Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-07-10

now owned by c. w Metcalf, was the
first on when actual work began. The
first week of railroad service brought IL
train load after train load of lumber, and
any man who could drive a nan was paid
s. Il day. The sound of hammer and saw
was heard everywhere, day and night
Douglas, it is said. was the first town in
the state TO make the matter of planting
and caring for trees on the streets,
strictly municipal function. The first trees
We're planted by the town. There are now
as many trees maintained by the town on
the streets as are TO be found in all tho
residence lots. From one end OF The town
to the other the streets are lined with
thrifty shade trees, all planted under town
supervision and watered and otherwise
cared for at town expense.
The value of water Is only beginning
to be realized by the people of Wyoming.
In reality, it is in some ways the most
important material problem OF their I'm
mediate future
The wealth Of romantic and picturesque
incident and adventure surrounding the
earlier chapters OF the history of Wyoming
must always be fascinating and entertain
ing. But the history likely TO be Of endur-
ing interest to the practical American mind
vaucement. in the broad sweep Of industrial
development which began simultaneously
with the beginning of irrigation projects
here and with the discovery by large
portion OF Wyoming people, that the state
contained something more than few fertile
river valleys surrounded by unlimited range
for sheep and cattle.
Up to that time the impression OF Wyom-
ing carried IN the minds Of vast majority
of people was a land chiefly useful as a
ruadbed for railroads leading to more ia
Noicd lands to east and west. and TO have
been avoided had avoidance been possible.
Tales of the bad Indians aud worse white
meu We're common through the eastern
papers some OF the stories we're true; most
ofsthom We're not
But a now day has come IN Wyoming
The awakening, at first partial and local,
became complete aud general five years
ago, Since that time Wyoming's industrial
development has been moving forward by
leaps and bounds until today there 10 no
man 50 blind as not to see the brilliant
promise OF the future. Cities and towns are
growing railroads are reaching out in all
directions. new Industries are being estab-
lished The forests and mines are being eE-
plotted, and last and most important OF all
the possibilities OF the land are being dis
covered and made known; for 1t Is ia agrl-
culture that this recent development has
been most remarkable and II Is to the land
that Wyoming must look Tor It's greatest
development in the future.
The home-makiug instinct is a well de
velopcd trait In Wyoming character. The
pioneers who have done much 10 conquer
the wilderness and drive back the frontier,
and the earlier pioneers who crossed the
plains were impellcd by this instinct more
than by the love OF adventure Or the lure
Of gold 10 wander forth into strange lands.
The pioneer of Wyoming was the cattle
man. lie farmcd but little aud from the
nature OF his business aud the methods Of
operation, as a rule, wanted no neighbors
The real home-bullder, who undertook To
subdue the plains and the valleys 10 agri-
culture, encountered many difficulties
Irrigation has not kept pace with the
progress OF settlement and civilization in
Wyoming II Is clear that the agricultural
resources of this state are measured by the
water supply. The power OF the soil Is
bes ond question. People are beginning to
understand that 10 control the water is 10
insure the harvest Floods and drouths
which annually visit the trusting farmer
VIII la lime be unknown.