Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1897-01-31
N.man,. N-.d,.

To the mind OF tho average Amen
can, Ne.eda i probably pictured a
m almost hopelea desert. Portions
OF Il. we will admit, are arid stretches
OF sage brush. But the soil Is nch
beyond comparison, add when water
Is turned upon it, becomes enormous
iy productive. Tho traveller alight-
ing from the c.. & c. at Wsbuska
finds himself in Mason Valley. But
there he receives tho impression and
is firmly convinced. at the time, that
he has reached the end OF the world.
As he rides southward a few miles he
u AWAKE that a transformation Is tax
ing place. and coon eIclnims: who
would have thought that In this God
iorsaken desert one would ind a new
civilization taking placer Oae
passes by many beautiful ranc-es.
divided into fields, in which hundreds
Of horses, cattle, hogs and sheep are
contentedly grazing on the alfalfa
stubble, they are fat, sleek animals,
sud tho traveller wonders at their con-
dinon Tin the month OF january and
is surprised when told that they have
been psstured on that brown Insig-
nifcsnt looking stubble all winter.
But it contains Euch nutnment.
Again he il surpESad 10 e lofty
cottonwoods and weeping willown
growing along the highway, and IL
aware that his carriage is continually
crossing over small bridges or Gull
vsrts, then he says: -Ah! here Is the
secret Of the wonderful change from
a desert to a land Of plenty Irn-
CATION wrought the miracle. There
in the back ground are eternal
mountains whose further peaks are
capped with snow, there in the FORE
ground showing the homes OF well
to do farmers who have diverted the
waters Of Walker river, cultivated the
soil until now the valley farms are
the pride Of the State. One thing
ncediul, however, il We expect to in
crease the population OF Mason Val.
~, our people must take some
nles1rIe to induce a desirable class
to c.nigrate to Nevada. Colonization
is what the State OF Nevada wants.
The soil and water is here, and all
that il needed now is an inducement
to intending settlers. Nevada will
be a land OF small farms. Irrigation
renders possible tue highest con
ceivable development Of Independ.
ence and prosperity to the least num-
Der OF acres. There is next, the
ability to so widely diversity the pro.
ducts Of the farm IS to provide al
most everything that the family con-
sumes. Finally, there is the scope
for science and intelligence to work
out the best possible results, and to
secure the largest returns from each
acre and the nearest approach to per-
fectIon in quality. 1t is upon the
small farms that the hopes OF better
conditions and prosperity are founded.
Theft fact remains that the vast arid
regions and sagebrush deserts OF
Nevada must, and will be reclaimed
and preserved for the use aud benefit
OF the home seekers OF the future. 1t
is for the people OF Nevada to propose
n scheme to ~colonize her numerous
valleys. 1t seems to us that the most
feasible plan is for the people OF
Nevada to organize u State Board OF
Immigration and place live, active,
progressive men In charge Of it and
work in the interest OF the State as a
whole, not one particular locality.
Advertise to the world what We have
In Nevada, and try u best to
colonize the 30 called arid portions OF
the State and We will find that we
can, in n measure, bring about
more prosperous times,-Yerington
Rustler.