The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1911-06-13
STATE PUBLICITY COMMISSION
FAvORS LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS
County Organizations to Incorporate and Sell Stock, Proceeds
to Be Devoted to Building lip Communities

The State Commission of Industry,
Agriculture and Irrigation has sent
out printed charter and bylaws, with
instructions for organizing a Develop
ment and Colonization association In
each county of the state. In the intro
duetion the aims and objects of the
movement are set forth as follows:
No argument is needed to impress
the people of Nevada with the desir-
ability of some form of cooperative
The problem is to devise some effective
and practical plan of local organiza-
tions by which this may be brought
about. The subject was discussed in
Bulletin No. of tn estate bureau, as
follows:
"This bureau has under considera-
tion tentative plan of local organiza-
tions, designed to work in cooperation
with the state commission. 1t seems
practicable, under existing conditions
in this state, to organize in each coun-
ty local reclamation and COLOMBIA
tion society, incorporated for profit as
well as for public usefulness, and
which, properly conducted, would be
capable of achieving substantial re-
suits in promoting the progress and de-
velopment of such county and com
munity. The proposed plan is based on
the principle that the efforts of any
such quasipublic organization are
quickened if there is direct profit, as
well as in direct public benefit, to be
derived from membership. The need
of such organizations is shown by the
fact that in every county exists more
or less irrigation and colonization op-
portunities, lying dormant from the
lack Of enterprise to discover and ear
ry them out, and which, if consum-
mated, would prove of general public
benefit as well as substantial profit to
the promoters. Such undertakings NAV
well be initiated by local organizations
with a view, at least. to bringing them
to the attention and turning them over,
at reasonable profit, to concerns en-
gagged in such enterprises; or, in cases
where practicable, to be handled by
the organization itself The work and
field of usefulness of such societies
would cover not only enterprises for
the reclamation of desert lands, but
with the owners of large
tracts possessing available water
rights, for their subdivision and colo
nization as small farms, and which
could be profitably and successfully
carried out by them" I"
Boards of trade and commercial
clubs, in general, have proved bene-
fetal factors in promoting local devel-
opment, and their particular niche in
the equation cannot be improved by
any ether form of organization. But
under the peculiar conditions existing
in this state, there is needed some
thing additional-namely, some form
of quasi-public association, incorporat-
ed for profit as well as for public bene-
fit, and designed to take the initiative,
with its own funds, in exploiting op-
portunities, more especially those
the economic practica-
bility of land reclamation and i'm
proved methods of agriculture. Agri- |
cultural development is the forerunner
of industrial development. Every ad- |
ditional acre of land that is reclaim
ed, or put under higher state of cul-
tivation than before, is a permanent
asset, not only to its owner, but to the
people of the county and of the state
at large; for it tends to lessen tax
rates, to improve business conditions,
to give employment for more labor and
to create new industrial opportunities.
No one is likely to dispute the fore
going. But the problem is the kind
and character of local societies, organi |
cations or associations which, under
reasonably good management, can be
expected to achieve success along the
two avenues, namely: of profit to the
Gin order to secure neces-
sary funds to operate with, and pub
lie benefit (resulting from wealth ere
ated, more population and improved
business conditicns). If the average
public spirited citizen can be shown
that the stock development associa-
tions is good business investment
from two standpoints, he is likely to
become, very willingly, shareholder.
The state commission has given this
subject much study and investigation.