Battle Born Nevada has never shied away from taking risks

Today marks an important milestone for Nevada: the 150th anniversary of statehood. In Carson City, the traditional Nevada Day Parade will be bigger than ever. Downtown Las Vegas will have a parade today as well.

All of the excitement engendered by our state’s sesquicentennial overlooks an important fact: Clark County was not a part of Nevada in 1864. We were part of the Arizona Territory. All of that changed in 1867, when Congress changed Nevada’s boundary, extending it farther south to include all of Clark County.

But that doesn’t diminish the relevance of statehood for every Nevadan. It remains fascinating history.

In October 1864, the nation was in its third year of the Civil War. The casualties were staggering. President Abraham Lincoln sought re-election. No president since Andrew Jackson in 1836 had won a second term. Lincoln’s challenge was compounded by the nation’s war weariness and a peace movement that promised an end to the carnage. The Democratic nominee, George McClellan, had been the commander of the Army of Potomac. He had done a brilliant job of training the army, but he was temperamentally incapable of using his army. And Lincoln had dismissed him, but he remained popular with the troops.

Lincoln’s supporters cast about for a territory ready for statehood, and attention turned to Nevada. The discovery of silver and the Comstock Lode in 1859 had brought thousands of miners and entrepreneurs to Nevada seeking their fortune. Two years later, the Territory of Nevada was created. But contrary to legend, silver was not the catalyst for Nevada’s statehood. It was political support for the president’s re-election and the votes necessary to enact the 13th Amendment to the Constitution to abolish slavery.

Time was of the essence. Statehood had to be achieved by Nov. 8, the date of the general election. In 1863, an attempt to ratify a proposed state constitution had failed because of controversy over how to tax mining. In 1864, the state constitutional convention decided to tax the net proceeds from mining and to limit the tax rate on mines. (It has been said that the past is prologue, and this year’s general election ballot features Question 2, which, if passed, would authorize the Legislature to establish the rate of the mining tax.)

The voters approved the work of this second constitutional convention with the national election was closing in. Uncertain whether the Nevada Constitution would arrive in time for the election, it was decided to telegraph the constitution to Washington, D.C., at a cost of more than $4,300 — the equivalent of about $59,200 in today’s dollars. Eight days later, Lincoln was re-elected with Nevada’s support. The 13th Amendment to end slavery was passed by a three-vote margin, with Nevada Rep. Henry Worthington casting a supportive vote. Even then, Nevada played a role in national politics.

The glory days of the Comstock quickly faded, and by the turn of the century, Nevada’s population had dwindled to 45,000. Nevada was dependent on a single industry: mining. Today that industry is gaming/tourism. Then as now, the state’s leaders were challenged to find other industries to diversify Nevada’s economy.

As the 20th century dawned, the nation’s mores were changing. Nevada shortened the period to establish residency to file for divorce.

The bold move paid off when Mary Pickford, “America’s Sweetheart,” stepped off the train and was met by her lawyer, Pat McCarran. She had come to Nevada to get a divorce so she could marry another silent film star, Douglas Fairbanks Sr. It was a major story in every newspaper in America.

Nevada had found another industry, and Reno became the divorce capital of America.

With the nation in the grip of the Great Depression, the Nevada Legislature, in 1931, further shortened the residency period for divorce and legalized casino gambling. The foundation for Nevada’s modern economy was laid. Supporters of the legislation hoped that divorce seekers and gamblers would decide to stay in Nevada and invest.

Reflecting on our heritage as we celebrate our sesquicentennial, there is a continuity to the challenge that each generation of state leaders has faced: broadening our economic base. Although we have been blessed with mineral wealth, we are the most arid state; agriculture will never be our dominant industry. We have no natural arteries of commerce, such as harbors or major river systems. And, as a part of the Intermountain West, we are somewhat isolated. We must create our own opportunities. It has not been easy.

Today, diversifying our economy continues to be a top priority. The recent special session of the Nevada Legislature, which allowed electric car maker Tesla Motors to locate a battery plant in the state, was convened to broaden our economic base.

There were risks involved when we changed our divorce laws and authorized casino gaming. Providing Tesla with billions of dollars in tax abatements poses some risks for us as well. But risk-taking, necessitated by our limited options, has become part of our DNA.

As Nevadans, perhaps we have to try a little harder and think outside the box — nothing ventured, nothing gained. We stand ready to bet on that future.

Las Vegas attorney Richard Bryan was governor of Nevada from 1983 to 1989 and a U.S. senator from 1989 to 2001.