The Goldfield news. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1904-1911, 1907-02-16

state land register. MI. r. ID. Kelley, has
issued his iennial report giving the
early history and growth of the state of
Nevada. extracts from which are made
as follows:
March 2, 1861. the act of congress or
ganizing the territory of Nevada from
that part OF Utah territory lying west
OF the 18th meridian and north of the
37th parallel of latitude. was approved
by President James Buchanan. Con-
gress appropriated 10000 in currency.
then worth about so cents on the dollar
In coin. for the support of the territorial
government. In 1868 an election was
held to ascertain whether or not the
people were in favor of a state govern
ment. At that election s.1e3 votes we're
polled. of which 5.15s favored a state
government. A convention to frame a
constitution was held in Carson City.
and the instrument adopted by the con-
vention was submitted to a vote of the
people in January. 1864. and rejected by
the decisive majority of 5.197 against
1851 in favor of it's adoption. At that
time mining was supposed to be the only
industry that could be probably car
ried on in Nevada, and n clause in the
constitution submitted to the people
provided for the taxation of mines and
resulted. as stated, in its rejection. a
second constitutional convention. which
was also held in Carson City. framed
the present constitution, which was
adopted by a vote of 9.131 out of a total
vote of 1883. and on October 81. 1864.
Nevada was admitted into the Union as
a sovereign state by proclamation of
President Lincoln.
As an evidence of the changes which
time and circumstances make in the
minds of the people. an amendment to
the constitution providing for the taxa
ton of patented mines was adopted by
a majority OF the qualified electors OF
tho state at the recent election.
According to the first census taken
in Nevada, that of 1870. the state then
had a population of 42,491, which in
1850 had increased to 1926. In 1890
the population had decreased to 1871
and in 1900 to 1886, which was less
than in 1870.
Various causes are assigned for the
decrease in population. but the principal
one is conceded to be the exodus of
miners and others from the silver pro-
ducing mining camps when the price of
metal. because of it's decentralization,
was lower than ever before in historical
times. The abandonment of the mines
deprived the farmer and gardener of
markets for their products and business
depression prevailed throughout the
state. Banks would not accept i'm
proved real estate as security for loans,
and the only industries that prospered
were cattle raising and wool growing.
The great Comstock lode, which pro-
duced over half "a billion dollars in gold
and silver bullion, was supposed to be
worked out, and Nevada was looked
upon. east OF the Rocky mountains, as
an unfit associate for the populous and
prosperous states of the Union.
Mining Reviva!
But the discovery of mines in what
was deemed the most barren and DESC
late mountains in Nye and Esmeralda
counties again attracted attention to
Nevada. The mines nave proved to be
~fabulously rich and very extensive, and
the discoveries and investors have with
a bound risen from comparative pow
erty to affiuence, many of the most
venturesome reckoning their wealth to-
day by hundreds of thousands, if not
millions. of dollars.
The revival caused by these new de-
~velopments is extending to all parts of
Nevada. Rich discoveries are being
made almost daily in old and abandoned
mining districts as we'll as in new and
UNEMPLOYED localities, and the belief is
becoming general that almost every
mountain range in the state contains
vaIuable leads of gold. silver. copper,
lead and anthony. Railroads are being
built for the accommodations of the
cities that have sprung up as if by
magic in many parts of the state. there
is a home market for all the products
of the soil and factory. the assessable
property has increased by millions, and
today Nevada is attracting more atten-
ton than any other state in the Union.
Prico of Silver e Factor
The price of silver, like the prices of
wheat. beef and wool, is a factor in the
rrosperity of Nevada The advance in
the metal from An cents per ounce. the
lowest recorded, in January, 1903, to II
cents per ounce in November. 1906, has
instilled new life into the old silver pro-
ducing districts and added materially to
tho values of the bullion product of
Tonopah and other new mining locali-
ties. where the ores carry silver as we'll
az gold.
General Review of the State
geographically the state of Nevada