, 1906-05-24

ing at a distressingly o rate.
Not Very Inviting.
After a brief noon rest mt the fort,
the journey was continued over rolling
hills north of Wind river for several
miles. We then forded Sage creek and
crossed the celebrated Washable fiat.
From this fiat and from the south side
of the Big Wind river generally the
Promised Land of the homeseeker ap-
pears anything but inviting. 1t is low
er than the country on h south SIDE
OF the river; this is evident. 1t seems,
however, that the land is broken, high
ridges running here and there and in
every direction. AT this stage of the
journey the intending settler received
some sympathy, and it seemed a shame
that he should not share in the easily
irrigated lands reserved for the indian.
Land Hardly lrrigable.
THE first impression was a delusion.
| When Big Wind river had been forded,
a glance to the south showed thai ever
| Washable fiat lies too high for irriga-
tion, except by expensive works, begin
ming near the mouth of Bull Lake
creek canon. The river was deep and
swift at the ford. having risen six in
ches since the day before. Water ran
into the wagon boxes, but with steady
teams the north shore was finally
reached. Going down the north bank
of the river some four miles the camp
of f. C. Emerson and II. b. Raschbach-
err, engineers in charge of the canal To-
cation for the state, was reached.
Crowheart Butte Looms UP.
"The high line canal survey was COM
pleted on the last day of April. Leav-
ing camp early on the following morn
ing, Mr.. Emerson mi myself went up
the river, and in doing SO we left the
valley and were able to see some OF
the irrigable lands which did not ap-
near so favorable from the opposite
side of Big Wind river. The first i'm
preston began to modify at this time.
The famous landmark, Crowheart
butte, came into view at once, and soon
the road returned to the river bottom
and crossed Crow creek. The head
gate of the high line canal is located
only two and one-half miles above.
A Beautiful Vista.
"On the following day the line of the
survey was followed, and to get a gen.
eral view of the country and record
the same on dry plates, we climbed
Crowheart buttes. Here n gets a
panorama that cannot Don be forgot
ten, and the character of the ridges in
the country lying to the east is under
stood. These ridges are composed OF
a very soft sandstone. They cover but
a small area and between them lies
beautiful tracts of land. This land is
free from alkali and covered by a
growth of black sage, salt sage and
cactus alternately. CROSSWORD sell
dom appears, and then only in small
areas. The engineers in charge of the
canal surveys had already been con
WINGED that the area of irrigated land
would be limited ultimately only by the
water supply, and the view from Grow.
heart butte could only substantiate this
conclusion.
Good Line for Railroad.
THE line of the higher canal runs
northerly from Crowheart butte to Dry
creek and thence easterly and norther'
lily, until the head of Five Mile and Mud
dy creek is reached. Just beyond Dry
creek a smooth tract of country begins
which runs southerly to the river bluffs
thence easterly thirty miles further
This single tract runs from one-hali
n mile to two miles in width. 1t would
seem that q railroad might run from
the river west to Shoshoni nearly to
Crowheart butte, laying the ties on the
sod.
Canal With Little Difficulty.
"The lower canal line was examined
on succeeding days. This begins q
mile or two above the mouth of Dry
creek and in three miles it reaches the
table land. 1t encounters no particu'
lar difficulties and will cover a large
area of fine land. The country broad
ems considerably below this canal line
and the extent of irrigable land ap
peals to one with greater force as an
inspection continues.
kinnear's Fine Holdings.
"One afternoon and evening we
spent at Kinnear's ranch, which lies
along the north side of Big Wind river
about thirty miles due west of Sho
shoni. Mr.. Kinnear has under irriga
ton some 600 acres, and if one is seek
ing an object lesson, his place vii
show what the country will produce
He has a young orchard, which is doing
well, and he raises all kinds of small
fruits He has large fields of alfalfa
and the entire ranch is well cultivated
and in a thrifty condition. While he
is enthusiastic in his praise of the val
ley and the entire north side, yet he
admits that the bench land to be open
ed 10 settlement this year is of better
quality than that which he now OWNS
and cultiyates.
The kinnear Road.
MIR. Kinnear located a road to Sho-
shoni last winter. 1t runs easterly al
most on the line between townships 2
and 8 north. After leaving the hills
along Big Wind river the road runs
through gently sloping mesas of thirty
miles. There are no hills to climb and
no streams to cross in the entire dis
lance. Every foot of the land ada
cent to the road can be irrigated. The
soil is all a warm sandy loan, easy to