Gilpin observer., 1904-09-29
UINTAH RESERVATION OFFERS
MANY GRAND OPPORTUNITIES

Denver, Sept. 26.-Considerabl in
terest attaches just now to the Uintah
Indian reservation because of the pro-
vision in the last Indian appropriation
bill providing for the opening, and
which carried an appropriation of $5,-
900 to complete the surveys begun some
time ago.
The original bill fixed October /, 1904,
as the date OF the opening, but because
OF the amount of work to be done in al
loting 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 2,334,000 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-
/ verted 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-
vation 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
4 crops each year The whole of the
Uintah basin, which comprises all 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
4 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
'tion,. is unsurpassed in the West. and
it gives 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-
| vation, and will thus open up this vir-
/ gin section at once, and make every
acre of tillable land valuable.
The Gintah railway. which Is being
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
fifty-five miles southwest of Vernal,
! and 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
temporary terminus for the Uintah
/ railway. however. as 1t will be a COM
paratively easy grade on to the reser-
walton. SO that Immediately following
I 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 outfitting point for the reserva-
ton, is only twenty miles to the east
of the line. with several roads leading
to 1t.
Vernal is a city that is a 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. It has between thirty
and forty business houses, representing
every branch of trade. which makes 1t
a close and convenient point to outfit
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