The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1895-11-23
NEVADA AND HEl DESERTS.


with to such an extent that to an mex
perleneed person Nevada seems to be a
barren waste. Outside of the western
portion OF the State and lew green val
leys here and there, Nevada consists
chiefly OF sagebrush plains or dry des
erts, which give very unfavorable i'm
preston, at first sight, to the traveller
This IS especially true OF the northwest
ern part, where we find the Smoke
Creek, Black Rock and other large des.
erts, while the southern and eastern
parts are very similar in appearance.
Perhaps nothing presents a more cheer
less or dlscouraging outlook than large
desert OF barren sand. Far along, az far
as eye can reach, nothing appears to re-
lleye the monotony OF the vision. Not
spear OF grass-not even sngebrush-
greets the eye; nothing but the immune
cradle deceptive pictures common to the
desert, such as the magnified form of
small stones, seeming like herds Of cat
tie In the distance, and the ott-repeated,
but never existing, oasis OF W ater.
Where these deserts with their en-
circling chains OF gray mountains do
not appear we see the boundless sage
plains, apparently of no more use to
man than the barren waste before de-
serihed, dotted only, here and there
with lew green spots. 1t is this pic
ture OF the first appearance of Nevada
so-called deserts and sage plains-that
has earned for her the title of a barren,
uninhabtable land. But holdl Is this
picture without redeeming feature?
Must We accept the conclusion common
ly drawn regarding our State? No, in
Iced, let us hope net.
The cultivated portions of Nevada
present a striking contrast to the sur
rounding country. The beautiful green
of her agricultural valleys, with their
fields of grain and verdure, seem to bear
no relation whatever to the encirciine
sagebrush or the uncovered plain. But
the changes brought about in these un-
cultivated districts, which were once no
different from the rest of the country,
prove that Nevadas deserts and sage
brush lands have within them untold
power, which requires only the hand of
energy and determination, and the ap-
plication of good judgement to bc
brought forth to the light.
The soil OF Nevada, rs a general thing
is the richest and most fertile of any in
the United States, Notwithstanding it's
unfavorable companion-the sagebrush.
The rich black loan may be called upon
to yield productivity to any crop that
may be sown.
1t Is very common belief that New
ada's drawback is her lack of water
supply. And indeed il is drawback,
but not as great as might at first be sup
posed. There are very few perennial
streams in Nevada; most::of the rivers
found in the spring are dry chanels dur
ing the summer. But there is not a
mountain but what contains springs, and
artesian wells could be had almost any,
where with the expense of little time
and labor. Not only this, but if the wa
ter supply, such as it is. was properly
stored and applied, much that is now
uncultivated could be made into produc-
tive fields. There are abundant oppor-
tunities afforded in the mountain lakes
and high valleys for storage OF the spring
flood waters which could then be used
for irrigation during the summer. All
that is needed to convert many of
Nevada's dreary wastes into smiling
fields and beautiful agricultural valleys
is the intelligent application of
little capital and more population
to accomplish this by earnest and
hopeful labor The most difficult thing
to overcome and the greatest drawback
to Nevada's prospects is the deep-seated
predjudice produced by the wrong i'm
preston of first appearances. This can
only be overcome by time and by the
success of those who have courage
enough to battle with difficulties and
make the attempt.
Even the deserts of sand just describ-
ed, while perhaps they cannot be made
into agricultural fields owing to the ma
ture OF the soil itself, have in many
cases rich mines Of horax, salt and soda
on their surface OF the highet value to
MON and a so,,t,n of ,rnaltb tn tho Ctata