone
with mighty wink.