Tonopah bonanza. [volume] (Butler City [i.e. Butler], Nev.) 1901-1909, 1904-04-16
Commissioner Smythe Talks
to Pittsburg Paper.
Tells Of Lack Of Transportation and
Base Of Supplies for Animals
-.-A Great Future.

Pittsburg Dispatch of a recent date;
During the past twenty years the
population Of Nevada has been slowly
declining. 1t is a common remark
that this is due to the exhaustion OF
mineral resources and that its de-
cadence must be accepted as a per-
manent condition.
Contrary to popular opinion, the
successful development of a mining
district does not depend only on
plenty of rich ore. That, of course,
is one of the requisites of success, but
there are others.
Labor must be available; there
must be a convenient base of supplies
10 assure the s%ustenance of man and
beast; and, finally, transportation
facilities must be provided in order
that the mining district may be ac-
cessible from the outside world and
that its raw products may be carried
to the smelter.
Those who know the mineral re-
sources of the western states and
territories are in the habit of say
ing: 1.-The ground has only been
scratched" The statement is liter
ally true.
The ease Of Nevada is typical. 1t
looks barren enough as the t~ranscon-
tinental traveller sees it from his
flying train. And the census figures
are not encouraging. Nevertheless,
Nevada has abundant pote~ntialities
and will some day turn the laugh
upon those who have made it the OBJ
ject of bitter and ceaseless derision.
And irrigation is the golden key
which will unlock the door of its
really immense resources. If the
land laws o used for getting lands
for speculation and for cattle grazing
shall be repealed by congress, so that
the government lands can remain gov
eminent lands until they are irri,
gated by the government and turned
over to real homesteadels. then ag-
riculture in the west will double
and q%uadruple and mining and every
western industry will jump forward.
But take the matter of the rich
ore bodies of Nevada, Why do they
lie undeveloped in spite of the siren.
nous enterprise so characteristic Of
u timer Simply because they are
remote from civilization. The cost
Of hauling supplies in and of hauling
the product out is prohibitory. These
silent districts with their potential
ties of wealth, are waiting for some
thing to happen. And that something
is irrigation.
The watering of lands in theiI
neighborhood means, first of all, ;
permanent population which may b.
drawn upon to furnish labor in tn,
development of the mines. Next, i
means food for men and teams a
prices which will permit the industr,
to flourish. Finally, it means an ir
resistible invitation to the iron horse
for the railroad even follows wher,
the forces of production point tn,
way.
The stupendous enterprise of re
claiming the desert lands Of half
continent and settling them with
productive population has now gon,
far beyond the bounds of private en-
terprise. It has become a national IN
dertaking-a national aspiration. I
is the latest and the biggest thin.
TO which Uncle Sam has set his hand
And it will not only double but in
crease tenfold the irrigated area O
the west.
Considered only in relation to min
ing the new policy of national irriga
ton would be amply justified, for i
would return vast dividends to tn,
country on its investment in that wa,
alone. But it is impossible to view
il longer in that narrow light. |
ramifes in every direction and send
its influence into every channel Of Thu
nations life.