The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1899-07-22
NEVADA.

The vacant public land Of Nevada
amounts to about 81 $685. 900 acres,
or very nearly seven-eights Of the total
area-a larger proportion than in any
other State. says the Department Of
Agriculture in the yearbook for 1898.
There are in addition nearly 100000
acres reserved for settlement. Of the
5000, 900 acres or less no longer in
the hands of the National Government,
by far the greater part is included in a
1000. OoO-acre grant to the State for
the support Of common schools. and in
minor grants for various other pur-
poses. The amount taken up by indi-
viduals Is therefore very small in pro-
portion Of the States surface, and 1t is
scattered in small tracts along the
boarders Of streams. the only consider
able areas being in the western corner
Of the State, near Lake Tahoe. The
vacant public land is described In the
General Land Office report as noun
famous. arid. grazing land, with little
or no timber; but It appears to include
also the greater part Of the numerous
small valleys lying between the mdun-'
tain ranges.
Nevada forms most Of the western
and central part Of the Great Basin.
and with the exception Of small areas
in the northeast AMI southeast. con-
tributes no water to the ocean. The
streams either flow into saline lakes
or are d~lssapaied by evaporation and
by sinking into the ground before form
ing any considerable bodies Of water
! . The surface Of the State is "a diver
sified plateau, and. exclusive Of noun
tain peaks. ranges in altitude from 500
feet In the southeast to 1000 feet. I'm
the northeast. The variations m az
titude. together with the great length
of the State from north to south, make
the climate suitable for the productions
Of both semitropical fruits and OF the
grains and fruits Of the temperate zone.
As yet. however. Nevada's agri-
cultural possibilities have scarcely be-
gun to be developed.
Nevada is often referred TO as the
most arid State in the Union. yet the
water supply will undoubtedly be found
sufficient to reclaim a large extent Of
land near the streams and springs. but
now forming part Of the desert. The
United States Geological Surveys es-
innate of the amount OF irrigatable
land in Nevada is only 100000
acres. In 1889 the State board of
reclamation and internal Improvements
estimated the amount at 100000
acres. According TO the estimate Of
the Nevada commission Of the Nation
al Irrigation Congress, Nevada has
about S 900 900 acres OF arabic land
capable Of irrigation. this estimate be-
ing made on the basis Of a ! acre
foot Of water to an acre. permitting the
application Of water amounting to IL
inches in depth eachsyear.' The pos
sible sources Of this water supply are
given as follows:
Sources Of .gyetess supply for irrigation.
Acre-feet.
T~rucsss, Carson and Walker rivers; Ijooo.oo
humboldt River ........... ........,i,0m0O
Salmon, Bruneau and Owyhee rivers. rAo0.0oe
Quinn River ...,.,....... =. go. l1b.Wu
Rio Virgin. ...,-...-, .......-..... HOO
Small streams and spripgs. ...... u. aa.4ii4poQ
Total surface waters ,...ns.. 6sOes.oO9'
Surface supply, ssy ...... -. ....... si4,0o0'
~. y To- .unou
Totai."...." =. "...-.-,... eUO0OO
The utilization Of the amount Of
water indicated involves extensive
storage Of spring floods In reservoirs.
as well as the use Of underground
waters where possible. There are
many natural reservoir sites along the