The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-12-30

latter Is something new in this section1
but has already demonstrated that
great things are in store for Wyoming
through the application of dry farming
and the reclamation of millions of acres
| of arid lands that heretofore have been
regarded as fit only for the grazing OF
cattle, sheep and. horses. The dry
farming movement was inaugurated at
| Cheyenne two years ago, an experiment.
/ station being established by the Chey-
erne board of trade, assisted by the
government irrigation investigations.
| by the state engineer, and also by the
/ Union Pacific, Colorado & Southern,
and Burlington railroads. Experts were
/ engaged to conduct the experiments,
and the results amazed every one, even
! the experts themselves. 1t was found
that the soil Is rich and adapted to tbs
growing of all kinds of vegetables,
grains and grasses. Here at Cheyenne.
even though at an elevation of more
than 5000 feet above sea level. wheat.
rye, barley. oats. alfalfa, field peas,
sugar beets, vegetables, timothy, etc,
etc, were successfully grown. and the
yields were such as would indicate that
dry farming is profitable even at this
elevation.
Dry farming, supplemented by win
ter irrigation, sub-soiling and other
methods, is certain of prolific crops,
and farmers and others are now salts
fed that the dry, poorly grassed hills
ana plains of this section can be made
to produce forage in abundance. and
satisfactory quantities of small. hardy
grains.
AS a result of the experiments the
ranchmen have taken interest and are
buying thousand of dollars worth Of
farming machinery and are breaking
up large acreageS and sewing alfalfa
and other grasses, grains, etc. Another
result has been 10 increase the value OF
ranch lands. Many ranches nave been
sold to colonization companies, and OPP
tiOns have been secured on many 9TH
ers. Supplemented with irrigation.
where possible, the unwatered lands
will be reclaimed and the wealth and
population of this section greatly in
creased during the next few years.
Big irrigation Enterprises.
In irrigation Wyoming made rapid
advancement during the past year.
Work progressed. on the numerous irri-
cation enterprises launched during pre-
vious years, and many new enterprises
were inauguTateG. Chief among the
older enterprises may be mentioned the
Big Horn canal, the Hanover canal, the
Oregon Basin project, the Grebull prof.
ect, and many others, all in Big Horn
county; the Saratoga and Encampment
project in Carbon county. the Lake De
Smet project in Sheridan county, and
numerous others.
Work progressed rapidly on the two
big enterprises of. the general govern
ment-the ShOshone and Pathfinder
projects. OF the former many miles OF
main canal, and the COrbett tunnel are
nearing completion, and work is pros
crossing satisfactorily on the big dam
above Cody. The big Pathfinder dam
is raising its head above the bed Of the
creek, and another year will reach high
up i'm the canyon of the Platte. The
several diversion dams are also receiv-
ing the attention of the government,
and work is progressing rapidly on ALL
One of the most important projects
launched during the year is the Wyo-
ming Central Land Il Irrigation COM
panys enterprise. which viii reclaim
the lands of the ceded portion of the
Wind River Indian reservation, which
was opened to settlement during ths
past summer. This is one Of the larg-
est irrigation projects ever undertaken
by private capital, and when completed
will be one Of the most expensive sys-
TENS of irrigation in the world al
though retaining the lands at a nom
inaI figure per acre as compared with
other enterprises.
An important event during the past
year was the throwing open TO settle
ment of a portion of the Wind River
Indian reservation, in central Wyo-
ming. The drawing for lands occurred
early in August, and was attended by a
large crowd of settlers and home-seek-
ers from all parts of the country. AS
result of the opening, and the states
letting a contract to the Wyoming
Land & Irrigation company for the rec
lamation Of the lands, that portion OF
the state Will be settled rapidly. Al
ready several towns have sprung up,
and more are in the embryo stage. 1t is
estimated that the population of FREE
mont county, in which the reservation
is located, has already more than dOu-
bled. and even greater growth is ex-
pected during the ensuing twelve
months.