The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1914-04-18

tereStS, forty per cent OF It, at least
remains here and is reinvesteA tn new
enterprises and in farm reclamation.
| OF the 10000 mineral output, not
over 8 per cent at the outside. is so
reinvested in permanent local indus
tries.
On this showing, agriculture, in
GLIDING stock raising and not mining
is our paramount industry 1t is upon
agriculture that the states growth
and development in population and
material resources must be founded
This does not mean that we should
not encourage, aid and foster the min
ing industry, but'we must cease to re-
gard it as of paramount Importance
when We come to consider the ways
and means of developing Nevada into
a highly prosperous state. That dis
tinction must be given to tire farm in
stead Of the mine.
Reclamation TPruhtem i'm Nevada.
The entire water supply Of our riv-
ers, streams and springs, during the
irrigation season may be considered
as already appropriated. In addition
to which the government controls the
flood waters of the Trudkee and Car
son rivers, which will in another year
be impounded by the Lehontan dam
and reservoir to reclaim ultimately
about 10000 acres OF what is now,
or was recently, a desert Private en-
terprise is also engaged in storage en-
terprises on the Walker and Humboldt
rivers, to conserve the flood waters
of those important streams We may
Nbeheve that within ten years there
will be begun and completed reclama-
tion works ON all the principal rivers
and streams of the state, and $50 ad-
vance in the measurable future the
total cultivated land to about 100000
'acres.
We are learning of the existence of
artesian waters in many of our val
/ legs; in some instances fitted to the
surface by natural pressure, and in
other cases being within feasible
pumping lift. Several thousand acres
of land is now irrigated by artesian
and pumped wells, with a very prom
Using outlook in this direction for agri-
cultural expansion.
Dry farming has also proved sue
cessful in a few favorable localities,
and unsuccessful elsewhere, depend
ing on precipitation and soil condi-
lions, plus the skill of the farmer.
Along every mountain system of con-
siderable snow fall there is storm
fringe along the base of the range
where the storms of the higher alti-
tudes overlap the valleys where much
higher precipitation than obtains than
in the valley proper. Owing to our
generally low precipitation, most of
our dry farm. land Will be found
near the bases of high mountain
ranges, within the limits of such
storm fringe" We can hope, ulti-
mately that by dry farm processes we
will be able to reclaim a. consider-
able aggregate acreage; but It is not
likely to prove any sudden means of
state reclamation. Instead, under our
arid conditions, it will win IT'S way
as gradual success through q course
strewn with a good proportion Of fail
ures and disappointments.
State Bureau Of industry, Agriculture
and irrigation.
| Following the lead Of every other
state, all Of which for years have
maintained departments devoted to
the study and promotion of their az
ricultural resources and industries.
Nevada, in 1911, by act Of the legisla-
ture, made. q beginning 'ina this long
neglected work, by establishing the
above named bureau. An appropria-
ton of $4,000 has, Of necessity. been
made to cover the expenses Of four
years, or at the rate Of $6,250.0O per
year. aside from the salary Of the
commissioner. The bureau has 4nff-
cient balance remaining Of this orig
inal appropriation to complete the pres
ent year.
Since its organization in April.
l1911, the bureau has issued the fol-
lowing bulletins. prepared by the
commissioner. the number Of each
printed and distribHted heiRg: