The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1890-03-01
A NEW HISTORY OF NEVADA.

| Bancrofl's History OF the racine
Statesu Is "Nevada, Colorado and
Wyoming" In its review OF the
work the San Frtcisco Chronicle says
that Nevada and Colorado have been
grouped as the Silver and Centennial
States, while Wyoming is Territory
which in natural wonders, II not in
mineral wealth, forms link been the
two States. Mr.. Bancroft, with his
accustomed thoroughness, Is not de-
pendent upon books, magazines and
newspapers for his material, but he
has obtained from the chief actors in
the stirring history Of the two States
their written recollections. These
give to the book life and fullness OF
detail which are usually lacking in
works of this kind. Mr.. Bancroft has
also the Western sympathy with pio-
neer life which enable him to bring
out tho fine qualities in many charac-
ters, and to show the heroism' that
was often concealed under rude ex-
terror and border vices. What is even
more valuable to the historian of
these Pacific States, he has unbound
ed faith In the future of the great
commonwealths whose short history
he sketches with such graphic
touches. He has personally visited
the places OF which he writes; he
has thoroughly inspected the results
of irrigation, and he does not hesitate
to predict that another generation
will seen a transformation in Nevada
and Colorado such as has been wit
messed in the last decade in Southern
California. The power OF water is
mightier than that OF gold or silver,
and II the proposed irrigation projects
are carried out in Nevada they will
do more for the permanent growth
and wealth Of the State than score OF
Comstock bonanzas. The millions
taken out OF the Bonanza mines gave
great stimulus to Nevada's growth,
but the growth was neither whole
some nor permanent, and the decline
of the mines saw the loss of most of
this population and wealth. The
EARLY HISTORY OF NEVADA
Is full of myth. There must be some
thing In the air OF the Sagebrush
State which inclines men to lying.
Mr.. Bancroft has had hard wrestle
with such unveracious pioneers as
Bridger with his yarns about Great
Salt Lake and the deserts that lay to
the West of it, bnt he has contrived
to winnow the wheat from the chat,
and some OF the extracts which he
gives here from the statements Of
men like Bidwell and Meek are valu-
able. The country was traversed by
most pioneers who came overland
TO California, but it then furnished no
inducements to any one to settle. The
chief stimulus To the first movement
for Territorial Government was due
to fear of the Mormons who had set
tied what was then known as Western
Utah, but who in 1859, were COMPEL
ed to abandon their possessions by the
imperative order Of Brigham Young
to return TO Salt Lake and defend the
capital against the United States army.
But close upon the heels OF this move
ment for Territorial organization came
the discovery Of the rich silver mine g
of the Comstock, which made Nevada
q Territory, and In i've years con-
verted 1t into State. From that tiue
on for twenty-five years the history
of Nevada has been the history OF
this great silver lode, and 1t is only
within the last two or three years that
the resources OF the State in the way
of agriculture and grazing have be-
gun to be appreciated.
A remarkably vivid, accurate and
minute account is then given by
Mr.. Bancroft OF the discovery and
development OF the Comstock lode.
He shows that the mines, by right OF
discovery, should have borne the
name OF Grosch brothers, and that
Comstock's knowledge Of the lode
was gained from them.
coMsToCK's CAREER
Differed in few particulars from tina
of Marshal, the discoverer OF gold in
California. He reaped no solid ad-
vantage from his prior knowledge OF
the great mineral wealth In the lode,
and after life marked by hardshI ps
and vicissitudes he put an end to his
existence by pistol bullet in Mon
tana. Full credit Is given to the in
ventive genius OF Fair, which made
possible the development OF the Hale
IL Norcross mine that founded the
fortunes Of the Bonanza firm, but the