The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-06
IN THE BIG HORN BASIN.
Major John Burke Tells Of It's Many
Beauties.
ST. Louis Globe Democrat.

st. Louis Globe-D democrat.
Major John Burke, the personal repre-
sentative Of Col. William F.. Cody. OF Wild
West fame. has waited quietly into. ST.
ularly happy, and was, as usual, quite
ready to talk. II see the Burlington opened
the first stretch of l01 miles of its line into
the Big Horn basin a few days ago., he re-
marked. THE termination OF this line. you
know, is at Cody, Wyo., just east or the
National Park, and i under
stand that train service has already been
established between Toluca, Mont, and
Garland, Wyo. You ought TO see that coun-
try; it's worth half a lifetime. Big Horn ba-
sin is an indentation in the earth similar TO
Yellowstone, and one Of the prettiest spots
on this old footstool. 1t is the country
which has recently been made famous by
President RoOseVelts hunting expedition.
The basin is surrounded on all sides by
mountains. The Teton mountains and Vel
lOWStOne Park are on the west, the Pryor
and Snowy mountains are 10 the north. the
Big Horn mountains, where Custer fought.
on the east and the ShOshone range 10 the
south. The whole basin Is as large as the
State of Massachusetts,. but IL only occupies
a little corner OF Wyoming. It's a peculiar
valley, too. There is not another spot on the
face OF the earth like it. Those mountains
have "A peculiar effect upon the climate
and the basin is terraced SO that you can
get almost any temperature that you may
desire just by shifting around a little
The mountains keep OF the rains as wen
as the snow, but there are volumes or
water in the basin nevertheless. The Sho-
shOne river is a mighty torrent, with q
drop of thirty-One feet TO the mile for sew
enty-three miles. Why. every stone in that
river is round from the rush or the water.
This pure, snow water Is what Is used In
irrfgating. The Shoshone is tapped up near
its source and a great canal takes the water
down TO a natural reservoir, from which II
is distributed over the valley. The basin
was the first land in the country TO be TAX
en- possession Of under the Geary act. The
United States formerly owned this arid
land. but the Geary act gave the State pos
session OF ii. Mr.. Cody and others formed q
company and now ave control OF the basin.
IF / had time and you had space / could
tell you some very Interesting facts In re-
gard TO that country. The land Itself Is the
finest in the world. Everything that grows
anywhere Will flourish there. III IL don
thrive on one terrace IL grows Ike a nauVe
on another. 1t is a great grazing country,
too, and always viii be. because there are
bushes in winter as well as grass In sum
mer upon which stock can feed. Cereals or
all kinds do well in the basin, and fruits
have been grown there with the greatest
success. Then, there are all kinds OF min
erals in the soil: lots OF gold indications.
Ii is right in the big mineral belt, YOU
know, and some day some one Is going 10
make a snug little fortune right there IN
that value. There's oil there that would put
Texas TO shame. / could give you a chapter
about the springs, but i won't. There are
marvellous sulphur springs In tie basin,
and these springs ave wonderful curative
properties. There are iron springs and sos
springs and soda and sulphur springs IN
fact. almost any combination you IKE. And
then there are just not water springs. You
may not believe It, but i have seen Bill
Cody drive down cut OF the mountains IN
the month Of January. with his whlskers
covered with ice. and dlsrobe right OUT
there in the open air and take q bath IN
that hot water which nature has furnished
| He didn't even have 10 carry soap With aim.
for soapstone that makes excellent suos
and the bark OF the soap tree' WHICH nou.-
ishes there. provided a better substitute
than has yet been produced artihcially-
tell you that is a great country out there,
and the opening OF this railroad. which Will
| shorten the route to Yellowstone Park, VIII
do a great deal 10 develop the BASIN.