, 1889-12-15

emit, except IN a lew localities along the
eastern border. on irrigation. In the ex-
cepted localities the rainfall record shows
a marked increase over the territorial av-
erage. On Hat creek, Converse county,
the annual rainfall is 1926 inches, while
for Wyoming it is but II inches. Crops
are successfully grown In portions OF
Crook, Laramie and Converse counties by
rainfall alone, but it is to irrigation that
We look for the largest returns and most
certain yields, while in all bat few localI-
ties its aid is simply indispensable. Our
estimate of future agriculture must be
confined to the land which will be re-
claimed by irrigation.
Any land which can be supplied with
water becomes enormously productive,
rendering agriculture remunerative to a
degree rarely achieved In regions depend
ent on rainfall.
The area of the agricultural land largely
exceeds the water supply. makingEit GER
tain that some of the land must forever
remain in its present condition and aus
ing the agricultural value to inhere in the
land rather than the water.
Covering land with water to a depth of
two feet will insure a plentiful crop.
The available water, including rainfall,
would irrigate $1,000, 900 acres if prop
erly applied. The location of the noun
tain watersheds gives US a favorable dis
tribution of the supply. Streams flow in
all directions and penetrate every section
of the territory. IL is the best watered
portion of the arid region. Recorded
bitches now divert the water from over
600 streams and II our statistics were COM
plete the number would be greater.
The territory has nine legal water dis
tricts but the streams contribute four nat
ural drainage systems.
GRAZING VALUES
Much Of the upland area must remain
for grazing purpose as there is but a
small surplus of water for its reclamation.
This grazing land will always be profitable
and the combination of the two kinds of
land will place Wyoming at the head of
the farming, dairying and stock raising
districts of the mid continent country.
SURPLUS WATER.
The principal streams OF the territory
are practically untouched and along their
borders will be the grain producing sec
tons Of the territory. There are splendid
opportunities for the construction of big
irrigating works. Inducements are espec-
Tally noticeable in the valleys of the
Green and Big Horn rivers. To a large
water supply there is added the absence
of vested rights to interfere. Valleys of
nearly ali the large streams present
chances for works of magnitude. For e
ample, the p~lateaus on the North Platte,
near Saratoga, the valley of the Sweet
water and a number of streams flowing
East from the Big Horn mountains.
HISTORY OF WORK.
Next in the report is a detail of the
work of the Office for the past nineteen
months, much of which has received
mention in this paper. There are state
ments of observations, compilations of
records and reports of water commission
ers, with citation OF the difficulties of adj
judication. A greater portion of the
summer of 1888 was spent in field work,
during which bitches were measured and
streams Guaged.
johnson and Sheridan counties have at
present the most land under cultivation.
On many of the smaller streams in
eastern Wyoming water has been over
appropriated. A few cratic waterways
have been completely absorbed by bitches.
The majority of the irrigation works of
the territory are the property of the land
owners and for the most part are well
built. A Sheridan county tunnel. another
in Laramie county and the works of the
Campbell K Gordon company merit no.
tice.
The canal of the Wyoming Develop
ment company ranks highest among the
important irrigation works of the whole
continent. Water is diverted from a riv-
er fifty miles away and is used by means
OF a tunnel 2 1850 feet long. The canals
in the system aggregate 100 miles in
length and water a fine body of land.
SUGGESTIONS.
The report closes with exhaustive re-
concentrations with regard principally to
the distribution of water equitably. the
settlement OF rights, powers Of officers of
the department, state ownership, water
for stock, dams in streams and headgates.
The hydraulic mining operations of
Emile Granier near Lander is the subject
of a chapter.
From April /, 1883, to Dec. l, 1889 the
expense of the office aside from the engi-
neer's salary aggregated s2,053. SO.
Pardoned.
- ALL - -