, 1889-03-21

Wyoming than in any other state or terri
tory. Its school system is the equal Of
any in the West and the general govern.
ment has never contributed a dollar to it,
support.
The assessable value Of the territorial
property IN a so per cent valuation is
S3l 200, 900. We have 900 miles of rail.
roads and l,400 miles of telegraph lines.
With an Indebtedness of $500, 600 we can
show a territorial capitol building greatly
superior in every way to that owned by
the old state of Pennsylvania at Harris
burg; a beautiful university, insane
asylum, a penitentiary and a deaf and
dumb institute. Our bonds for these
buildings readily sold in Chicago at a
premium OF 10 per cent, which is con-
vincing evidence of our public credit.
Prof. Powell, of the United States
government survey, estimates that over
20 per cent of the land of Wyoming can
be brought under irrigation. Territorial
Engineer Mead says
A distinctive feature of Wyoming's ir-
rigation Is that it outstrips all the states
and territories of the arid region in the
number of its streams available for Irri-
CATION. The valleys bordering most
streams are narrow, ranging in width from
one to five miles. The uplands between
these valleys are too high to be watered
and most remain for grazing land. This
contugity of large tracts of grazing land
TO that devoted to farming, affording as it
free summer pasturage for the farm
er stock, Is a material advantage, and is
to increase the value of the irri-
gated lands.
In the construction Of bitches alone
private enterprise has expended not less
than $500 900. We have under ditch
and ready for the pillow enough lands
to make 2 5000 eighty acre farms, which
would support at least 200, 900 peopleede-
voted purely to agricultural pursuits. The
suplus water in the streams guaged by the
territorial engineer last season, in two
alone, would irrigate 500, 900
acres. The 1000 bitches already con-
structed water an area equal to the whole
of the irrigated districts OF France and
Spain combined and one-half of that of
Italy. They are distributed Throughout a
region almost as large as the whole of
New England. The total number of
acres taken up under the public land laws
up to June 30.lSSS wa ., 359, OS6 acres, of
which 3l7, $50 wero taken up during the
fiscal year 1888. In addition an almost
equal amount of land has been purchased
from the Union Pacific railroad company.
The LEADER has never frantically
rayed for statehood, but it believes that
the time is now rapidly approaching when
the honor must come to Wyoming.
While the Press is making sneering al
lusions as to our population it should not
forget that the present great state of Hi
nois was admitted when it had only 49,
900 inhabitants. Nebraska with 10000,
Colorado with $4,000 Ia high estimate)
and Oregon with 10000. In natu-
raj resources Wyoming is super
ior to any of the states named, yet
observe into what magnificent common
wealths they have all grown. The bank
resources of Wyoming are over S5,OOo,-
600. .r.r ..
Wyoming is the youngest of all the
territories and its population is the most
distinctively American. Its people are
proud of their lusty young commonwealth,
its vast mineral resources, of its posi-
bilities and its accomplishments. They
are proud of the pure ozone of its mighty
plains which is laden with stimulating,
health giving qualities that less favored
mortals sigh for. They are proud of a
climate which is neither rigorous in winter
nor e%nervatingly hot in summer Every
body who here is perfectly willing
to remain, and everybody is confident that
a few short years will Justify every conf
dence which they repose in the future of
the territory.
Wyoming is asking nothing from the
government or from her neighbors, but
she will get there inst the same-