Mary Austin

Austin's famous poetic study of the lands between Death Valley and the High Sierras features fourteen sketches describing plants, animals, mountains, birds, skies, Indians, prospectors, towns, and other aspects, portraying the desert as a place of rare, austere beauty that weaves a lasting spell over its inhabitants

Cocky young glaciers, contemplative pine trees, resourceful ancient Paiutes, and rabbits too clever for their own good. Through the kindly but mysterious Basket Woman, they all become the companions and teachers of Alan, the young son of homesteaders in early Nevada. The Basket Woman, a keeper of her people's traditions, doesn't simply tell stories: She transports her young friend into powerful mythic tales, where Alan learns the secret of the trees...

The purposed of this project is to conduct a thorough analysis of the state's short and long term needs for prison capacity. The study will address the amount of capacity required, the type of beds needed, and operational efficiency. The end result will be a plan that identifies the optimal use of the state's prison resources to meet projected population demands.