, 1889-11-23
THE WATER MAP.
A Novel Picture of Wyoming for
Use at Washington.
Streams and Water Sheds of the
Territory Shown.
A Few Statistics Which Will Inter-
est All.

man Frank Bond and Surveyor General
Richards have prepared for the use OF
Delegate Carey at Washington a very
complete water map of Wyoming, the
first eyer made. Each stream in the ter
ritory is shown and the water sheds are
marked, together with the districts. With
colors the map is made to show the ma
ture of lands. and will admirably serve
the purpose for which it is intended.
Green indicates land reclaimed and yellow
where farming is conducted without irri.
cation. No effort was made to show the
possibilities with the adoption of, an elab.
crate storage reservoir system. Accom-.
panying the map are the following com
ments, with figures compiled from Official
and absolutely correct records in the office
of the territorial engineer:
Wyoming stands third in extent OF ir-
rigated lands and in number and mileage
of irrigation canals. More than $lO,-
600, 600 is invested in irrigation bitches
and canals and over SIS, 900, 900 have
been expended in the reclamation of des.
ert lands. The irrigated district has an
extent equal to two thirds that of Italy
and greater than that of France and
Spain combined.
The land now reclaimed would, if d.
vided, make 30, 900 eighty acre farms and
if provided with transportation facilities
would furnish employment and supper
for more than $50, 900 people. Fully TO-
600, 900 acres can be reclaimed by irriga-
ton if proper measures are taken for stor-
ing and distributing water. This land is
not only enormously productive but its
agricultural value is enhanced by the con-
tiguity of nearly 80, 1000. 900 acres Of valu-
able grazing lands.
The irrigable lands of this territory
equal in extent the combined irrigated
areas OF Egypt and Italy, the agriculture
of which support over 1000, 900 people.
Taken in connection with the grazing
land its area and productive capacity is
above the average of the states of the
Mississippi valley.
I'm the volume and distribution of her
water supply Wyoming takes first place
among the states and territories OF the
arid belt. Within her borders are the
sources of three of the great rivers of the
continent. the Missouri. Colorado and
Columbia Streams crossing the CONT
nent in three directions and emptying
into the Cult of Mexico, the Gulf OF Cali
fornia and the Pacific ocean. They have
their origin within a radius of ten miles.
six hundred natural water courses have
their water diverted in irrigation and four
great rivers cross her borders, the Platte
on the East, the Big Horn on the North.
the Snake on the West and the Green on
the South. Their tributaries penetrate
all parts of her. vast extent and are fed
from the melting SHOWS of a mountain
area Of over 20. 0O0, 900 acres
Owing to the large volume of surplus
water which exists in many localities par.
ties building bitches neglect to record
them. There are fully 500 unrecorded
bitches. making the total number oveI
5000. Many of the record statements
are incomplete; 670 statements omit the
acreage watered, and All fail to record the
length of ditch. No attempt has been
been made to supply these omissions and
the acreage given represents only 2.OsC
out of 2 $50 recorded bitches. Complete
statistics would show fully 2 500, 900 acre,
reclaimed"
In Wyoming there are nine organized
and two unorganized water dis
tricts. The total area of tn,
territory, exclusive of the Vel
lowstone National Park is 81, 734, 296
The area o irrigated is 2,l06, $50
There are 2,75O bitches recorded and
their aggregate length is 4,799. 80 miles.
Rpat Esfnfa