, 1896-12-19

Hon. n. F.. Spicer of Sheep mountain
was in the city this week and in con-
versation with a representative of The
Republican he urged in a very logical
way the great importance of early and
united action in the matter of securing
II possible one of the government res
ervoir sites for the Laramie plains.
The big basin. on the Centennial
valley road, is one of the greatest nat
ural reservoirs known" said Mr.
Spicer, "and it would require very If.
Tie expense. comparatively speaking.
to utilize it for the purposes desired.
VI course a survey would be required
to tell just how much water this basin
will hold, but it's volume would GER
talnly be immense. My judgment is
that the water would back up for many
miles. almost to the very base of Sheen
mountain. and thousands of acres of
land could be fortified by the moist
ure thus impounded. Not only would
it be of immense benefit from the
standpoint of the irrigator, but its wa.
tiers would seep through the porous soil
of the plains and form springs and
rivulets which would be of untold
value to the %ranchmen.
From this great natural reservoir
hundreds of canals could be dug. dis,
%tributing the life-giving waters in ev,
cry direction for miles and miles. These
canals would not necessarily be con,
fined to one side, either, as the upland
surface seems about as high on the
south as on the north during the en-
tire length, which is fully 10 miles.
Between the Laramies the soil ia
very productive when water is applied,
as evidenced by the wonderful results
attained by Prof. Buffum of the uniyer,
sity at the experiment station. Those
who doubt this may be convinced by a
visit during the growing season to the
farm beyond the river on the Pioneer
canal. Wheat of many varities has
been grown here to perfection and oats,
rye and barley are a splendid crop. AN
NhAaS Va WV NN6NAbIVS i IL Sltul
success, and such plants as cabbage
and caulitlower mature with certainty
and profit.
The water to fill this i%ndentation
in the high plateau could be taken from
the Big Laramie river with ease and in
sufficient volume during the month i
June and early July, when the flood
waters come down from the mountains.
"A ditch would probably be taken from
the river at a point near Woods Land
ing, and it would have to be of large
capacity"
Some time ago State Engineer Mead,
in an interview. stated that the Big
Laramie river ought to be the site OF
the Wyoming reservoir. Perhaps the
strongest reason for this lies in the
fact that more people would be bene-
fitted here than upon any other stream
in the state. The Big Laramie river
carries water to the Wheatland colo
ny, the leading farming community in
Laramie county. and its prosperity
could be augmented in a wonderful de-
gree by an additional supply OF water.
Mr.. Mead's recommendation will carry
great weight with the United States
engineer who has the matter in charge.
He is acquainted with the topography
OF the country and would at once rec
Ognize the force OF the argument in ia,
vor of the big basin.
This matter has also been discussed
by the Laramie board OF trade, and it
has been suggested by leading men,
bers that a chain of at least three res
~ervoirs could be established with mod
crate cost to the government. The first
could be located in the Cummins valley,
at the lower end of which stands Sugar
Loaf mountain. 1t is believed that a
small quantity of dynamite would blow
Big Laramie to fill the narrow gorge
and make an immense reservoir OF the
valley above. The next reservoir sug.
gested is Lake Hattie, IN the east side
of Sheep mountain, which could be
readily connected with the Big Lara,
mic below the upper reservoir by a
large canal. From Lake Hattie the
water could be conducted very easily.
into the big basin, and from thence re,
turned again to the river bed.
The engineer who has the matter in
charge has signified his willingness to
come to Laramie and make an exami-
nation of the proposed site. and every
effort should be made to see that he is
placed in possession Of all the neces-
sary information to give him the full.
est understanding Of the great natural
advantages of the Big Laramie, Lake
Hattie and the Big basin.
THE MODERN MOTHER