Carson City Daily Appeal

That it may be easier to describe where the West begins than it is to find where Nevada begins is the observation of Attorney Homer Mooney following an examination of records of an outline of Nevada boundaries.

"Every two years the constitutions of the United States and of Nevada are compiled in a pamphlet published by the state and from time to time the laws of Nevada are compiled as they were in 1912 and in 1919," Mr. Mooney said today. "but it is a strange thing that in none of these publications is there a correct description of the state of Nevada.

"As a suggestion to future compilers or even legislators, the following facts are presented:

"The enabling act for the formation of Nevada as a state described the boundaries as they are now described in the state constitution (article 14) that is, beginning at the intersection of the 37th parallel of north latitude with the 115th meridian of west longitude, thence due west to the diagonal boundary of California, thence up that diagonal to the 120th meridian of west longitude to the intersection with the 42nd parallel of north latitude, thence east to the intersection with the 115th meridian west, thence south to the beginning point.—Act of March 21, 1864. U. S. statutes at large: vol. 13, page 30.

"By the act of May 5, 1866, Stats. at L. 14:43, the eastern boundary of Nevada was shifted over to the 114th degree of west longitude, extended south to the middle of the Colorado river and down the Colorado river to the diagonal boundary of California and up the diagonal to the 37th degree of north latitude, thus adding the bottom triangle to the state and a slice to the east.

"This act of congress was conditioned on the acceptance of its terms by the legislature of Nevada.

"If it ever was accepted the enactment is so obscure that it cannot be readily found.

"The diagonal line between Nevada and California from Lake Tahoe, southeastward was rectified and adopted in confirmation of the United States coast and geodetic survey of 1900, by act of the legislature adopted February 27, 1903, page 38. R.L. 3934

By section 2 of the act of March 20, 1865, page 411. R.L. 4348 the surveyor-general may be required by law to make a complete survey by astronomical observations and lineal surveys of the boundaries of the state as declared by the constitution, or as may hereafter be determined by the congress of the United States, or the people of this state.'

"It is conceded that it is no part of the duty of the secretary of state to indicate that the description in Article 14 of the constitution is obsolete. He cannot change it. However there should be some note somewhere enabling the wayfaring man to find where Nevada begins."