Gilpin observer., 1905-07-13
AL EYES turned TO UINTAH. the
NEXT" OF THE PROMISED LANDS
Monat!
Vernal!
Price!

PrlCo!
Three Utah towns are just now en-
gaging in spirited contest as to
which shall become the commercial
hub Of the Uintah Indian reservation
to be thrown open to settlement early
in September.
Moffat, already denominated as the
"Gate City," wants the honor, and in
sists that it shall have it; Vernal de-
mands 1t because its citizens were the
original boosters for the opening of the
big reserve; Price claims it because
that town has long been established
and because 1t Is the only point at
present near the reservation that has
railroad connection.
Moffat is Colorado town located In
Utah. 1t is named in honor of David
H. Moffat, the Denver multi-millionaire
banker. and is backed by Denver and
Colorado men and money. Vernal and
Price ara strictly Utah towns, backed
and owned by Utah people. And the
town that will eventually become the
commercial metropolis of the new Ell
dorado must hustle for the honor.
In addition to wanting to be the COM
mercial, agricultural and mining head
quarters of the Uintah reservation,
each of the three towns is putting up
stiff fight to be denominated as regis
tering points for prospective homeseek-
ers, and each also wants to be the place
where the finel drawings will take
place. The land Office is now located
at Vernal, and that point, as well as
Moffat, will probably be drawing
points. Registering offices may be
opened AT both Moffat and Price In or
der to shorten the journeys of prospec-
tive homeseekers and facilitating the
work of recording land claimants.
These details are yet to be settled by
the Interior Department at Washing
ton.
Where Towns Are Located.
Price is located about thirty miles
south of the reservation; Vernal is
located about twenty-five miles east,
toward the Colorado line; Moffat is
situated within stones throw of Fort
Duchesne, in the extreme southwest
corner of the reserve. Its claim for
governmental favors are many. The
natural roadways into the reservation
from the south. east and north con-
verge at Moffat. and 1t is because of
this fact that that place has already
been designated 1.-The Gateway City"
A large number OF buildings of all
kinds are under course OF erection and
a postofflce will be established there
within the next few weeks. An exten-
sive gravity water works system is be-
ing surveyed and will be built by next
spring. The Denver men behind the
project contemplate the expenditure
OF $250.000 within the next year in
public improvements.
Opening Creating Interest.
The prospective opening of the
great Uintah reservation, SO rich in
mineral, agricultural and grazing
lands. is creating widespread interest.
Homeseekers will come from as far
east as the Atlantic coast and not a
few are expected from California, for
the merits OF the new territory have
been widely advertised and a good,
cheap home for the mere asking is
proving an attractive proposition.
Colorado. Wyoming, New Mexico and
Utah will. of course. furnish the great
bulk of those who desire to locate in
the reservation. Thousands of hus-
bandmen from these four great COM
monwealths will seek home and for
tune there and tens of thousands of
miners and prospectors will delve for
precious metals. The coal deposits,
too, are rich and numerous and cover
q vast territory. Scores of fortunes
will be made in "black diamonds"
there ere another decade rolls by.
2,50o,o0 Acres for Settlers.
That portion OF the reservation
which has not yet been allotted to the
Indians for homesteads and which will
be thrown open to the public, COM
prises approximately 2.500,000 acres
and should support a population of
100000. The conditions governing the
location of homesteads will be practi-
cally the same as those which pre-
vailed at the opening of other reserva-
tions, wherein land was allotted
through the drawing or lottery sys-
tenn. The details for registering.
drawing. etc, are, however, yet to be
worked out by the Interior Department
at Washington and will be announced
in due time through an executive order
by the President.
All men and single women over twen-
ty-one years persons under the age of
twenty-one years who are heads of
families and who are not owners Of
more than 160 acres of land and who
are citizens or have declared their in
tention to become citizens of the
United States, are qualified to make
homestead entry. The usual discrim-
ination In favor of old soldiers and
their widows will be fully observed.
Method Of Drawing.
It is not necessary for those who
want farm to be present at the draw
ing, but they should be at some point
where they can be kept posted on the
numbers and names that are drawn.
The first name drawn from the wheel
will be numbered one. the second name
drawn will be numbered two. the third
name drawn will be numbered three.
etc. Now, suppose a thousand names
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS