The National tribune., 1903-11-12
ARTIFICIAL BOUNDARIES.


of cattle, which are driven in by the
storms and lost"
ARTIFICIAL BOUNDARIES.
The condition of the public mind during
the rebellion is recalled by the boundaries
of the State. which was admitted to the
Union Oct. 81, 1864, in the midst of the
war. We had had so much trouble with
State boundaries and States rights that
apparently Congress was determined the
new State should have no mountains or
rivers to interpOse as barriers against the
General Government. So the boundaries
Of Nevada were made lines of latitude and
longitude. The east boundary is the Hath
meridian; the north, is the 42d parallel of
latitude, the west is the 120th meridian,
until 1t intersects the Sierra Nevada,
where it runs off southwark until it strikes
the Colorado River. The State is really
the .'great BASIN between the Sierra Ne
vada forming the western wall and the
number of local names which run along
the eastern boundaries Of the State. 1t
is really a series Of long basins running
north and south, with high, steep noun
tain ranges between them. These ranges
are from 1000 to 5000 feet high, and
from five to 20 miles wide at the bottom,
with the valleys of about equal width, ex-
tending between them. The general sur
face is considered as table land about
1880 feet above the level of the sea.
Through these ranges are occasional cuts
affording a highway that the railroads
take advantage of to traverse the coun-
try. The climate is generally mild, not
withstanding the elevation, the Summer
temperature at noon being about 80 de-
grees, falling to 20 at night. About SO
inches OF water fall annually in the shape
of snow and rain, or something less than
one-ffth Of the average precipitation in the
States east of the Mississippi. The wet
season lasts from January to May, with
very slight rainfalls in the summer. There
are occasional cloudbursts which precipi-
tate large quantities Of water and are ex-
ceedingly destructive. The great Sierra
Nevada Range intercepts the warm, mois-
ture-laden currents from the Pacific
Ocean and drains the clouds of their con-
tents to form the perennial SHOWS on their
SUBMITS. Some of these days when the
question of irrigation becomes burning
issue, we shall have some scientist of mag
nifcent ideas advocate dynamiting the
Sierra Nevada into the valleys to form
great gap through which the moist winds
from the Pacific canpass to distribute their
life-giving wetness upon the thirsting sands
of the great basin of Nevada. This sounds
fantastic, hut, after all, compared to our
resources, would not be as big a work as
the building of the pyramids was to Egypt
1t would make a great imperial extent
fertile. and give homes to millions of peo-
pie. The plains which now produce sand,
grass and sage which is q species of
worm-wood, are capable of raising any,
thing. Only water is needed. In small
openings, where there is moisture, we see
rose, currant, gooseberry and other bushes,
and 1ourisiing trees. The bunch grass
of the mountain furnishes an excellent
forage. Where there is anything that will
grow, it seems to be good. We come to
occasional hooks and valleys where water
| is abundant and find the yield is something
prodigious. 1t looks as though the alfalfa
stacked up in the fields from the previous
| Inowings would cover the whole ground
| yard deep, aud the moving machines are
at work cutting another tall crop to put
| on them.
RENO AND VIRGINIA CITY.
About $50 miles from Sacramento we
come to the lively, thrifty little town of
| Reno, the County-seat of the famous
Washoe County, New, and 20 miles direct,
or 81 miles by the railroad, which winds
around the mountains, from the erstwhile
| famous Virginia City, once the greatest
mining camp in the world Reno is on
the banks Of the Truckee River, a rapid
stream which gives great deal Of power
and promises much more. There are large
reduction works there, and several man.
ufactories, and the town is now in feverish
expectation Of boom. which will soon
begin on account of the Central Pacific
Railroad making it the end of the division
and establishing n round-house and shops
there, employing several thousand work.
men. 1t has two little daily papers, which
abuse one another in the fervid style only
possible to rival County dailies. The pa.
pers cordially allude to one another as
scoundrels, reptiles, liars, and In other
terms of endearment.
The mention of Virginia City inevitably
recalls the famous Comstock Lode and the
Bonanza Mines, and the brilliant, scintil.
lating reign of the ''Silver Kings" and the
bonanza Barons." It was the corner
stone of the political movement which at
one time threatened revolution, disorgan-
lied the Democratic party, and made an
obscure country lawyer named William
Jennings Bryan twice candidate for Pres
ident of the United States, all on account
Of some sounding rhetoric about "cruci.
flying labor on a cross Of gold"