The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-27
An Act Of Congress Twenty Years Ago
Ruined the Prospects OF
the state.
MUCH PUBLIC LAND THERE
LAW ENABLED RICH LIVE STOCK
GROWERS TO GRAB BEST OF 1T.
state Damaged ny Decrease of Popu-
Iation, Poor Representation i'm
COngress-A Better Outlook.
.snnnaenoe ID 49, Indinnannlis Iournal.

Correspondence Of the Indianapolis Journal.
CARSON CITY. New. oct. 26.-The Ques-
ton is often asked: What is the matter
with Nevada?" With an area OF 1.0o.0oo
acres, 81 per cent of this thirty-seven-year-
old State is still owned by the federal gov
eminent. With much fertile soil. less than 3
per cent. OF the area is under fence and
only about one-half Of per cent. Is under
cultivation. The climate is unsurpassed, the
soil produces all desired and profitable
crops. there are farming lands. stock
ranches, mines. railroads and eight large
streams with their branches furnish water.
Notwithstanding these advantages popula-
ton and wealth have steadily decreased.
and during the past twelve months but
nineteen homestead filings were accredited
TO Nevada. out OF the $500 or more re-
corded in the General Land Office at Wash
ington from the public land States.
1t is not difficult at this time TO say just
what has hindered the development of this
Western State, for Nevada has reached a
turning point in her history. There have
been minor difficulties, such as competition
of California on the west and Colorado.
Utah and other States on the east. the
earlier disinclination of the Central Pacific
Railroad to develop intermediate territory.
aridity OF soil and a decrease in the gem
eral prosperity of the silver-mining inter-
ests. The cause of Nevada's trouble. how
ever lies deeper than this and may be
said to have largely originated in the policy
adopted toward that State by Congress in
the disposal of public lands.
Every public land State, upon being adj
mitted TO the Union, has received from the
federal government title to Sections 16 and
&c in each township. In every State this
has amounted TO magnificent domain,
and, as provided by the enabling acts OF
each State has been leased or Sold as the
case might be, and the revenue devoted TO
the public schools. Nevada was given this
same donation when admitted State in
1864. In the twenty years following admis-
sion little attention was paid TO agriAul-
ture. The great ComstoclS mine OF Nir-
ginia City furnished nearly all the ma
teriaI prosperity of the State. and agricul-
ture, even in the form OF live stock raising.
was looked upon as a very minor industry.
WHAT THE TROUBLE is.
In 1880, when in careless or Indifferent
mood, Congress enacted a law at the in
stigation of a few far-seeing Nevada cat
tlemen by which the school Sections 16 and
SO were taken back into the possession OF
the United States. In return for this re-
fund of land Congress authorized the State
of Nevada to select 100000 acres OF fed
eral land in any part OF the State desired.
and as fast as selections have been made
title has been given. 1t is not too much to
say that from this piece of legislation has
arisen practically all the ills which have
afflicted this Western commonwealth.
The live stock growers OF the Pacific
coast were quick TO see the advantages TO
be obtained under the law. and they Sc
cured the passage OF a State law which
made il possible for one man TO obtain
control OF as much land as he might need
and in such localities as he might choose.
The Nevada Legislature enacted land
law which gave each citizen the right TO
buy $40 acres of State land. This privilege
was not confined 10 residents OF the State.
and the land was sold only after being Sc
lected by those who were to buy.
A cattle man desiring TO secure control
of a range filed an application with the
State government for the purchase OF $40
acres OF land. this land probably being dis
tributed in forty-acre tracts along one or
more OF the numerous well-watered and
fertile valleys of Nevada. IL was not nee
essary that this cattle man should confine
his application TO $40 acres. however. for
the law allowed him to act agent for
others; so all he had TO do was to use the
names of his family or friends. as the case
might be- and file applications for many
640s as he cared 10 pay for. The State law
provides that the land shall be sold for
Sl.25 an acre. Twenty-Five cents an acre
deposit required at the time OF purchases
the balance is held upon twenty-five years
time, with per cent interest, with the
privilege Of paying up at any time the APP
plicant may see fit. The State land board
took no interest I'm these locations. other
than to file application for the land with
the United States government. charging
the acreage to the 00O,0Oo-acre grant which
had been made by Congress.
IN HANDS OF CATTLE MEN.
This 100000 acres is now exhausted. and
the people OF Nevada have an opportunity
to review the workings Of this peculiar act.
They find that through it's fundamentally
probably one-third OF all the lana in the
State now under private ownership has
passed into the hands OF a few cattle men.
most of them non-residents. Less than a
dozen men own over 10000 acres OF land.
and this in a State where there are less
than 100000 acres which are not still
So long as this State law prevailed and
government land could be secured under
the State grant IL is evident that no citizen
would care 70 avail himself OF the federal
land laws. such as the homestead act or
the desert act with their more onerous
conditions 10 be fulfilled before title could
be secured
That this Is so IS shown In the records OF
the land Office for IN 1890 there were but
three homesteads filed in the entire State
OF Nevada. only nine proved upon and not
q single desert land claim timber claim or
stone claim was filed under the federal
laws The state law made land ownership
10 those who had influence and control OF
the water supply too easy FOR them 10 re-
sort 20 federal channels Hereafter any
citizen obtaining land in the State Of Ne
vada viii be compelled 20 secure n under
the federal law. bat the trouble is that
under the shrewd distribution OF the state
holdings all Of the water. all OF The fertile
valleys and nearly all OF the available
range. dependent as IL is upon water and