The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1917-03-29
Prize FOR BEST
WATER SYSTEM

This morning a Silver State re-
porter called on Colonel f. r. Place.
general colonization agent for the
corner of Baud and East Third streets.
In answer to the query as to whether
he was receiving any returns from
the circulars he recently mailed out,
advertising Winnemucca and Hum
boldt county, Colonel Place pointed
to stack of letters that contained
several hundred inquiries as to land
conditions here.
This is not a question of land"
said Colonel Place, "as there are
thousands of acres of as fertile land
open to settlement in this county as
can be found anywhere. And, in pass
ing, it may be mentioned that the only
large bodies of public lands remain
ing unsettled in the United States lie
between the Western Pacific and Ore
gon Short Line railways.
Nevada has population of nearly,
if not quite, 100000 persons. Most Of
the boost literature published cries
for a million of population and re-
peatedly states that there is plenty o.
room for that million on Nevada
lands.
True; but how about the water to
quench the thirst of that land and
assure a livelihood for the million
citizens we are inviting here?
"Supposing the lacking nine hun
dred thousand should accept Nevada's
invitation and all come here, what
would we do with them and for them,
as far as agricultural inducements
are concerned? Dry farming in some
portions of Nevada might be. and
probably is. successful-to certain
extent. In the majority of localities
it is not, and never will be.
Some one, at some time, is going
to solve the problem as to the water;
and when that problem is solved we
can invite the world to come here
unafraid and unashamed; but until
that time comes. this department will
not hold out inducements that do not
exist to the intending settler.
II have before me a letter from a
California farmer who wants to
come to Humboldt county and bring
ten families with him. They would
expect to at least make decent liv-
ing. They would probably believe a
part of what we told them. They
would at least be largely influenced
by what we did tell them.
Now, what am l going to say to
them so that they will speak to me
after they do come, without any
thought of hanging me? Some people
will probably say that am knock
err instead of booster can't help
what they say. I can't alter condi-
tions. can only strive to change
them for the better.
"I have another letter wherein the
writer says that he visited Winnie
mucca and found the most insistent.
persistent and inconsistent knockers
on earth. / deny any such charge.
The people OF Winnemucca are not
Knockers; they know what farmer
can do on land without water, and
what he can't do; and they tell him
Then the fellow with the dry idea in
his head calls them Knockers
This department would rather be
classed with the knockers than en-
courage honest intending settlers to
come here and fail. But we are go
ing to do our utmost to find way te
warrant their coming. and not fail
not only here. but to all parts OF
Nevada. We are not in the real estate
business. We have no land or lots
to sell. We are here to work out a
plan that will put living and produc
ing assets on Nevada lands, instead oi
liabilities.
Somebody may be able to tell me
how to do it, and the fellow who tells