Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-07-25
WYOMING.
Some Facts Concerning the New State
Just Admitted.

Just Admitted.
Wyoming has sufficient acres to
make it the eighth State in the Union
in point OF area. The recent growth
OF Wyoming has been very rapid.
The census OF 1870 gave it a popula-
ton of less than 10000. The increase
to ten times that number in 20 years
has been chiefly due to the live stock
interests, which continue to surpass
all Others in amount of capital in
vested and the magnitude OF opera
tions.
1t is estimated that there are within
the boundaries of the State 1,500,-
600 cattle, 100000 sheep and 5000
horses, representing a total value OF
$75 100000. 1t is essentially a graz
ing country. In fact, less than one
sixth of the area of TIE territory is
even estimated to be capable of cult
vation, and territorial estimates in
matters of this sort are apt to be large
enough.
Cultivation, too, relies upon irriga-
ton. At present something more
than 1000 bitches are in operation,
irrigating 100000 acres OF the lO.-
100000 that can be irrigated, but the
work of this sort so far has been large
ly done to get title to the land, and
not one acre in 20 has ever been titled.
Better railway facilities are needed be-
fore further cultivation is undertaken.
The chief agricultural product at pres
ent is hay.
In mineral wealth Wyoming un-
doubtedly excels. Coal mining so far
has received the most attention.
Coal is found in every country
county, varying from two to forty feet
in thickness. The total production in
1888 was 1929 short tons, worth
at the mines $4,53S ,SOS. One-third of
this amount was expended for labor.
The number OF miners engaged was
1,527, who received at the rate of 80
cents to $I1O a ton for mining. The
Union Pacific Railroad has done the
greater part of this work, monopoliz-
ing it previous to 1886, but since then
it has given outsiders a chance, and
they have opened and developed a
number Of mines.
The soda deposits of the State
are of special interest, for soda has not
hitherto been natural product of the
United States. The salt cake of COM
merce is produced in the Eastern
States at a few place where salt is
cheap and sulphuric acid can be made
as a by-product; but the larger
amount is imported from England,
where it is manufactured from COM
mon salt by treating with sulphuric
acid and roasting.
In Wyoming all that has to be done
is to dig it out and dry it; and the
territorial gcologist says the deposits
will amount to 100000 tons. Last
year we imported about $1,000 tons.
of carbonate Of soda (including
sal soda and soda ash), valued at
-, 800, 1927, and in addition bicarbonate
of soda worth $l9,9l2 and caustic soda
to the value to 81 ,3OO,S51
It is further said that Wyoming has
iron ores of higher grade and purity
than those found in Alabama, abund-
ance OF limestone to flux them, and,
at easy distances, producing oil wells
ready to supply fuel for steel making
or other manufactures. Tin also
gives great promise.
A recent government estimate Of
the forest area of the State is given
in the government reports as 7,7lS,4 400
acres, or about one-eighth Of the whole
territory. The forests are confined
mainly to mountain ranges, between
4,5OO and 10000 feet above the level
OF the sea. Yellow and white pine
and white spruce prevail. The lumber
is similar to the Eastern spruce lum-
Der, and is suitable for all building
purposes except as finishing lumber.
1t has too many knots to work
smoothly.
These conditions do not give promise
that Wyoming will ever be one OF the
leading States of the Union, but they
do indicate the possibility of much
prosperity. AS mining and grazing
State its cities are likely to be of more
Importance than its towns. 1t is
more inviting to the manufactures
than the iarmer.-Bradstreets