, 1907-01-14

velopment along agricultural lines
within the next few years which will
place her among the first western
states in the variety and volume of her
crop production. why have we been
slow to make use of these natural ad-
v%antages? has often been asked. wy
oming was not fortunate in obtaining
transportation facilities at an early
date in the history OF the territory and
state. Colorado and other states began
their growth through mining excite
ments and the agricultural communi-
ties sprang up to supply the mining
camps with provisions. Agriculture in
wyoming must largely supplement the
stock industry, coal mining and a linn
tied mineral development along other
lines
The engineer says 1t is safe to say
that at least sl2, 900 900 will be ex-
pended in the development of the fri
CATION works under the permits grant
ed during the past tvs years, and that
at least SIS, 600, 900 will be spent in the
reclamation of the lands described in
enlargement permits granted.
Mr.. Johnston has not confined his
labors to the administration of the
local affairs Of his own particular office,
but has gone beyond and ~endeavored
in every possible n to make 1t
easier for the settler to make his proof,
both for his water and upon his and
Under Il ruling of the secretary of the
interior in February. 1904, patents for
lands entered under the desert act
were denied unless the proof was ac-
companied by the final certificate of
appropriation from the state board Of
control. These certificates could not
be obtained in many cases and the en-
Itrymen were compelled to wait for
months and perhaps years before oh
tanning patent, This ruling vas mani
festly unjust and the state engineer
took 1t upon himself TO seek its modi.
hcation. The title to water is earned
by making an appropriation thereof
under a permit granted for the state
engineers Office n using the same
in accordance with the terms of the
permit and the regulations made by the
state. The engineer believed that when
a man had complied with the law and
was able to show satisfactory proof OF
such compliance, he should be granted
patent Notwithstanding the fact thai
the mere ministerial duty of issuing
the patent had not Eeen performed
THE secretary of the interior has come
to this view of the matter and hence,
: forth patents under the desert act will
be issued upon such a showing.
OF the board of control Mr.. Johnston
expresses the highest commentator,
"The division superintendent have
performed more work in the past two
years than was accomplished in the
six years preceding that time. This
is due to the fact that their work has
been ~systematized, their contingent ap,
preparation has been increased and a
central office with a secretary has been
provided. Two years ago fully 1000
permits were outstanding. No fixed
method had been decided upon for Gov.
ering the state and taking proof under
these. 1t had been the custom for the
7 superintendent to travel over a consid
: cradle portion of his territory every
two years and take as many proofs n.
he might find ready for submission IL
Q the field. No guide was furnished hin
3 and he often left a valley where prob
ably 100 permits had been carried out
and where the applicants were ready
and willing to submit their proof. Each
superintendent now provides himself
with a brief of all permits in his di.
vision. When he visits any particular
locality he knows exactly where to &c
and who to see. Under this system,
fully 1000 proofs were submitted by
} the superintendent of water division
No. l at the fall meeting of the board
in October, 1906.
The secretary of the board, Mr.. R
r P. Quest, is given well-merited praise
/, for efficient, conscientious work.
There are chapters in the work upoI
the land laws, the reclamation act, the
Carey act, etc, and a complete tabula
ton of permits and final certificates is
sued during the year.
Those who desire complete informa.
ton would do well to drop a card to
the state engineer asking for this com
p~rehensive report. 1t is worth while