, 1889-11-19
THE BIG SANDY.
Something Of Proposed Big Irriga-
tion Works.
Rivers and Reservoirs VIII Reclaim
100000 Acres.
The Splendid Green River Basin in
Fremont County.
A PIONEER ENTHUSIAST.

front of the Big Sandy, Sweetwater
ty. colony scheme. and who furnishes lit
erature for the Union Pacific and other
roads on the side. is a man who believes
heart and soul In Wyoming and who, be-
sides bringing money to the territory,
talks it from coast to coast. Crofutt is a
board of trade and immigration bureau
all by himself. His enthusiasm
is contagious and his familiarity
with the resources, prospects, history,
geography and possibilities OF the terri
tory is amazing. He knows the source
and mouth of every stream, the exact
elevation of every notable point. the
status Of each industry and branch of
trade and gets his railway pointers from
headquarters. Mr.. Crofutt travels a
great deal aud advertises Wyoming al
most every hour of his life. The best
of it is that while an enthusiast he is
conservative aud deals in facts only, say
ing that the truth about Wyoming is
more attractive thaD romance about other
sections. This missionary is a middle
aged gentleman of pleasing personality
and an accomplished conversationalist. A
reporter met Mr.. Crofutt at the Inter
Ocean last evening. He first talked of
old times. Mr.. Crofutt cast a vote for
Cheyenne's first mayor, Hook and rather
thinks he elected the gentleman, for IN
the day OF the contest be reached the city
with an OK train OF lumber and with him.
self his employees declared for Hook, who
was a thorough western man. Crofutt
came to Denver when the Colorado capi-
tai was a tent town. He was then bound
for Pixies Peak.
IRRIGATION.
In Sweetwater county the Big Sandy
company has planned irrigation works
which will reclaim more than 100, 900
acres of land. 1t is sagebrush soil which
becomes, as everyone knows. very fertile
when watered, and the elevation is 1000
feet less han the Laramie plans. This
company has already selected reservoir
sites and considerable work has been done
on their canals. Over $40, 900 has been
spent In preliminary work. Until a few
years ago this section was occupied solely
by the Indians. and they still hunt over
it. Several massacres occurred In the
Big Sandy region during the stampede to
California, and there are remains OF sew
eral burned wagon trains on the company
lands, while rude headstones dot the
plains.
In the Big Sandy country there are
many little streams, besides the two big
rivers. Timber is not lacking. Minerals
have been found and there is considera-
BILE game. The summer are delightful
and the winters mild, with heavy snowfalls
in the mountains.
The principal settlement of the COM
pany is about sixty miles from Green
River. AT present the settlers are in
winter quarters. Operations will be re-
sumed early in the spring and there is
every probability that a Swedish colony
of several hundred members will be
planted there.
A RAILWAY.
Col. Croiutt is certain that the Pacific
Short Line will reach the town of his
company. He has great faith in this
new route. He says it is 200 miles the
shortest line to Ogden from the Missouri
river and has light grades all along.
A l BASIN.
But little is known of the Green river
basin country in Fremont county. Mr..
Crofutt says it is one of Wyoming's best
spots. II is fully timbered, well watered
and has an abundance Of game. There
arc a number Of ranches in the country
and %prospectors visit it frequently. but its
principal use seems to be as an Indian
hunting ground. 1t is unsurveyed, as
was the Big Sandy land until a year ago.
In the Cream river basin is Fremont lake,
a beautiful body of water TOUR miles long
and two miles wide. irinQed with heavy
timber. There will be a big hotel here
sometime.
There is yellow metal in the Green
river basin. which Is about seventy five
miles from Lander. Some lumbermen
washed out a vial of dust there last sum-
mer and a stampede to the region at an
early day is not at all improbable. Color
can be found in almost any gulch.
RAILWAY TO LANDER.
II is the belief of Mr.. Crofutt that the
Northwestern will push on to Lander