, 1888-08-07
THE GOVERNORS TRIP.
His Views and Ideas About the
Northern Country.
A Visit to the Poison Spider Oil
Region.
Other Matters of Interest Observed
by Him.

His Excellency Governor Thomas Moon
light returned to Cheyenne Yesterday
after an absence of about FIVE weeks on a
trip Of observation through the northern
portion of the territory, and on being in
terviewed by a LEADER reporter he gave
that individual a brief account of his jour
neyings. The governor was accompanied
on his trip by Prof Ricketts,. territorial
Geologist.
The first point visited of any importance
was Sundance, Crook county, and the
governor has excellent impressions not
only of that place but of Crook county
generally so far as he saw it. In his
opinion the time is coming when not only
will Sundance be a fine large town, but
the country around in that vicinity will
prove to be a very excellent one indeed, as
good as any that can be found in the far
West. Twenty miles from Sundance, in
a northwesterly direction, lie the oil fields
of Crook county, and although the gov
ernor did not profess to know whether
they are of great value or not, yet from
the indications now appearing on the sur
face he is of the opinion that they are
certainly very good and they are now being
worked.
From Sundance the governor went over
to the Belle Fourche, and from thence
across to Powder river and its branches.
Tha anIntrv in tla main rr,, l,aL,,- Ill
and there is evidently plenty of water
there, as in most places the grass is look
ing fine On Powder river also there are
oil beds and A. j. Bonnell is engaged
with a crew Of men in the work Of devel-
oplng them.
Working westward the Casper noun
tain range was reached and passed at a
point between fifty and sixty miles from
old Fort Casper, at which point there is so
much figuring being done in relation to
oil and oil companies, and eventually the
governor passed into and through a large
portion of the Wind river and Sweetwater
countries-Buffalo and other points this
side of them of course having been visited
by the governor.
While in the region above alluded to
the governor paid a visit to the Poison
Spider oil fields, which are among the
most extensive OF any in the far West.
Here it was that the surface indications
were indicative Of al immense amount
further down. 1t is no thing
there to find the oil actually bubbllng out
of the ground, but the governor, who is
much averse to giving out incorrect state
ments or impressions regarding the re-
sources of the territory, states that devel-
opment alone will determine what there is
there. 1t may turn out that they are all
and more than has been claimed for them,
but oil wells will have to be sunk and the
matter thoroughly tested before it will be
positively known what is beneath the sur
face. The indications appearing above
ground are one thing and a flowing well
is quite another. The governor says
there is a material difference in the gen
eral appearance of the country east of the
Casper mountain range from what it APP
pears to be west of the divide, at least so
far as the matter of fertility is concerned,
and yet there was not time Of course to
visit every portion of it for the purpose
of making a critical examination.
Prot. Ricketts, took measurements, OBJ
tanned the various attitudes, etc as they
passed through the regions alluded to and
was quite well pleased with the country
from a scientific az well as other stand
points.
The governor and Prof. Ricketts, left
their private conveyance at Rawlins and
returned from that point to Cheyenne by
rail, both being in excellent health and
having enjoyed the trip even Letter than
they expected.