, 1899-12-08
IN THE,NORTH
COLONEL COUTANT SPENDS FOUR
MONTHS IN THAT PART OF
THE STATE.
Rapid Growth-Prosperity Exists Ev-
erywhere-Farmers Supply Home
Markets-Money Kept at Home
Eastern Farmers Buying Ranches

COlOutl y. u. COutdIl, the nlStOTldl
who has Just returned from a month.
trip in northern Wyoming, through
the counties of Weston, Crook, Sheri
dan and Thomson, in the interest of his
history, and has gathered enough his
torical matter to keep him busy fol
several months in the work which is
outlined for the second and third vol
umes Of the History Of Wyoming. On
his return he was approached by a Re
publican representative and asked con,
corning general conditions in the sec,
tions of the state which he visited.
Colonel Coutant, as an old and expert
enced newspaper man and a close OBJ
server, said:
Yes l nave been in the northern
counties of the state for several months
and was much interested and greatly
pleased with the conditions found in
that favored portion of our state.
went thoroughly over Sheridan and
Johnson counties and partially over
"Soloh II Slooh. ouSihSSo Al AN
towns, it was claimed, was much bet
ter than it had been in previous years;
while the stockmen and farmers in the
country are prospecting as they never
have before. All this was very graft
flying and gave me a very good opinion
of the northern part Of the state. The
farmers are to a large extent, supply
ing the home markets and it will not
be long before these counties will be
entirely self sustaining. Already there
is enough wheat, oats, barley and po-
tatoes raised to supply the home de-
mand and added to this are beef, pork
and mutton in quantities sufficient to
meet every want; likewise a full supply
Of butter. This insures prosperity
among the farmers, which in turn
makes business good in he towns.
Before l made this trip l could truth
l had seen buyers looking for ranch
property, but while in the north, I met
many anxious to purchase ranches and
the value Of such property was the
common subject Of discussion in the
hotels of Buffalo, Sheridan and New
castle. l met during the summer and
fall many people from Iowa, Nebras-
ka and other states who were looking
for small ranches for sheep, cattle and
general farming. Ranches which have
hayland are in demand at good prices.
The men who are buying these proper
ties are practical stockgrowers and far
mers and they are picking up every
thing desirable that is for sale.
"As l passed through the country l
found many Of these new ranchmen and
in every case l was particular to in
quire what had become of the former
owner Of the property and was invari-
ably told that he had taken a new
ranch in another part Of the county or
in an adjoining county. This to me
was very satisfactory, as 1t proved
that Wyoming is o loosing popula-
ton. but gaining 1t.
Sheridan and Johnson counties have
great possibilities before them. They
have already hundreds Of fine farms
under a high state Of cultivation and
room for hundreds more as soon as a
plan Of conserving the waters Of the
numerous ream is carried into op,
Grafton. Nearly everybody has a bunch
Of cattle and these run from 25 to $50
head. Every ranchman puts up feed
and the result is that there is no loss
OF cattle during the winter months.
They certainly have a beautiful country
and a thorough going and progressive
people. The financial condition Of
both the people and the counties Is
perceptably growing better every
month. If you want to have a good
opinion of Wyoming you must visit
these two counties. Weston and
Crook are counties Of quite another
sort, yet seemingly equally prosperous
and have many good features. The
great Cambria coal mines are located
in Weston and these are glory enough
for one county, to say nothing Of the
thousands of broad and fertile acres
which produce splendid crops OF
wheat, oats, rye and grass without ir-
rigation. Ten years ago when Hon.
F. W. Mondell first told me Of this