The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-04-18

must have made a larg
draft upon the means and energy {
the railroad company to overcome
Tunnels are met every few miles
long and expensive snowsheds she]
ter the track at every exposed poin,
and miles of fence for breaking tn
drifting snow are constructed. I
was a herculean task that the Uniol
Pacific company undertook, an.
right well did it complete it.
COAL MINING.
1t cannot be claimed that til,
western division of the line is rich il
agricultural resources. The extremely
rough nature of the country and it.
altitude do not invite the presence o
the farmer, and with the exception
OF a few spots here and there the sol
still retains its yirginity. But it finds
compensation in its boundless min
eral wealth. Mines Of the precious
metals lie hidden beneath the rugged
exterior of the swelling mountains
seen or every side, while immense
coal beds, which are proving to be
great bonanzas, are. being extensively
worked. Evanston, a town of 1900
Inhabitants and lying just within the
western boundary line of Wyoming,
owes its existence to the fine coal
fields in its vicinity. 1t is from this
place and from Alma, another coal
mining district a short distance from
the road, that the company finds fuel
to feed the large number of engines
employed upon the road. Large
quantities of the coal are alse shipped
to Salt Lake, Ogden, and Butte, and
to other points in the west. Al
though the mountains are covered
with pines of stalwart size and wood
can be obtained at comparatively
small cost, still, for many purposes.
coal is considered cheaper and is *
tensively used. Hence coal mining
there is an industry which is a large
factor in the prosperity of a large Sec
ton of the West.
LARAMIE PLAINS
are the table lands forming the ap-
preach to the Rocky Mountains from
the East. They comprise over 3,OOO,-
600 acres; and are the great grazing
lands of Wyoming. They are cov-
cred with the most nutritious grasses,
and their elevation-averaging owe
1000 f~eet-insures a dryness of at
mosphere which enables the vast
L erds of cattle ranging and fattening
upon them to endure the winters
cold with but little or no suffering.
These plains, which were once the
winter home of the buffalo. are now
converted into sources of great wealth
by enterprising stockmen. Large
3 mounts of hay are annually put up
in the numerous small valleys which
flank the clear pure streams which
from the mountains, but little
If it is used by owners OF large
herds. 1t is baled upon the ground,
md finds a ready sale at the towns
md cities upon the line of the road.
Wheat, oats, rye, barley and several
Kinds of vegetables are easily grown
lpon the fertile valley lands, aud
re disposed of at remunerative
prices in a home market. But the
prime industry is cattle raising. In
10 part of the world, with the proba-
lie exception of Montana, does this
pay better than on the Lara
ME Plains. The proximity Of the
Jnion Pacific gives the stockman
he advantage of the great eastern
markets and enables him to meet
heir short supplies in quick time,
nd generally al large profits to him
During the past winter !
he percentage of the loss
t cattle was insignificant.
and Scotch companies are
ow engaging in the cattle business ,
lere on a large scale. Quite recently I
ley have made purchases of herds 9
hicll called for the payment of i
ON 5000 N to $5OQ, 900. A most fl
ngnlar feature of these purchases \
sales is that the buyer seldom if p
'er sees the herd before buying and n
counts the cattle. The herd 81
ok is taken for the number and :,
e brand Or brands for the cattle.
'ansfers of immense herds of cattle,
which Thousands of dollars are in d
lived, are frequently made in the n T,
~ rooms Of Laramie and Cheyenne h
tells. A passing of the herd book re
d description of brands by the al
e party, and the giving of a check e.
the amount of the purchase money a,
the other, and the business is a,
ne. 1t requires stalwart faith in ia
nature to transact business in ~
$ manner, but the honor of Wyo-
ng cattle men justifes it there.
THE PLATTE VALLEY, or
few years ago this beautiful val 81
was the hunting ground of the
age Sioux. who jealousy guarded
from the Entertainments of the II,
1nees and other tribes of Missouri by
sr Indians. But the traveller who M
ses over it to-day can hardly real
the fact. Cultivated fields, beau In
homes surrounded by every evil col
&c of prosperity; hamlets and viii Wis
3 where the rustics gather with WI
r wives or s~weethearts to see the z
ing "show" or dance to the music pos