Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-04-19
THE CALL OF
THE WESTLAND

(By Harry Warren in II. Starr
Eastward from the white SUBMITS
of the Sierras. southerly from the
reaches of the mighty Columbia, west
ward from the Norman land, and
north of the Sante Fe Trail, is Ne
yada, the great heart of the Westland.
A sovereign State of the United
States, with 10000 square miles of
territory and less than 100000 inhabi-
tants, counting Indians. No popula-
! ton! That's the matter with Nevada.
Two great transcOntinental railways
the Western Pacific and the Southern
Pacific-traverse its solitudes from
east to west. other railroads are
| projected and in course OF construc.
ton which will open it from north to
south. II has millions of acres of
government land which can be made
profitably productive and which are
open to selection under the general
laws of the United States to home
steaders and others, in large or small
areas. Its mineral resources are
equal, If not superior. TO any in the
world, as proven by its past and pres
ent production of the precious and
baser metals.
Among many other advantages, Ne
vada offers field for industry, specu.
lation, enterprise and investment far
greater to that offered in the eastern
states and great middle west a hun
dred years ago. There is no avenue
OF human effort known TO modern civil
lizatioD that is not wide open. AS
stated, its lands are fertile and pro-
ductive. it's mineral resources are
practically untouched and inexhaust-
able for ages TO come. Ii has lands,
homes and opportunities for millions,
yet only population of 100000 peo-
pie. This situation is due TO artificial
and not natural conditions; besides il
is only recently that the wonderful
mineral resources and the great fer
tility Of Nevada's so.called desert
lands have attractde attention, and
even at this day II Is not known there
and unoccupied fertile government
land that can be made productive. Ne
yada, like its great neighbor, Califor-
MIA. has never been doomed; its limit
less store of treasure has enriched
the men and built the cities of other
states and not its own. Since 1869 IL
has been used by the Southern Pacific
as n bridge to connect Utah and Cal
ifornia, and hardly considered on the
map for any other purpose. Its small
population is largely due to this fact.
The opening of the Western Pacific
railway through Nevada. introducing
competition in traffic and service, has
changed these conditions, and the
splendid isolation" of Nevada Is at
an end. and this long neglected state.
with tia unparalleled resources and
great avenues for enterprise, is calling
for men, energy, brains, nerve, money
and labor, and Offering opportunities
for all these qualities and things that
can't be found no other place in the
civilized world. For thirty years its
progress has been retarded and held
back Under the changed conditions,
with railroad competition and unob.
structed opportunity for development,
its rise to strength and power will be
all the more rapid.
Nevada has more than 10000, 900
acres of land. II has a population of
100, 900 or .0S per square mile. or this
land some Is desert and unfit for agri.
cultural purposes. Perhaps one
eighth OF It's land IL held in private
ownership and of this les than one.
tenth Is under cultivation. There are
millions Of acres OF free. unclaimed
unoCcupied fertile government lands
that can be acquired by the settler un-
der the general laws of the United
States. These lands are generally
covered with thick growth OF black
sage, are easy aud cheap to clear, and
with ordinary industry and water will
produce abundantly and proatably
crops OF wheat, barley, rye, oats. wild,
tame and cultivated grasses: all ex.
| cept tropical fruits and berries, and
vegetables OF the highest quality, fla.
vor and excellence. These lands are
mostly situated In the great valleys