The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1923-12-22
Is Elko That Way, Too?

peal dCLeIlplS W answer uc qucoeioii
'What's the matter with Nevada?" The
query is suggested by this states sparsity
of population. Mr.. Blake is not the only
editor who has attempted to voice a solu-
ton of the problem. Neither is he the only
editor who has placed the blame upon the
many men who have made great fortunes
out of Nevada's rich mineral deposits and
have removed them to other states for in
vestment.
Perhaps the answer that Nevada's min
ing camps have become woefully depleted
in populationu is the correct one. But we
doubt whether it supplies the entire solu-
ton. From observation it appears that
Nevadas citizenry makes deplorably
meager attempt to attract capital for in
vestment, and practically no effort to en-
courage or retain it once it comes. Other
states have been the scene of bOoms. Cali
fornia and Alaska are outstanding ex-
amples. Neither suffered depletion of
population as the result. AS matter of
fact both are more populous today than
when boom times first visited them. Why?
Certainly not because they are any richer
in resources or promise than is Nevada.
Perhaps the answer lies in different atti-
tude maintained by the people who be-
come citizens of those two subdivisions of
this country.
Nevada has a bad habit. Whenever
capital enters a community to develop an
unknown resources it is met with scoffing
and sneers rather than encouragement and
10 inn Of
population known as the "Old Timers. T"
They seem to be determined to withstand
any efforts to pioneer our unknown re-
sources. The statement does not neces-
sarily apply to them all-but enough of
them to present quite formidable front
against development that can be done in
other states without such an obstacle to
surmount.
The Newlands reclamation project at
Fallon is finding extreme difficulty in func-
tioning. Why? Is it entirely the fault of
the government or is there an element of
the Fallon population who continually op-
pose its development? The great plan for
a settlement of the Humboldt river water
disputes finds stern and determined resis-
lance from certain elements Of people who
can afford to battle stubbornly through the
courts for the one purpose of holding back
development. The building Of the great
Boulder Dam is finding resistance within
the very community which will benefit
most from its construction. The construc-
ton Of a great storage reservoir at Metrop-
oils, which would have made possible the
irrigation of thousands of acres of promis-
ing farming land was bitterly fought and
finally defeated by certain element of
Nevada's population. Promising mineral
districts are held back through the failure
of their promoters to work in harmony
Whenever a piece of meritorious COM
munity development work gets under way
an obstacle is placed in its path or
counter movement is begun. Our ranch
men and stockgrowers are held back by
high market prices. When they organize
for the Improvement of conditions effect
ing them an increment of our population
howls at the stockman and accuses him of
attempting to monopolize the range and
the public land of the state.
These are but few instances. Thew
serve to illustrate, however, how continu-
ally we are torn with strife, dissension and
a lack of cooperation. How can we grow
as state under such conditions? How
much greater we would have become to-
day had all worked for the success of the
Fallon Reclamation protector the ami
cable settlement of the Humboldt river
water dispute. Had Metropolis met with
/ cooperative spirit from all effected
whereby solution of her problem could
lave been worked out, five thousand
,eople would be farming her rich tracts to-
lay. Our stockmen would be in sound