The Grit-advocate., 1904-09-30

tereSt attaches just now TO the Ulntah
Indian reservation because OF the pro-
vision in the last Indian appropriation
bill providing for the opening, and
which carried an appropriation OF So
900 to complete the surveys begun some
time ago.
The original bill fixed October l, 1904,
as the date Of the opening, but because
Of the amount of work to be done in al
ioting lands and making the surveys,
1t was found necessary to postpone the
opening until March 10. 1905, which
was done by an act of Congress.
The Uintah reservation lies in Uin-
tab and Wasatch counties. Utah. in the
northeastern portion of the state. In
area it consists of 2.334 900 acres OF
mountain and valley. There are several
fine streams OF water that rise in the
Uintah range on the north, and traverse
the lower valleys. finally emptying
themselves into Green river. The prin-
cipal streams are the Duchesne and
and Uintah river, with numerous
forks, all of which can be easily di-
yerted for the purpose of irrigation,
making this one of the best watered
sections in the state. From the foot OF
the Uintah mountains to the south line
of the reservation are continuous sue
cesSion of benches of soil which are
admirably adapted to all kinds of crops
that can be grown anywhere in this
latitude.
In altitude the reservation ranges
from 1000 feet in the lower valley to
1900 feet on the summit Of the loftiest
peaks in the Uintah range, the highest
in the state.
In selecting lands for the Indians, the
allotments have been made principally
along the river bottoms, while the
bench lands which are usually the most
fertile, are practically untouched and
will provide homes for many thousands
of people.
In climate, soil and crops the reser-
yation is identical with the Ashley
valley, twenty miles to the east, which
is without question one of the garden
spots OF the West. In this valley are
grown magnificent crops of grains OF
all kinds, and alfalfa hay yields three
crops each year The whole of the
Uintah basin, which comprises ali the
territory lying south of the Uintah
range draining into Green river and
embracing all of the Uintah and I'm
compahgre reservations, and practically
all of Uintah county, is adapted to the
growth Of small fruits especially, and
the apples produced in the Ashley val
ley are the finest in the world. This
crop is unusually fine this year; the or
chards. in many instances. breaking
down under their burden of fruit that
is without a blemish. In some parts of
the Ashley valley the finest of peaches
are grown.
The Ashley valley is the leading
honey-producing section of Utah. both
In quality and quantity. Taken alto
gether, it may safely be said that the
Ashley valley as an agricultural sec
ton, is unsurpassed in the West, and
it gives a fair idea of what the Uintah
reservation is. This valley. which is
twenty miles long and six miles wide.
is watered by the Ashley creek. which
is insignificant compared with the
streams of the reservation.
The Denver, Northwestern & Pacific
railway, better known as the ''Moffat
Line" crosses Uintah county with its
surveys and follows the Duchesne river
and Strawberry creek across the reser-
walton. and will thus open up this vir-
gin section at once, and make every
acre of tillable land valuable.
constructed across the Book Cliffs from
Mack. Colorado. station on the Rio
Grande railroad. to tap the extensive
gilsonite deposits of the White River
country, will have for its terminus at
present station called Dragon. at the
head of Evacuation creek. Dragon is
flfty-five miles southwest of Vernal,
and a first-class wagon road will be
constructed between these two points.
All Of the freight from the Ashley val
ley, Fort Duchesne and the Indian
agencies will come over this road when
completed Dragon Is considered only
a temporary terminus for the Uintah
railway, however, as it will be COM
paratively easy grade on to the rescr-
walton. so that Immediately following
the opening there will be two railroads
competing for the extensive traffic that
is bound to develop.
Vernal, the county seat of Uintah
county. which is by far the most con-
venient Quitting point for the reserva-
ttion. is only twenty miles to the east
of the line, with several roads leading
to It,
Vernal Is a city that is surprise to
all visitors. 1t Is located in the center
of the rich Ashley valley and has the
best court house In the state outside of
Salt Lake City. 1t has one school
building that cost $4,000; and three
churches, one Of which now in course
of construction will cost. when COM
pleted, $4,000. 1t has between thirty
and forty business houses. representing
every branch Of trade, which makes 1t
a close and convenient point to outfit
for the reservation. Vernal has miles
of asphaltum pavements that are not
excelled in any city of the West.
The Ashley valley, in which Vernal
Is located has miles and miles of lanes
that are bordered with shade trees. and
on either side are farm lands that pro-
duce the heaviest of crops. Hay, grain.
potatoes. etc. were splendid crops this