Nevada
From Encyclopediak
Nevada, Ne vah da, THE SAGEBRUSH STATE, one of the Mountain States, is bounded on the north by Oregon and Idaho, on the east by Utah and Arizona and on the west and southwest by California. That part of the state south of the 39th parallel has the shape of a triangle with an irregular apex.
SIZE. The extreme length from north to south is 483 m. and the greatest breadth is 320 m. The area is 110,690 sq. m., of which about 869 sq. m. are water. Nevada is a little larger than Colorado, less than half the size of Texas, about the size of the New England States and Pennsylvania combined and the sixth state in area.
POPULATION. In 1920 the population was 77,407. From 1910 to 1920 there was a loss in population of 4,468, or 5.5 per cent. The number of inhabitants to the square mile was .7, and the state's rank in population, including the District of Columbia, was 49, in 1920.
SURFACE. The northern part of the state consists of a plateau 4000 ft. in altitude lying between the Sierra Nevada Mountains on the west and the Wasatch Mountains on the east. Numerous parallel ranges from 20 to 50 m. apart and varying in altitude from 6000 to 8000 ft. run north and south through the state. These are broken by passes and valleys. In the southwestern portion is an alkali plain over which a few mountains are scattered. In some sections there are ranges extending in a general east and west direction. The highest point in the state is Wheeler Peak, 13,058 ft., near the central point of the eastern boundary.
RIVERS AND LAKES. In the southwestern part of the state there are no rivers of importance. The Humboldt, rising in the northeast and flowing across the state to Humboldt Lake, is the principal stream. The Walker, Carson and Truckee rivers rise in the Sierra Nevadas and flow into lakes in the west-central part of the state. In the north is the Owyhee River, flowing into the Snake, thence to the Columbia. Nevada contains several lakes. Pyramid Lake, 35 miles long and 10 miles wide, is the largest. Lake Tahoe, on the western boundary, is the most noted because of its remarkable beauty. This charming mountain lake is over 5000 ft. above the sea and is 21 m. long. Other lakes are Mud, Carson and Walker.
CLIMATE. Nevada has a mild temperate climate and the air is dry and healthful. The state is subject to great extremes of heat and cold, but these are not of frequent occurrence. The average temperature for winter is about 28 and for summer, about 71. The rainfall is very unevenly distributed, most of the rain occurring between December and May. Nevada is the most arid state in the Union, the average rainfall being less than 12 inches. In some sections rain never falls.
MINERALS AND MINING. Nevada contains rich deposits of gold and silver, besides lead, copper, quicksilver, nickel, sulphur, gypsum, salt and borax. Near Virginia City is the famous Comstock lode, a vein containing deposits of gold and silver, which at one time produced over $38,000,000 worth of bullion in a year, and a total of $700,000,000 since 1860. The annual output of gold is now over $15,000,000 and of silver, over $7,000,000. The most important fields are in the vicinity of Tonopah. Among the building stones are limestone, granite, slate, sandstone and marble. Some lignite coal is also mined on the Eiko River.
AGRICULTURE. Owing to the lack of rainfall and distance from markets, agriculture is not a leading industry in Nevada. The soil, however, is fertile, and good results are obtained in the irrigated sections. Numerous farms are found in the Valley of the Humboldt River and in the west-central parts of the state. The chief field crops are hay, spring wheat, oats, potatoes and vegetables. Apples, peaches, plums and pears of excellent quality are raised. Live-stock raising is an important branch of agriculture in those sections where there is an abundance of prairie grass, and large numbers of cattle and sheep are raised. Cashmere and Angora goats are also raised to a limited extent.
MANUFACTURES. The principal manufactures are railway cars, dairy products, flour and gristmill products, saddlery and harness, clothing, chemicals, boots and shoes, brick and tile, wagons and carriages, confectionery, liquors, lumber products and salt. Closely connected with the mining industry are the smelting and refining of ores and the making and repairing of mining machinery and tools. The lack of good railway facilities has prevented any great development of manufacturing.
TRANSPORTATION. The principal line of railway in Nevada is the Southern Pacific, which crosses the northern portion of the state from east to west. This road has a branch line running northward from Reno, and one southward to Walker Lake. The southeastern par. of the state is crossed by the San Pedro, Los Angeles Salt Lake road, but much of this region is without railway lines.
GOVERNMENT. The constitution which was adopted in 1864 is still in use. The executive department consists of a governor, lieutenant-governor, secretary of state, treasurer, comptroller, superintendent of public instruction, surveyor-general and attorney-general, each elected for four years. The Legislature consists of a Senate and House of Representatives, the combined membership of these houses being limited to 75. The Senate cannot have less than one-third nor more than one-half of the number of members in the House. Senators and representatives are elected for two years. Sessions are biennial and limited to 60 days. The Legislature convenes on the third Monday of January of odd years. The judicial department consists of a Supreme Court, District Courts and justice courts. There are also various courts in cities and towns.
EDUCATION. Nevada has a good system of public schools with high schools in all large towns. The schools are in charge of a state board of education, a superintendent of public instruction and five deputy superintendents. Education is compulsory.
STATE INSTITUTIONS. The state hospital for the insane is at Reno, the orphans home at Carson City and the penitentiary at Carson City. CITIES. The chief cities are Carson City, the capital Reno, Goldfield, Las Vegas, Tonopah, Ely, Elko and Sparks.
HISTORY. Nevada, the Spanish "snowy," referring to the Sierra Nevada Mountains, was visited by Spanish friars about 1775, by trappers, some 50 years later, and by Fremont in 1843. It came to the United States by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Having established a camp in 1848, Mormons prospered until 1856. The discovery of silver, 1859, caused Nevada Territory to be organized out of Utah, west of 113, in 1861. It became a state in 1864, and its area was added to until 1866. Consult Bancroft's Nevada and Her Resources.
GOVERNORS(from 1865-1923) H. G. Blasdel, 1865-71 L. R. Bradley, 1871-79 J. H. Kinkhead, 1879-83 J. W. Adams, 1883-87 C. C. Stevenson, 1887-90 Frank Bell, 1890 R. K. Colcord, 1891-95 John E. Jones, 1895 Reinhold Sadler, 1896-1903 John Sparks, 1903-07 D. S. Dickerson, 1907-11 T. L. Oddie, 1911-15 Emmet Boyle, 1915-23 J. W. Scrugham, 1923 Territorial governor.
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