Morris tribune., 1908-12-19
THE StOSHONE PROJECr.
Information about Irrigated Lands in
Wyoming.

! Wyoming.
! In northern Wyoming, 75 miles east
of the Yellowstone National Park,
800 farms varying in size from 40 to
$50 acres have recently been thrown
open to entry and settlement under
the Reclamation Act. This tract of
about 5000 acres constitutes what is
/ known as the first unit of the Sho-
shone irrigation project.
/ The farms are obtainable under the
Homes.ead Law, subject to the charges
of actual cost of supplying water to
the land. This charge has been fixed
at $45 per acre, payable in not less
than five nor more than ten annual
installments. In addition to this the
settler is required to pay an annual
fee for maintenance and operation of
81 per acre. The first installment of
$3.50 per acre is due and payable at
the time application is made for water
right for any farm unit. The second
instal allment will be due on or before
December i, 1909, thus giving early
settlers an opportunity of securing
two crops before the second payment
becomes due.
The elevation is about 4,40O feet
above sea level, and the temperature
seldom goes above 95 degrees in sum-
mer or below zero during the winter
months. The valley is sheltered by
mountain ranges on every side, and
no blizzards, cyclones or other severe
storms ever occur there.
The crops that can be grown on the
Shoshone project are those common
to the temperate zone. Alfalfa, wheat,
oats, barley, timothy, potatoes, sugar
beets, and all other crops produced in
the states of the Mississippi Valley of
the same latitude are grown here.
Wheat of excellent quality averages
40 bushels to the acre, oats averages
55 to so bushels, and potatoes. yield
250 to 300 bushels per acre. Sngar
beets contain large percentage of
saccharine matter and beet sugar
factory is projected for this project as
soon as the acreage settled is large
enough to warrant it. At present the
beets are shipped to the factory at
Billings, Montana. Hardy varieties of
apples, pears, plums, cherries, and
small fruits may be successfully grown.
Large numbers of cattle and sheep
Craze on the lands surrounding the
projects, and there will always be a
home market for hay. The settlers
from the Mississippi Valley who took
up farms this spring have been uni
formly successful, having harvested
goods crops on the new land.
transportation facilities are furnish
ed by branch of the Chicago, Bur-
lington & Quincy Railroad, which
passes through the entire length of
the project, and a line under construc-
tion giving north and south trunk
line from Denver, Colorado, to the
Pacific coast via Billings and Great
Falls, Montana.
Four fourishing towns, viz:2 Cody,
Garland, Powell, and Rolston are To-
Gated on this project, containing
schools, churches, banks, newspapers,
manufacturing establishments, hotels,
stores, ETC., and offering fine oppor-
tunity for professional and business
men and laborers. !
The surrounding mountains are
covered with spruce and fir and sup
ply the farmers with timber and the |
stockmen with summer range. Large |
coal mines operated in the vicinity |
supply cheap fuel for domestic and !
manufacturing purposes. Well water |
of good quality is found at depths
varying from 30 to 90 feet.
Every settler will need some capital.
The amount, of course, will vary with
the man, but 81 900 or its equivalent,
is desirable. He will need house to
live IN, well, fences, barn, provisions
for his family aud feed for his work
ing animals sufficient to last one year,
as we'll as machinery, tools, etc. Ar
have been perfected
settlers will be given oppor.
tunity by the Reclamation Service to
work out their water right payments
in excavating canals, extending the
present system to cover additional
lands.
Further information may be obtain
ed by addressing the Statistician, U. |
S. Reclamation Service, Washington,
D. G.
Farm Wisdom.
Holes In NATAL roofs nav ho StaDppd