Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-27


Big Horn river flows to the east, the Sho-
shone on the west and the Gray Bull river
on the south. They embrace q large area
OF exceedingly fertile soil. which. however,
has lain idle because 1t is in the arid belt.
with too slight q rainfall to nourish vege-
tation. But there is no richer spot on
earth when water can be applied to the
soil, and the experimental farms which
have already been cultivated there have
produced almost incredible crops of hay:
all sorts. melons, fruits and flowers. The
soil il bursting with fertility and needs
only an occasional shower to bring 1t to
life.
Vast Tract Reclaimed.
81 understand that the Big Horn Basin
Development Company. as the private en-
terprise is called, has expended about
81 100000 in. the largest private irriga-
ton system that was ever attempted. and
May IL will open to settlement and offer
for sale about 24J.O00 acres lying fifty
miles south Of the Montana line. in Big
Horn county. This county was organ
lied in 1895. and already has popuia-
ton Of nearly 1900 and property as
sessed at more than 100000. 1t lies at
an average elevation Of 1900 feet above
the sea, and is surrounded by mountains
hence its name-which furnish some OF
the most sublime pictures Of mountain
and canyon scenery on the glooe East
ward the Big Hor range throws up its
peaks II 600 feet; on the west the Sho-
shone range. spurs Of the great continent
tai divide, are equally high. and in every
direction the basin is sheltered and pro-
tected by mountains averaging u.OOO feet
and forests that have been Withdrawn Tor
perpetual preservation by order OF the
President.
''The United States government has been
working at the same time under the rec
lamation act. and has already this spring
opened 1000 acres on the Shoshone river
twenty miles north of Cody. with the
town of Garland as headquarters. This
tract is irrigated from reservoir created
by q dam in the Shoshone river through
a tunnel three and a half miles long and
has been let for another dam. which will
irriEate 10000 acres. The machinery is
in, the workmen are on the ground and
the first stone was laid March 80.
Highest Dam in the World.
"This will be the highest dam in the
world, and will be constructed across a
canyon in the Shoshone river, which be-
gins eight miles west of Cody and con-
tinuAs between titanic cliffs for ten miles
where the gorge opens upon what was
once an ancient lake. This lake will be
recreated by the dam, and will back up
water enough to cover an area of ten
suare miles more than 100 feet deep and
10000 acres one foot deep. The dam Will
b s2s feet high-nesriy two-thirds as high Ha
higher than the tip of the plume OF the
Goddess Of Liberty on top Of the Capt.
toll and fourteen feet higher than the
Flatiron building In New York city.
What IL known a. the Garland tract -
get farms at $45 an acre from the govern
ment agents. payable one-tenth in adj
vance and the balance In nine annual In
stallments without interest. That price
carries the water rights with 1t.
1.-The government has cut road eight
miles long through the solid rock in this
canyon. which furnishes new route into
the Yellowstone Park. Passengers leave
the railroad trains at Cody, where a line
Of stages has already been put on to car
~ them a Journey Of two and half days
through the canyon and the Yellowstone
forest reserve over the Sylvan Pass. 10000
feet high. down to Yellowstone lake. The
dam and the canyon and the irrigated
farms will prove a. great attraction for
this route.
''The lands of the Big Horn Basin De-
velopment Company" continued Secfe-
tary GARFIELD. will be open to settlement
on the 18th Of May. and can be purchased
Of the agents Of the company in tracts
OF 10O acres or less for 50 cents an acre
by citizens Of the United States or those
who have declared their intentions to be-
come such. Every member of q family
over twenty-one years OF age is entitled
to 100 acres except the wives of pur-
chAsers. The buyers are required to pay
. cents an acre on fling their entry. and
the remaining . cents on making final
proof. They are also required to pay $40
per acre for perpetual water rights-$5 per
acre at the time Of purchase. 81 an acre
In one year. % In two years. "a in three
years, ana so on, with interest at per
cent, until the entire sum is paid.
Great Rush Expected.
lands It is expected that there will be- a
rush of home-seekers from all over the
country like that which occurred when
the Indian reservations in Oklahoma were
opened to settlement. The agents of the
company have received inquiries from
every state In the union. from New Eng
land to the Pacific coast, and they expect
at least 5000 people to attend the opening
on the 18th Of May. The selections win
board OF land commissioners for Wyo-
ming. Every man who wants to buy a
farm must register with them by paying
fee OF 81 to the state and deposit the
sum Of 1925 for every acre he intends to
buy. He is given a receipt for the money.
which will be refunded to him at any time,
In case he is dissatisfied, upon the sur
render Of the certificate.
The name OF every applicant IL written
on . card, which Is put In q box and
sealed up. At - O'Clock on the morning
Of May II at the ONCE Of the state board
Of land commissioners for Wyoming Mr..
Robert p. Fuller. commissioner OF public
lands. will draw out these cards one by
one, and the persons whose names are
written upon them may select their loca-
| lions In the order In which they are
drawn.
| service, has been instructed to send q
special agent to Wiley to witness the al
| lotment Of lands on the 12th Of May and
| to show the deep interest which the OIL
cials OF this department feel In all these
enterprises. They are doing much to
build up the west. furnish homes for oul
people. and contribute to the wealth and
| prosperity OF the country. I am anxious
to know what sort Of settlers are goins