The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-01-30
CO OPERATION or COLONIzA.
TION.

Our experience for the past twelve
years has taught US that If we desire to
grow and prosper as q territory, we
must seek some means to encourage
immigration. The late eensus shows
an increase in the population of Wyo-
ming of only 10000 during the past ten
years. while our neighboring territor-
les have during that time beat us
ten to one, and have been admitted or
are now knocking for admission to the
Union as states. Our progress has
been but slow, owing to various caus-
es. The principal one being a lack of
organized efforts on the part of our
officials and people. to invite immi-
grants to our borders.
The general belief among the people
abroad is that Wyoming ha no lands
that Are fit for cultivation, that its
soil and climate render agriculture
pro6tless, andthat the only remunerative
branch of industry in Wyoming is
stockraising. In what manner this i'm
preston has obtained a foothold, it is
unnecessary for us to explain at pres
emit; suffice it to say, that this belief
does prevail; and it therefore becomes
our duty to furnish to the people at
large such information as will in a
measure, bring about a rightful UNDER
standing of Wyoming's resources, SO
far as they relate to agriculture pur-
suits.
We have in this territory a large area
Of fine agricultural lands, distributed
through the five counties at present
organized. There are several settle
ments in various quarters sustained
solely by agriculture. We may men-
tion the Wind river valley in Sweet
water county, the Bear river valley in
Uinta county, the Snake river country
in Carbon, the settlements in the
vicinity of Fort Mckinney and the
Laramie Plains in Albany county.
There is also a large extent of country
in Laramie county, watered by the
Laramie and Platte rivers and their
tributaries, which is adapted to agri-
culture, and where all the known vege-
tables and cereals al be cultivated
with profit. In these various sections
of our territory, there are millions of
acres of fine land open to settlement
Under the homestead, presumption and
and bounty land laws. This land is
fully equal to the best of land in Iowa
and Nebraska and will produce the best
of crops.
Settlers will find a market for their
produce at their very doors, for at the
present time everything in the line of
produce, vegetables and cereals has to
be imported to this territory, excepting
tho Wind river valley, where for several
years the farmers have supplied the
wants of the people, the military posts
and the Indian agency.
The question arises. how can these
lands be made available? Which IS the
best plan to induce settlers to occupy
the promising fields of Wyoming?
Our answer is, the cooperation plan
is the best and most practicable. This
method Is to be preferred to the course
pursued by the pioneers of former times.
who plunged into the primitive forests,
and squatted IN the plains, with very
little means, and spent their lifetime in
digging their way to civilization. The
new idea Of industrial colonies has
changed all this. One hundred or more
families resolve to settle together, pay
into the general fund a certain sum of
money, and surround themselves with
the comforts of civilization in fewer
months than the years required to OBJ
tain like results under the old system.
Instead Of each emmigrant travelling in
quest of a ft location, two OF three are
chosen to perform this task. They
secure a large body of land in a good
locality, in n tract, at a uniform price;
s~uperintend its distribution and sale
for the benefit of members, and obtain
reduced rates of transportation for the
colony and its effects. In thus combin-
ing their material and resources, the
members of this community obviate the
h~ardships and disadvantages of separate
emigration, and they secure for them
selves an opportunity to invest moderate
means with the advantages which be-
long to the use of large capital. The
benefit of this plan is shown by the ex-
perlence of the Greeley and Evans
colonies in Colorado, are obviously
great. This scheme does not contemp-
late cooperative labor, or common
ownership of the lands after they are
open to occupation, or of any other pro-
perty; nor the supplying to any colonist
the means required for emigrating or
for engaging in any business. The
selection of a proportionate quantity of
land by each settler at public sale, with
an equitable interest in the benefit of
the irrigating or other public works,
and in the unsolicited remainder OF the
lands Of the colony,is to be taken as a
full equivalent for the money paid in by
each member. The latter pays for his
own transportation at such reduced
rates as the agent of the association can
secure; he makes his own improve
ments, at his W expense, and Guilt
Yates his lands or carries on such bust
ness as he chooses, with his own means
However, by thus uniting with a large