Nevada

nevada, a southwestern state of the American Union. About one-third of the entire border is formed by the state of California. The southwestern corner borders on the Colorado River for perhaps 200 miles; otherwise the boundaries of the state are mathematical and consist of four lines. With the exception of a small district at the southeast, which is drained by the Colorado, and a second district in the north, the waters of which reach the Columbia River, the state lies within the great basin of interior drainage.

TOPOGRAPHY. The surface consists chiefly of alkali plains, mountains, and river valleys. The interior rivers are short and empty into brackish lakes. The largest of these interior streams is the Humboldt. The largest body of water is Pyramid Lake, about thirty-five miles in length. Lake Tahoe lies between Nevada and California, at an altitude of 6,000 feet. The general elevation of the basin is about 4,000 feet above the sea. Wheeler Peak, the loftiest mountain, rises to a height of 13,058 feet.

MINERALS. As might be expected from so mountainous a region, the chief wealth is mineral. The famous Comstock Lode, near Virginia City, yielded $306,000,000 of silver between 1859 and 1880. The Sutro Tunnel, designed to facilitate the escape of water, is the greatest mining tunnel in the world. In the production of silver, Nevada still ranks fifth among the states. Other minerals are gold, antimony, copper, mercury, lead, coal, and nickel. There are also deposits of sulphur, gypsum, zinc, salt, and borax. There are unlimited quantities of building stone, granite, sandstone, agate, slate, marble, and limestone awaiting a future market.

CHARACTERISTICS. The climate is distinctly arid. The natural rainfall is nowhere sufficient for the production of ordinary crops. Enormous stretches of plain produce little besides the sagebrush which has given the state the popular name, as the "Sage Brush State," and the "Sage Hen State." Narrow strips along the rivers, however, are exceedingly fertile. Irrigation has demonstrated that even the sage brush lands need only water to become enormously productive. Much is expected from the national irrigation act. Government works under way at Truckee call for an expenditure of several million dollars. It is expected that a correspondingly large area will be reclaimed. While there is insufficient water in the mountains to irrigate the entire amount of soil now lying worthless, it is anticipated that enough land will some day be brought under cultivation to give Nevada high rank as an agricultural state. The small areas already cultivated produce excellent wheat, barley, oats, potatoes, and vegetables. Apples, peaches, pears, and plums grow admirably. There are a few ranches. Sheep and angora goats do well. In irrigated districts three crops of alfalfa are cut each season, furnishing excellent feed for dairy cattle.

INDUSTRIES. The state has but one system of railways. The Union Pacific passes through from east to west on the way from Salt Lake City to San Francisco. There are numerous spurs to reach the various mining camps; in all, a trackage of about 1,400 miles. There are flour and grist mills in several railroad towns. There are also small manufactures of saddlery, clothing, boots and shoes, wagons, carriages, and confectionery. A considerable quantity of lumber is shipped out of the state.

HISTORICAL, ETC. Nevada was orignally a part of California. The territory was organized by act of Congress in 1861. To augment the Republican majority in Congress, it was admitted as a state in 1864. Although the population has never exceeded 50,000 the state has two senators and one representative. Owing to a falling off in the mining industry the population has actually decreased of late years. In 1900 it was reported at 42,335. It is expected, however, that the development of agriculture will bring up the population rapidly. Carson, the capital city, has a population of about 2,000; Virginia City, 3,000; Reno, 4,000. A complete system of common schools and high schools is maintained at public expense. There is a state university at Reno. There are twenty-four instructors and 400 students. A branch school of mines is maintained at Virginia City.

STATISTICS. The following statistics are the latest to be had from trustworthy sources:

See Irrigation; Sagebrush; Silver; Cactus; Colorado; Canyon; Agate; Tahoe