The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1912-11-09
TO|LLUSTRATFW|N-
Ming OF THE WEST
Especial to the Silver state. }


first time, in comprehensive way,
what has been done to redeem a
wilderness and make it the most fruit
ful region in the whole world
From the days when Father Juni-
II pero Sierra traversed on foot the
length of what now is California, car
rying the cross and the gospel of civ
ilization from the pathfnding exploits
Of Lewis and Clarke, of Fremont, and
the Argonauts of 49, from the days Of
the railroad builders, pushing their
cleaning trail Of metal over desert
and mountain, to this year of Our
Lord, there has been waged constantly
a battle to redeem a vast region whose
promise, then understood by only a
few, has finally become a realization
for the many.
And the realization, while only par
/ tlal, is one which staggers the imagina-
tion to comprehend. Millions of peo-
pie now live in the regions of the
west, beyond the Mississippi, even be-
yond the great mountain barrier that
Nature placed between the fertile val
ley of the Missouri and the golden
sands of the Pacific, in more than com
fort. This latest-won province wrested
from the grip of Nature, has proved
the best and most bountiful of all. It's
winning was difficult, but the reward
has been great.
The whole world knows something
about the winning of the West, -
but there is very much that could be
told of the magnificent country beyond
the Mississippi river, stretching away
for 1000 miles westward and still
westward toward the setting sun.
4 What reader hereof knows that
Louisiana ranks next to the great
states of the Pacific coast as a produc-
er of lumber? Or that she is the great
est producer of sulphur, as of sugar?
What reader knows how near the top
of the list Oregon stands as a producer
of hops, or Missouri as source of
lead, corn and cattle; what richness
the valley of the Arkansas pours into
the lap of commerce, which state has
the most sheep grazing on its plains,
what rivers of crude petroleum flow
from the wells of Texas, or where the
most rice or wheat is grown? How
many know that in a river delta richer
than that of the Nile, the people of
California and Nevada are growing
finest cotton in the world the best
dates ever placed before an epieure,
and table grapes that would make the
mouth of Bacchus water? No break
fast table today is quite complete un-
less it is graced by the peerless navel
oranges of California, but California
produces hundred other choice pro-
ducts of the soil--raisns, olives, wine,
nuts fgs--more than could be cata-
logued in a column of this paper. The
state of Washington, possessing wealth
so boundless that no assessor could
estimate it, has room for more people
than crowd the British Isles. Idaho.
Nevada, Montana, New Mexico-all
the states Of this rich empire, are of
fering wealth to the settler who comes
to develop the land and improve the
opportunities submitted to him.
It almost staggers the imagination
to take even a glimpse at the wonders
of the west, but at the San Diego ex-
position these great states will present
to the public visible demonstration of
what they can offer-of what they
have done and are doing, with perhaps
some prophesy of what will be done in
the near future. They will present con
vincing reasons why men and women
should desert the unhealthy environ
ments of the crowded centers of the
old and the new world, and seek
wealth and health (Which is more to
be wished for), in the great wonder
land of western America.
Notable Achievements
The story of how the west was won
has never been adequately told. The
struggles of the pioneer and the con
auering of the difficulties that beset
the path of the railroad builders were
something; but they were only the
beginning-t the curtain raiser to the
drama that has held the boards ever
since and has proceeded like a Chi
nese play, without intermision.
1t is intended at the San Diego ex-
position to show how the west was
won. 1t is intended by the great
states carved out of that territory, to
show what they have done to advance
the cause of civilization. 1t is intend
ed, moreover, to show what opportuni-
ties for the ambitious man and woman
these states hold.
An exposition is intended to let the
world know what has been achieved
in the line of human progress. At the
San Diego exposition the greatest
epoch since a dereict stranded on
Ararat will be unfolded to the eyes of
the world.
No one has ever questioned the truth
of the saying that the greatest bene-
factor of the race is the man who caus-
ed two blades of grass to grow where
one grew before.
More figures would not convey to
the mind any conception of what the
west has added to the wealth of this
nation in the past fifty years.
Yes, there was the gold rush in 40.
California gave much to the wealth of
the nation from her placer and quartz
veins. But her petroleum alone now
equals the wealth from her gold mines.
And she once was celebrated for her
limitless fields of wheat; but last year
she sent to market some $4,000 car
loads of lemons and oranges, to name
but one crop. And Washington and
Oregon are as famous for their apples