Gilpin observer., 1905-07-13


drawing to file their claims in the land
Office at Vernal and the second hun
dred until the seventeenth, etc. On the
fifteenth day the first hundred should
be at the land Office. The register of
the land Office calls for No. / to file his
claim, then for No. 2 to file his claim
and then for No. to file his claim, and
SO on down the line. AS each files his
claim 1t is marked of from the plat of
the reservation and each applicant
must make his choice from what is left.
1t can readily be seen that prospective
settlers should have some idea as to
the desirable portions of the reserva-
tion and be ready to make other selec.
tions in case his first has already been
taken.
Permission may be given to those
having registered to view the land to
be. drawn. Many people are already
gathering preparing to start some kind
of business while waiting for the open
ing.
The land Office was opened for busi-
ness July 1st, with Charles De Noisy
as register and Don B. Cotton as re-
ceiver.
The two principal points for the gath
ering Of the people will be Vernal,
where the land Office is established.
and Moffat, on the border of the reser-
walton. They are connected by tele-
phone line and information can readily
be obtained at either place.
Location Of Reservation.
The Uintah reservation lies in Uin-
tab and Wasatch counties, in the state
of Utah, extending from the Green
river on the east to within few miles
of Heber, the county seat Of Wasatch
county, on the west. To the north
the country extends to the crest of
! the great Uintah mountain range. This
f, tract Of land was first set apart for
the Ute Indians in 1851 by Brigham
Young, governor of Utah territory and
ex-officio superintendent of the In
dians. President Lincoln in 1861 OFF,
cially set aside this land as an Indian
reservation, and this was approved in
| 1864 by an act of Congress.
The agricultural lands of the Uintah
basin are at an elevation of 4,300 feet
at Green river to $500 feet up the Du-
chesne river and are sheltered by the
high Uintah mountains on the north
and the Wasatch range on the west,
the inclination to the south and east
giving the most favorable exposure for
crops. In the western part at IN ele-
vation OF 1900 feet, is the Strawberry
valley. noted for its remarkable
growth of wild grass and superior
range conditions.
The soil is sedimentary deposit OF
vegetable mold, apparently the herit-
age of an ancient sea. The mild tenn
perature and the fertile valleys are
guarantees of the good crops which
can be produced here. Grain and vege
tables planted as late as May 25th can
be ripened.
Plenty Of Water.
Few regions in the entire West are
better favored by nature with water
ways than is the country comprising
the Uintah Indian reservation. Lakes.
rivers and creeks are numerous, these
being fed by the perpetual snow of the
mountains and also by innumerable
springs. The waters rush from the
canons with rapid flow. and on reach
ing the cultivated districts have still
fall OF seventy-five feet to the mile.
The principal streams are the Du-
chesne, Uintah, White Rocks. Lake
Fork, Rock creek, with several tribu-
taries, notably Strawberry creek.
which discharges two-fifths as much
|
| ton.
Reports made by government ex-
perts estimate that the water supply
available each year will reach 500,0 900
acre-feet.
The mountain range on the north
and west within the boundaries of the
reservation are known to contain great
mineral wealth. Gilsonite and asphalt
tum have been discovered and some
rich veins have been opened. Coal
also exists in the country, as well as
the more precious metals. Very little
prospecting has, however, been done
here. At Park City, just outside the
boundary of the reservation. a vein Of
rich ore has been opened and over
$35. 100000 has been taken from the
mine alone. This same vein, prospec-
tors say, runs through a part of the
reservation soon to be opened for set
tlement.
The town of Moffat will probably
rival Guthrie in the magic of its up
building. Just now the Uintah Land
and Improvement Company is arrang.
ing for special excursions to the reser-
walton.
vernal is 1876 miles from Price. Utah.
and is the county seat Of Uintah
county. 1t is In the Ashley valley.
noted for rich soil. fine orchards. large
apiaries. and for community OF 5000
Mormons. Fort Duchesne is on the
Uintah river and has a community Of
200 to 300. Water works and sewer
age system, with we'll kept grounds
and shady plaza. make 1t healthful and
attractive. Northwest fourteen miles.
at an elevation 1000 feet higher, is
the Indian agency, school shops and
| Ouray school is another base for d.
recting operations In farming and irri.
CATION work. another is at the sub
agency Ouray, and still another at the
bridge.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.