The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-11-14
RECLAMATION MAKES A WONDERFUL TRANSFORMATION
IN The DESERT Land IN VICINIfY OF green RIVER

The story OF Green River, Utah, Is
a wonderful story Of the magic wrought
by reclamation. Ten years ago this
town on the banks Of Green river, at
the crossing point OF the Denver & Rio
Grande railroad, was a solitary outpost
of civilization in the midst Of a desert
that stretched for almost an hundred
miles in all directions. The nearest
town was Price, the county seat of Car
bon county. Now it is the recognized
center OF aG great fruit belt as may
be found in the country anywhere.
Prior to the coming OF the men who
saw wealth in the burning sands OF the
desert, the residents Of Green River
town had confined their efforts In irri-
cation to getting a limited supply of
water from the Green river by means
of miniature water whsels This water
was used only IN iTrigsting small tracts
Of land lying along tbs lowest portions
OF the river banks. No attempt was
made at all to set the water on the
higher ground. The Green river, like
all streams in southeastern Utah, has
cut a deep channel course through tha
ages that it has poured its waters into
the Colorado, and the first residents OF
the town OF Green River thought that
it was practically a matter Of imposEi-
level to the desert lands.
Ten years ago there were perhaps two
hundred people In the town. Most Of
the houses, If such they may be called,
were constructed OF logs, with mud
covered roofs. At that time the place
was a rendezvous for members Of the
Robbers Roost and the Hole-in-the-
Wall gangs. Isolated as Il was, these
bandits OF the west, whose names were
bogies to even the grown-ups, had little
fear that their presence in the place
would be tipped or to the authoFi-
ties. The residents OF the town thought
that It was the best policy to allow
these bandits to so their way in peace.
They were fearful II they gave any in
formation concerning them that soma
hne morning at the usual breakfast
hour they would be unable to appear.
Sudden and apparently understandable
deaths had been known TO occur In this
region.
Ferry Across River.
One reason why the ''Robber Rooet-
ers," as they were generally known
Whereabouts, always made Green River
stopping place and an Quitting point,
was that the ferry across the river was
situated at that point At no other
point for miles was there a place where
Because Of its isolation, Green River
has been the scene Of many cold-blood-
ed murders, called in early days by
coroners' Juries "tustiflable hornicides.'
over twenty years ago, when this town
was made a division point for the Dem
yer & Rio Grande railroad, It enioyed
its widest carnival Of crime. The local
officers were unable to cope with the
lawless element Many unmarked
z~eae- caVea H. 4
result OF Wild nights of debaucherv.
The transformation has been com
plete. The Green River Of today is a
modern town Of about 1900 inhabitants.
The mud-HOof shacks have been re-
placed by handsome cottages, and In
place Of the riotous, Iawless rule OF
many years ago. the city is now as or
derby as any other well-regulated place
OF its size IN the state.
This transformation has been due to
great extent to the efforts Of a num-
Der Of men who went in there with
capital to reclaim the arid wastes. Their
efforts have borne wonderful fruits, as
Is evidenced on every hand Among
these community builders are z. T.
Merritt, formerly from the east and
Thomas G. WINNER, IT., a well known
stOckman Of this state. Mr. Merritt has
prospered in Green River, and recently
purchased home IN Salt Lake at a
cost Of about $4,000. While the family
will make their home here, it is said,
Mr.. Merritt Will. Of course, retain his
interests at Green River.
In the course OF an interview yes
terday, Mr.. Merritt narrated an inter
esting story Of how he was induced to
invest In Green River, and the results
Of this investment.
DIanovera posaFbIJItts.
Il went to Green River about sig
years ago." said he, "on the recon-
mendation Of c. J. Miller, who was a.
one time a station agent there. Ny OBJ
ject in leaving the east for this section
was to prospect for oil and minerals.
There had been some excitement in tho
oil line on account Of the presence In
various places along the river OF oil
seeps, where the oil came up from the
ground and flowed In tiny streams down
to the river. After escertainiug that
the oil could not be found In paying
quantities. became aware Of the great
possibilities Of the section as a fruit
raising country.
In company with my brother. I
bought up about 5000 acres Of land AZ
from $3.50 to 325 per acre. Soon after
this purchase we installed a water plant
six miles above Green River station.
This plant had q, capacity Of 1000 acres.
Shortly after this the Elgin Irrigation
company put IN steam plant on the
east side Of the river to water about
900 acres Of land. There were also two
gravity bitches taken out at the same
point TO irrigate about 1,5OO acres Of
land.
1.-The land that my brother and Z
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