The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-03-26
STAMPEDE To NEW
MINERAL TERRITORY
Opening of ShoshOne Reserya
ton Will Call Many Pros
pectors to Wyoming.
GOVERNMENT HAS KEPT
EVERYBODY OFF
Existence of Gold Deposits Is
Widely Known, and
Rush Is Certain.

The opening OF n portion of the Sho-
shone reservation in Wyoming, which is
schcdulod for some time this summer.
promises to inauguratc n stampede OF
prospcctors as well as settlers into that
region says the Mining World.
Miners Have Been Excluded.
Uncle Sam has thrown barriers around
this reservation for many years and not
withstanding the importunings of all
clrsses of miners has steadily refused to
allow any explorations to be made. The
obstacles interposed have served to whet
the appetite and Increase the desires of
prospcctors TO invade the forbidden terri
tory. few have yentured across the
line. but were always driven back by
watchfu scouts,
Great Rush Sure to Follow.
Some of the prospcctors In their brief
stay secured specimens of minerals and
the impression has now gone forth that
portions OF the ceded area are exceeding
~ rich in minerals Of various kinds. The
lure OF gold Is always irresistible and the
belief among mining men seems to be
general that tremendous rush Will fol-
low the opening OF this reservation.
Million Acres to Be Opened.
Congress at the last session passed the
necessary legislation to throw open more
than u million acres of this reservation
TO settlement and exploration. The agri-
cultural areas Will be opened TO settle
ment under the form adopted by the Land
office In opening the Sioux reservation in
South Dakota, the selections being made
by lottery.
Geography of the District.
The ceded portion OF the Shoshone In
dian reservation is the area lying north
of Wind river and east OF Popo Asie and
BIghoTn rivers. it lies IN the northern
central portion of Fremont county, Wyo-
ming. and includes also small corner of
Blghorn county. adjoining Bighorn can
yon south OF Thermopolis. The total area
is about 200 square miles, The northern
third of this area lies I'm the Owl creek
and Shoshone mountains and the southern
portion comprises u wide area OF rolling
plains in the Wind river basin. The area
is bordered on the south by the Wind
river and Its eastern margin Is crossed
by the Bighorn river. These streams car
~ large volume of water and flow In
narrow but fiat-bottomed valleys, along
which there Is a moderate acreage OF land
which is Immediately valuable for agri-
culture.
Rainfall Is Very Limited.
With a mean average rainfall of about
10 inches a year. the climate is too arid
for the raising of crops without irriga-
tion. but large amount of water in the
Two rivers is available for this use
Along the bottom lands bordering the
rivers, the water can be taken out in
small bitches. although. owing TO the
spring floods, there will be difficulty in
maintaining these and especially their
hcadsatcs, and the amount Of land that
can be irrigated by this means Is small
Would Bloom Through Irrigation.
BY the construction OF irrigation canals
however. wide areas of the basin lands
could be brought under cultivation, eSDe-
cially II the flood waters OF the mountain
Slopes could be stored for use during the
dry season The greater part OF the re-
gIon is we'll adapted for grazing and
this undoubtedly Will bc It's principal
use. Fully two-thlrds of The land bears
n fair growth OF nutritious grasses and
water for stock is within reach except
ing in few districts,
GoldBearing Rock Is There.
In portions OF the owl creek mountains
GRANTEES and associated schists are ex-
posed containing gold and other ores.
which may possibly occur in sufficient
amount To be of economic Importance
while in the southern end of the Sho-
shone range. which constitutes the north
western corner of the oeded area there
may possibly be found southern extern
sion OF the mineral veins OF the klirwin
region. Coal deposits occur In the center |
Of the ceded area. and. although prob !
ably they may not merit extensive work |
Ing, they Will AFFORD useful local supply.
The only settlers now in the ccded |
area are few Indians. and white men
who have morrico squa~s, and the |
ranches of these persons are widely
scattered along the rivers and on the
creeks near the foot NJ a.,