Reconstruction and Progress: Nevada and Nebraska

During the interval covered by the political evolution here outlined, other events of great importance had taken place. These included the admission of two new States -- Nevada, which was accepted as a State in 1864, while the war was still pending; and Nebraska, which was admitted in 1867. The history of Nevada presents features of particular interest. At the date of its admission it was, though much below the requisite population for Congressional representation, growing so rapidly in consequence of its rich silver output, that no doubt was entertained of its soon reaching the standard of representation. This expectation has not been fulfilled. The production of silver has decreased, the State is almost destitute of agricultural and pastoral possibilities, and the population, which reached 62,266 in 1880, decreased to 45,761 in 1890, and 42,334 in 1900, or about 133,000 below the present ratio of representation. In the year of the admission of Nebraska (1867) an addition of considerable importance was made to the territory of the United States in the acquisition of Alaska, which was purchased from Russia for $7,200,000. While much of the 577,000 square miles of this territory is likely to continue useless, the value of its fisheries, furs, timbers, and minerals very greatly exceeds its cost to the United States, and every new exploration yields and higher conception of its natural wealth. (The gold output of the Alaska region is dealt with in a later page.)

The period in which these political events were taking place was made notable by two industrial triumphs of the greatest importance. The first of these was the laying of an ocean telegraph cable. The earliest effort to connect the United States with Europe by telegraph was made in 1856. this cable parted. One was laid successfully in 1858, but it ceased to work after a few messages had been transmitted. Cyrus W. Field, the projector of the enterprise, continued his efforts, and after another failure, in 1865, succeeded in his difficult task in 1866. Afterwards the broken cable of 1865 was raised and spliced, and both wires were found to work admirably. Since that date several other cables have been laid across the Atlantic, and ocean cables have been extended between various other countries.

The other event alluded to is the building of the Central Pacific Railroad. This, the greatest feat in railroad-building up to that time, was completed in 1869, the last spike being driven in May of that year, at Ogden, Utah. By it continuous railroad connection was made between New York and San Francisco, a distance of 3,300 miles. More recently the Northern, the Southern, the Canadian, and other Pacific Railroads were completed and communication between all parts of the eastern and western sea-boards of this country has been made easy and rapid.

In the Presidential campaign of 1868 the Republican party nominated General Grant and Schuyler Colfax for President and Vice-President, while the Democratic nominees were Horatio Seymour and General Frank P. Blair. The Republican ticket was elected by a large majority. Of the events that occurred during this administration two were of the highest importance; the Chicago fire, and the settlement of the Alabama claims. These claims arose from the ravages on American commerce committed during the Civil War by the Alabama and other Confederate cruisers, which had been fitted out in English ports, and permitted to sail in disregard to the earnest protests of the United States minister to England. This default in international obligations produced such bitter feeling in this country that war might have resulted had not a peaceful means of settlement been found. The dispute was finally adjusted by arbitration, and board composed of commissioners from several nations meeting at Geneva, Switzerland, in 1872. The result of their delibrations was in favor of the United States, and it was awarded pound3,229,-166 (about $15,700,000), which sum Great Britain promptly paid. This event is of the highest interest, as being among the first settlements of a great international difficulty by the peaceful and economical method of arbitration instead of the costly and destructive one of war, Another question between the United States and England, that concerning the northwest boundary, was similarly adjusted, being submitted to the Emperor of Germany, who decided it in favor of the United States.

During the night of October 8, 1871, there broke out in Chicago what became, perhaps, the most destructive conflagration, in actual loss of wealth, that ever visited any city. High winds spread the flames, which found abundant fuel in the many wooden structures of the city, and they raged for three days, destroying property valued at two hundred millions of dollars. The ground burned over was four and a half miles long by one mile wide, one hundred thousand people were left homeless, and two hundred lost their lives by this terrible disaster.

A later account gives the following summary: Three and a third square miles burned over; 17,450 buildings destroyed; 98,500 persons rendered homeless, and over 250 killed. The total direct loss of property was estimated at $190,000,000, swelled by indirect losses of $290,000,000. Fifty-six insurance companies were rendered insolvent by the fire. In less than a month over $3,500,000 had been subscribed, independent of aid voted by the State Legislature.