The herald., 1897-09-12
LAS VEGAS VALLEY
NEVADA SCHOOL LANDS FOR
$25 AN ACRE
Rich Valley Lands With Plenty of
Water-A Railroad Is
Needed

ing for some years past in inter-moun-
tain regions Of the United States, is
now in Los Angeles, waiting for rail-
road developments which are soon to
materialize for the benefit Of this Sec
ton. Mr.. Brainard spent years secur-
ing rights Of way for the Union Pacific
railroad in it's building operations in the
state of Colorado. He also took an ac-
tive part in connection with the issu-
ance and sale Of county bonds to assist
the Union Pacific in its work.
At later date Mr.. Brainard was en-
gagged in mining operations in the Grip
pie Creek country, just missing some of
the large strikes in that country which
has been made famous for its rich de-
velopments.
Some seven years ago he had charge
Of a party of accommodating engineers
sent through to Southern California by
the Union Pacific when it was decided
to build line from Salt Lake City to
Los Angeles
He speaks Of the Las Vegas valley in
Southern Nevada as one OF the rich
valleys on the proposed line Of the Utah
Southern, which is soon to be extended
in this direction. This valley contains
about 100000 acres of fine valley land
with plenty Of water obtained from
creeks. springs and artesian wells to
irrigate the entire valley. Surface
water can be had at depth Of from five
to fifty feet. There are two improved
places in the valley, and these produce
the finest OF fruits-the apples being
particularly fine. There Is no railroad
at present within seventy-five miles of
the valley, the little Vanderbilt branch
from Gaff station northward in this
state being the nearest railroad connec-
ton with the valley. The location of
the country is such, however, that any
railroad built from Utah to Southern
California must, almost Of necessity
pass through this valley.
The lands Of the valley all belonged to
the state Of Nevada, and are school
lands. The state offered these lands for
sale at $L25 per acre, of which amount
rs cents an acre was payable on or be-
fore twenty-five years from date of
purchase, with interest at the rate Of six
per cent per annum.
Mr.. G. c. Kirby, who has an office in
the Stimson block, in the city, pur-
chased several sections Of this valley
the lands were of little or no value, but
also knowing, for he had been all over
the lands, that with railroad these
lands would be worth from $40 to $50 an
acre.
Mr.. Kirby has also been acting as
agent for the lands, and through his in
strumentality over half of the lands of
the valley have been sold during the
past three years.
A few days since Mayor Snyder Of this
city received letter Of inquiry from one
of Mr. Kirby's clients, Mr.. A. j. Elliott
Of Minneapolis, Mimi, asking where
of Minneapolis, Mimi, asking where Las
Vegas valley was, and whether the lands
there were good, or otherwise, and what
were the railroad facilities, etc. Mr..
Elliott seemed to fear that his invest
ment might not have been a good one;
he claimed to have invested all he
could afford and didn't want to lose it.
This Is always the case, no matter how
small the investment The Herald
knowing something about the situation,
started in to investigate little. It
found that Mr.. Elliott had purchased of
Mr.. Kirby small tract of the state
school lands, making the usual small
payment. II he is not satisfied with
the purchase he can probably sell to
some one else The value of the land
depends on the railroad to be built. In
the meantime it costs but little to keep
up the interest, which is only $2.40 a
year on each forty-acre tract.
Mr.. Kirby is known favorably to The
Herald, and his dealings seem to be on
the square-honestly conducted.