The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1912-04-16
NFyADA'S ACR|CUL-
TURAL RESOURCES
Ever hear of Nevada9

that Nevada's agricultural possibili-
ties are greater than its mining9 Let
US repeat that: Nevada agricultural
is its future greatest asset Perhaps
few people outside the state realize
this. Those of us who live here and
know conditions can see the handwrit-
ing ON the wall.
Among the states and territories,
Nevada ranks fourth in size with a
total area of 10000 square miles, of
which 500 square miles are water,
leaving something over seventy mil
! lion acres of land. It is well to men
tion those 500 square miles of water
to disabuse the mind of the doubters
that there is no water in the state
This seventy million acres of land
may be classified roughly as follows:
100000 acres of possible waste
lands.
100000 acres of mountains, hills
and pasture lands.
1S,000,000 acres of agricultural val
ley lands.
To afford a clearer conception of
the immensity of this agricultural
area, it should be said this 1S,00O,-
600 acres is equivalent in size to the
states of Massachusetts, New Hamp-
shire and Rhode Island combined
These 1S,000,000 acres of agricultural
lands would make 225,000 farms of
so acres each, and afford homes and
good income for 100000 farmers and
their families.
Put agriculture to its fullest extent
IS a possibility and not a realization as
yet OF the 1s,000,0O0 acres of arabic
lands, only 100000 acres are in cult
walton of any sort, and this includes
those areas in natural grass meadows,
which is simply permitting the land
to cultivate itself. Except to very
limited extent, agriculture has not
got beyond the stock raising stage,
which means the raising of hay for
winter forage.
griculturally, Nevada is in the
same position today that many of the
principal western states were twenty
years ago; such states as Colorado,
Idaho and Montana. Colorado was
long known-and known only-as the
greatest producer of the precious
metals of any state in the union. To
speak of Colorado was to speak of
mining. Yet today, great as is its
mineral wealth, the production of
Colorado's mines is completely over
shadowed by the immensitv of its
agricultural resources. And the same
conditions will inevitably follow in
Nevada.
OF the 100000 acres of agricul-
tural lands in the state of Nevada.
the choicest portions have been taken
up and are in tn eform of large stock
ranches. Many of these decided
tracts are for sale at prices ridiculous
lxv l1x Al II.
land is considered There are also,
in limited quantities, cheap state and
railroad lands for sale And there
ernment land open to homestead or
desert entry.
The question arises, shall we en-
brace these opportunities or sit idly
by and see others reap the benefits
Shall we hesitate and doubt when we
have the achievement of thousands of
other now prosperous communities be-
fore us IS examples?
Look back at Colorado. Idaho and
Montana twenty years ago. and look
at them today. have hunted up and
down the San Lois valley when we
were told the country was fit only for
grazing and stock raising and that a
farmer would starve to death. Today
there ism t an acre in the San Lois
valley that could be bought for less
than a hundred dollars. / have shot
ducks a few miles from Rocky Ford
where todav the Sugar City beet sugar
factory stands and where the country
for miles around is planted to sugar
beets. l have crossed the state of
Idaho with a pony and packhorse when
it was a long time between meals, due
to the dearth of ranch houses. And
this WASH t hundred years ago either
1t is a peculiar thing that the resi-
dents of any certain region or To-
cality never recognize its possibilities
until they are pointed out by others
And so long as this state of affairs
actually, though not necessarily, ex
lists, it is gratifying to know that at
last the turning point in the state of
Nevada has come. We have the state
publicity bureau; the railroads are
advertising the state extensively
colonists rates from the middle west
have been put in effect; and land in.
vestors and homeseekers are awaken
ing to the fact that here is a rich
field hitherto overlooked.
This isn't a theory--it' s fact. The
eastern part of the state is especially
active. No less than half dozen big
ranches have changed hands this
spring, and there are number of
others under option. inere is grand
scramble for Nevada lands while they
are cheap, and this movement once
started is like a snow ball rolling
down hill.
Press dispatches tell us that the
Mormon church is bringing its people
from Canada and placing them in Ne
vada There is a general movement
out of Mexico. The great land
hungry horde in the east and middle
west is gaining rather than diminish
ing in numbers. Where are these peo
pie all goingl Where can they gol
They are coming to Nevada. They are
coming now, and they will continue tc
come.