The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1897-01-13
THE TEACHER AS A FACTOR
IN STATE DEVELOPMENT.
(By Mrs. ]. E.. Miller, OF Carlin }

representatives in Congress on the
grounds OF Nevada's lack OF population.
and since her decline in prosperity there
have been various plans more or less
seriously proposed to make Nevada a
part OF one OF the neighboring States or
Territories, notably by our thrifty
neighbor on the east.
Nevada, like other States, has suffered
from premature prosperity. A few years
ago Southern California had d "boom."
San Diego, as an example, began to be
an intensely busy market, with a stock
in trade consisting OF ebay and climate"
Blocks OF brick buildings were erected
that today are vacant lots were sold on
the Coronado for thousands that may be
bought today for hundreds. Fortunes
were made in a day and eyaporated over
night. 1t was Il ''boom." We all know
what that means, and did San Diego
much harm. But after the boom and
after the reaction and depression which
followed it, genuine prosperity returned
and has since continued. Similarly in
Nevada after the flush times of twenty
years ago had passed away a correspond
ing depression was to looked for; but
solid prosperity is sure to come, and we
as interested members of a community
where each depends on each, can do
much to help it along.
What Nevada lacks-population-is
hardly the fault OF those who are here,
but of those who fail to come. 1t is the
fault OF those who are here to the extent
Of their negligence and u%nconcerh in
cauing the advantages of Nevada to be-
come known to possible settlers. Cali
fornia fools the whole United States
and the world with testimonials of her
climate, her productions, her scenery;
but Nevada although so close a neigh
Dor hts none of the ''self-contience."
shalt we call it, of her vain-glorit,us sis
ter. And, be it said to their shame. thu
sons and daughters of Nevada often dia-
claim her parentage. When travelling
in the east they are all from California;
they don't live in the ''Sagebrnsh State
not they. They have only seen it as
they passed through. They are content
to see their Staie out-stripped in pop
u%lation, ontstripped in enterprise, out
stripped in wealth by every State that
touches her borders. 0ut-stripped in
natural resources she can never be.
We are supposed to teach PATRIOTISM,
and |, for one, believe it should be for
.he State as well a. for the whole Unit
ell States. Patriotism, like charity,
should begin at home. 1t is the pride
and love OF F ,Mti.y enlarged to c~oeNrRY,
and | take il decreases in intensit, MS it
increases in extent. 40 that if the love Of
State does not exist in the heart in a
perceptible degree the love OF country
will he very faint indeed.
What can we, rs teachers, do to help
our State to her rightful pace in the gal
axy, aud by 40 doing help ourselves to
better surroundings and better salaries?
One thing we can do is. to teach these
young Of Nevada something about their
State. mean something definite about
it not the scant particulars contained
in the geograpl,ies-even the Pacific
Coast edition.
We are trld in tho Biographies that
Nevada contains thy richest mines in
the world, but nothing is said about
gold mines, n o the vast quantities of
iron, copper, zine, soda and lead that
abounds in nearly every county.
Mining has been developed more than
any other industy in the State, but what
has been done il only Il drop in the
ocean OF ner unparalleled riches. A few
mines only have been worked to any
great extent, anil those only fnr high
grade ores; bnt the day will come When
r'uch less valuable ores will he extrated
at u profit. In every nook and corner
are mountains of ore, waiting for yet
uninvented machinery to unlock il from
its linty prison, and uubuilt railroads to
carry II TO the busy marts Of rommercr.
The Comstmk, Eureka, Austin. Tus-
carora, have given the cream OF their
ores and u very rich golden cream it
was so rich that prospectors have spent
much TIM running aNnut the State look.
ing Tor unre Of the same quality. dis
dsigning the milk, which after all CON
tains much nourishnen'.
Al Silver Peak, in Esmeralda county,