The Courier. (Genoa, Nev.) 1899-1904, 1904-03-18
Gold Mines and Irrigated Farms.

made recently in Colorado. Colorado
is fast becoming the Golden State, pop
ulous and productive. But greater
than her production of the precious
metals is her product of agriculture,
and because of this fact of farm wealth
her mines are prosperous and increas-
ing. On the other hand, look at her
sister State of Nevada.
During the past twenty years, the
population of Nevada has been slowly
declining. 1t is common remark
that this is due to the exhaustion of it's
mineral resources and that its decad-
ence must be expected as permanent
condition.
The truth is that the mineral re-
sources of Nevada are by no means
exhausted. On the contrary, there are
many localities where great ore bodies
carrying profitable amounts of prec-
ious metals-often ranging from $50 to
$50 per ton-lie entirely unworked
Contrary to the popular opinion, the
successful development of 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 convenient base of supplies to as
sure the sustenance of man and beast;
and, finally, transportation facilities
must be provided in order that the
mining district may be accessible from
the outside world and that its raw pro-
ducts may be carried to the smelter.
Those who know the mineral re-
sources of the Western States and
Territories are in the habit of saying,
'sThe ground has only been scratched"
The statement is literally true. There
cannot be any thorough, scientific and
economical development of mineral
resources until the happening of GER
tain big things which, in most locali-
ties, have proven to be wholly be-
yond the reach of individual enter
prise and, very often, even beyond the
reach of companies operating with
enormous capital
In most mountain and desert States
most generously endowed with miner
al wealth, irrigation is the great civil
izer. 1t is the first step in the develop
ment of all the resources of the region.
Towns, railroads, mining and lumber
camps, together with industries of
every description, depend upon it.
Irrigation is the broad and permanent
foundation of the whole fabric of eco
nomic life in the West.
NEVADA A TYPICAL MINING STATE.
The case of Nevada is typical. 1t
/ looks barren enough as the transeon-
/ tinental traveller sees it from his fly
ing train. And the census figures are
not encouraging. Nevertheless, Neva-
da has abundant potentialities and
will some day turn the laugh upon
those who made it the object of bitter
and ceaseless derision. And irrigation
is the golden key which will unlock
the door of its really immense resour-
ces. If the land laws, now used for
getting lands for speculation and for
cattle grazing shall be repealed by
Congress, so that the government
lands can remain government lands
until they are irrigated by the govern
ment and turned over to real home
steaders, then agriculture in the West
will double and quadruple and mining
and every western industry will jump
forward. The government work, now
progressing so well along the Trucket
river promises much for Nevada. II
will bring farmers to the State anc
they will produce food for men ano
forage for beast. Fortunately tn,
public lands under the Truckee projec
have been reserved by the Secretary
of the Interior from entry under thu
Desert Land Law and they can onl.
be taken under the 5-year Homestead
Law. All such lands throughout tn
West which Uncle Sam may irrigate
this year, or next or in the next 2
years, should be in effect so reserved
But take the matter of the rich or
bodies of Nevada. Why do they Ii
undeveloped, in spite of the strenuou
= enterprise so characteristic of on
time? Simply because they are re
; mote from civilization. The cost {
o hauling supplies in and of hauling tn
. product out is prohibitory. Thes
y silent districts, with their potentialitit
are waiting for something to happier
, And that something is irrigation.
n The watering land in their neigl
IS borhood means, first of all, perm,
Is nent population which may be draw
'e upon to furnish labor in the develoI
~ ment of the mines. Next, it NEAR
If food for men and teams at price