The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-11-13

National Irrigation Journal: Out In
Wyoming, along the line OF railroad
running south from Toluca, Mont.
slrirted on the west by the Absoraka
range OF the Rockies. on the Rockies.
on the east by the Big Horn noun
tains and thick with arteries OF rapid
rivers, notably the Shoshone, Grey Bull
and Big Horn, lie 1,413, 900 acres as fer
tile soil as there is to be found in the
United States today. This wonderful
valley, called the Big Horn basin, To-
Gated near the main northwest line OF
the Burlington railroad. and traversed
By branch line OF the same system
has, UP to few snort years ago, been
practically unknown to the outside
world, save for the casual tourist MAX
ing side trip TO Cody, the home Of
Buffalo Bill, or to the town of Their
mopolis, seeking the highly curative
waters OF the Big Horn hot springs.
In Big Horn Basin.
The Big Horn basin, however, has
taken new lease OF life and bids fair
to become one OF the most productive
sections Of the United States within
a remarkably short period. This sud-
den enterprise in the basin country
is awakening to the fact that this vast
area Of supposedly arid land can be
successfully and proftably farmed by
means Of irrigation. Several years ago,
with the buffalo hunter, the Indian and
the cowboy as the chief inhabitants,
the Burlington roads confidence in the
F1V 80 he
ing Of branch line into the basin,
which has been added to until that
company has invested in round num-
bers over 100000, which has not
because of the sparsely settled COM
munities, paid interest on the invest.
ment. The farmer living there has al
ways been able to find a local market
for all Of his products at profitable
prices.
New Era of Development.
Now, however, comes new era Of
development, which bids fair, in few
years, to mark progress in farming.
mining and commercial enterprises,
surprising the most sanguine hopes
of the early settlers. Coal in abund-
ance Of high quality underlies the
whole region; copper, sulphur. oil and
natural gas have been found, and the
industry incident to the discovery of
these minerals is fast taking on a high
state OF development. The government
mas. by an act Of congress-, appropriate
ed $50,000,000 in the United States for
irrigation, $6,75O,O00 of which. or 1873
per cent of the total appropriation, has
been allotted to one enterprise up the
Shoshone river for supplying water to
10000 acres, at one time thought to be
arid land, in valley forming part of
the basin country.
Idle Lands Worth Millions.
Nine miles west of Cody, at the end
Of the government wagon road, in the
narrows Of the Shoshone river. whose
waters have, year after year, flowed
swiftly vet idly by land worth millions
OF dollars, there is now nearing com
pletion the highest dam in the world.
Yes. forty eight feet higher than the
Fatiron building in New York CITY.
Lying eighty five feet below the river
surface the dam runs to a height OF
S2S feet. 1t is 10S feet in thickness at
the base, with a maximum width OF
205 feet, and made OF solid concrete
10000 barrels of cement and $4,000 tons
Of granite having been used in it's con-
struction. The work mas been under
way, more than two years, and three
etght-hour shifts, employing about 500
men, will be necessary to complete the
project by Dec. /, 1s0s-the time sche-
duled for completion.
To Back Up shoshons.
The temporary intake tunnel, divert
ing the flow OF the river so that the
dam could be built, will be closed. and
the flood waters OF the Shoshone win
then be backed up one branch Of the
river five and one-half miles and an
other branch about seven miles, to be
dealt out at will into the farmers irri-
eating bitches by means of a tunnel.
bored three and one half miles through
the mountain. The Importance OF the
project can scarcely be appreciated