Evening star., 1901-10-26

OF Nevada are merely matters of purchase
and sale; the market price ranging from
$4,000 to 100000. That there is change
coming in the near future is apparent even
on the surface Nevada, while not gaining
materially or in fact any at all in popula-
ton, is gaining in stability of her citizen
ship and the character of her wealth. Her
people are beginning to realize that If they
were honestly and fully represented in
Washington they would have enormous ad-
vantage over the citizens of other states In
the preponderance of their representation.
Representative NeWlandS is a candidate
for the senatorship to succeed Senator
Jones. whose successor will be elected by
the legislature which meets next year. SEN
ator Stewart has recently been reelected
for new term, but with much greater
difficulty than he has ever encountered be-
fore He is no longer popular in the state.
and If 1t was his term of office which ex-
pred next year there would be no question
as to the success Of Representative New
lands in his senatorial campaign.
Senatorial Strength
Senator Jones is stronger with the Ne
vada people than Senator Stewart. and this
additional strength casts some doubt Upon
the possible outcome of the senatorial con-
test. Representative Newlands is in fact
resident of Nevada and large property
owner in the state. He has shown great
activity in furthering the interests Of the
state before Congress, and is looked upon
art If he fails in his campaign against Sen
ator Jones.
1t is impossible for an outsider to realize
fully how widespread and how deep into
the affairs of this comm onwealth has
spread the malevolent influence of this p
00OO00-acre land grant. 1t has stopped the
operation of the federal land laws it has
given the fertile valleys and meadows and
the entire water supply of Nevada into the
hands of men who have no desire to utilize
it except for the feeding and watering of
live stock; 1t has checked immigration cor
rupted politics, decreased the population
and, in fact, to its door may be laid prac-
tically all the troubles which have come to
Nevada since the decline of her great sill
Yer mining camp. In this it constitutes an
answer to the question, What is the mat
ter with Nevada?' This may we'll be used
as a horrible example of what might hap
pen elsewhere If Congress should cede the
federal lands to the various states. The
cause has ceased to exist by reason of
exhausting the land grant, but the effects
still remain, and it will take Nevada q
generation or two to get well started in the
right direction.
At present the United States land Office
at Carson City has jurisdiction over more
territory and does less business than any
other land office in the country. 1t was nut
out Of business by the state. The state has
administered its land trust so as 10 Sc
riously retard progress, and the state Of
fcialS brag of a $150000 annual school fund
as compensating result. The federal gov
ernment will now resume its Jurisdiction
over all public land available for settle
ment, but will be compelled to create a
new water supply by storage systems to
take the place of that corraled by the
users of the state grant before the public
lands can be homesteaded by the people
as is intended.
]. D. WHELPLEY.