The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-03-18

than doubled her population, uncovered
many resources, and bade farewell TO
rowing bands Of red men who had stayed
the progress of civilization. Taking in
to consideration the condition of the
territory in 1870, the progress made
during the decade ending in 1880 is
simply marvellous.
1t must be borne in mind that Wyo-
ming is situated among Older, and hence
better developed states and territories.
These have had the benefit of age and
prestige to aid them in securing capital
for development. But they were years
in getting this much. 1t takes time to
advertise, explain and induce capitalists
and others to settle. Neither Rome
nor a territory was built in a day. Wyo-
ming has a good start and is on the fair
road to unbounded prosperity.
Let us briefly revIew the situation:
While the principal attractions of the
west seem to be mines and farms, Wyo-
ming can furnish these, and more. Her
resources are more varied than even
those of Colorado. Taking into ac-
count the business interests in the or
der OF their prominence, we find that
stockgrowing is likely to maintain the
lead for years to come. 1t has doubled
in three years and will continue to in
crease in the anne ratio. There are
still millions of unoccupied acres of
the public lands in the north and north
western portion of the territory that are
awaiting appropriation by the enter
prising stockgrowers. Whole valleys
covered with luxuriant grasses lie idle;
but this will not last long. The push
ing, spreading st~ockgrowers will find
ranges for their increasing herds, and
when all the ranges are filled there will
be untold millions of cattle in our
young territory.
Mining comes next in Importance.
While there has not been much pros
pecting, enough is known to warrant
the statement that before the taking of
the next census there will be thriving
mining cities in the lower Black Hills
of Wyoming, in the Wind river noun
tains and in the far famed Big Horn
range. Already there are paying mines
at Rawhide Buttes, Silver Crown and
Granite Canon in this county; at
Cummins City, in Albany county; at
Douglas creek and Ferris, in Carbon
coanty; at Atlantic, Miners Delight,
South Pass and La Barge, in Sweet
water county, and at Bear river, in
Uinta county. Outside of these dis
tricts there are thousands of square
miles of mountains Of mineral forma-
tion that have never been trod by the
foot of civilized man.
Owing to the mining excitements in
neighboring states and teri tories, pros
pectors have not yet thronged our
mountain as they will in the future.
And when they do SO there will be I'M
earthed mines just as rich as any that
have as yet been discovered in the west.
1t is not in reason to suppose that golden
and silvern wealth has been stacked up
all about us and that Wyoming has
been left out in the cold. When the
back bone of the continent was formnd.
nature did not know that a section of
it, owe 300 miles long, would one day
fall within the geographical lines OF the
youngest territory in the government
of the United States. Wyoming has all
prerequisites for a great producer of
precious metals, and our predictions
will be verified at no distant day.
Agriculture in Wyoming is yet in its
infancy. The farming regions have been
the last to become free of the rowing
savage. But the fair valleys of the
north and northwest are filling up
amazingly. and farms, farm houses and
villages are springing up where only a
few years ago the buffalo grazed in
quiet retreat, disturbed only by the
chase of the Indian. Water is plenti-
full in these smiling wales; but all crops
need not be irrigated. Rains are
frequent and copious, and farming is
therefore rendered profitable. Every
year the number of emigrants to the
farming regions increases. Settlers are
sending for their friends, and then
hundreds of others are pouring in
through choice. In a few years these
regions must become the more populous
in our territory, unless the rapid de-
velopment of mines keeps pace with the
increasing population.
In this connection it would be well
to call attention to the fact that Wyo-
ming should have a board of emigration
consisting Of good, live and competent
men who are really interested in the
population Of our broad acres. The
simple dissemination Of facts properly
compiled would bring a horde of good
citizens.
Then Wyoming has immense de-
posits of soda that are perennial in
character. This soda has been tested
and found valuable for many purposes,
notably that of making glass. With
soda by the square mile, and coal in
like proportion, equally convenient to
the railroad, and men of energy and
capital, a manufacturing empire could
be built up within a few years in Car
bon county. Already a line of railroad
has been surveyed from the Union Pa
ci6c to those vast deposits, and it is the
intention to extend the road and open
other new and rich country. Coal is