The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1902-05-29
Social Conditions
of the State of
Nevada.

Evening leleRrapn oi May l4tu cohtdihs
the following article. In some respects
at reminds the News OF the Iewa lady
who wrote to her brother in Carson
City, and addressed him at his last resi-
dence In California, because she was not
sure we had post-ofiices here. In the
letter she inquired il pianos and schools
we're known in Nevada. However it is
intended kindly, and here it ia.
Probably less is known Of the social
institutions of Nevada in the east than
of any other State in the Union. There
are many persons in this section of the
country who know very little. il anything
at all, OF the present condition OF affairs
in the Silver State, or,of the progress
made in that State during the past
quarter of a century. In speaking OF the
Great West to-day the name Of Cali
fornia at once comes to our lips, but we
seldom think OF Nevada. And yet Ne
vada has aided more than any other
State in building up the Pacific Coast.
It's great resources OF mineral wealth
have been tho means of building up
many cities and dmaking niillionaires of
comparatively poor men. In San Fran
cisco alone, the Bank OF California, the
Nevada Bank. the Palace Hotel, the Su-
tro Heights, the Sutro baths and cleo
tric road, numerous foundries which
turn out the popderous mining and mill
ing machinery, large wholesale houses OF
every description, and many beautiful
homes owe their existence to Nevada
capital. Even Atlantic cables and trans
continental telegrapbs were built with
money dug from the soil Of the Silver
State. But despite all this to-day there
is not monument in the entire State in
the shape of public bequest or pub
lie institution to show that Nevada ever
produced.a a millionaire. Truly. the men
who owe their great wealth to Nevada
have not dealt fairly with the State.
Notwithstanding this unkind treatment.
Nevada has Itself maintained its iestitu-
tions in manner OF which IT may we'll
feel proud.
The State University at Reno would
do credit to a State with fifty times the
population Of Nevada. The young men
graduated as mining engineers from this
institution are continually in demand all
over the world, and Nevada has often
BEEN forced to depend on i'm ported ex-
peris. not familiar with their surround.
ings, to outline the development OF the
mines This condition of things is hap
pily drawing to d close, as a new era has
dawned upon the State, and hereafter
the young engineers will be kept busy
engaged in'their own State. The public
schools Of Nevada have attained very
high standard. There is always on hand
healthy school flpd to maintain them,
and it is claimed that State in the
Union pays higher salaries to its teach
ers
The moral conditions OF the State are
being guarded, and although gambling
is carried on in many places openly,
nevertheless licenses are being gradually
raised SO as to coniine it to as small
radius as possible, and In many instances
only the larger towns can afford to have
open gambling.
1t is a matter OF record that ia many
counties grand jury IS not called upon
to find an indictment in the course of
year for any ything more than petty Of
fense. A midnight closing law is on the
statutes. A curfew law is observed in
the larger towns, and law recently pass
ed prohibiting the use OF nickel. in the
slot machines is vigorously enforced.
Cigarettes may be sold only under
heavy license, making it nnproftable for
dealers to do so, and the morals OF the
youth are thereby safely guarded.
Crime in Nevada is at very low ebb,
and more reaceable and -abidiug
community is hard to find anywhere.
The State Prison at Carson City harbors
few desparadoes. Carson boasts OF a
State library with an excellent law de-
partment, and through the generosity of
Andrew Carnegie public library will
scon he established at Reno. Every sec
tion Of the State has It's newspapers, both
dailies and weeklies. The various re-
ligious denominations are well represent
ed and every community has several
churches.
Now that the eyes OF the mining world
are turned towards Nevada, the popula-
tion will increase with great rapidity
The State to-day is in a much better po.
sition to protect life and property than
it would be simply as a new Golconda,
without the experience Of nearly forty
years of Statehood 1t is gratifying to
note that the vast amount Of money now
finding it's way to Nevada is for good and
solid investment rather than for specu-
lation.