Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-01
STRIDE IN WYOMING
Five Millions Increase in Value Of
Output Of Industries.
LIVE STOCK STILL IN THE LEAF
Thirty Millions Estimated worth OF
FIOcks and Herds, s22,OOO,OOO
in Mines and s10,OOO,OOO in
Agricultural Lines.

value Of the products of the three prln-
cipal industries of its $1,000 inhabitants
having increased during the year approx
imately 5000, 900, the record of these in
dustries during 1909 standing at approx
irnately seS, 900, 600, as against approximately
$685. 90 900 during 1908. Classifying the three
Industries referred to in the order of their
Importance, their value to the state during
1903 Is as follows: -
Agriculture M6,OOO,OW
Mining ........."."....."..rs.-.,.2 S,00O'0OC
Total o'VVO'VVV
Other noteworthy features of the year
were a gain in population of 1000, the
present population being 10000 In round
numbers, as against 14J, 600 a year ago; an
increase in assessed valuation of more
than 800, 900, 900, the greater part due to
taxation on adequate valuation of prop
erty for the first time in the states his
tory, but a substantial part due to de-
velopment and increased wealth, and the
beginning Of railroad construction which
will develop rich sections Of the state and
add thousands to it's population. through
such development.
The agricultural industry in Wyoming
during 1909 advanced to third place in inn
portance, being second to mining for the
first time.
Increase In Agriculture.
7 The increase in agriculture is due to two
causes-irrigation development and the dry
farming movement. The latter is putting
to profitable use immense areas of the
state until a few years ago considered use
less save for live stock pasture, and during
1909 several hundred thousand acres of
land was entered in the government land
offices by settlers attracted by the possi-
bilities of dry farming. The chief settle
ment of this character has been in Lar
annie county, but dry farming has become
an institution in nearly every county of
the state and at the present rate of prog
ress will eventually result in the sue
cessful raising of crops on several millions
of acres of the states semi-arid areas.
Grain during 1909 grew prolifically on
thousands and thousands of acres which
the preceding year had been virgin prairie,
and which is not within miles of the near
est stream or irrigating canak Practically
every variety of crop that can be grown
in the state under irrigation has been
grown during the past year through the
scientific conservation in the soil of rain
fall. " e@
A marked Impetus to the dry farming
movement in the state resulted from the
Mondell 39O-acre homestead act, which per
mits the homesteader to enter on 800 acres
Of and suitable for dry farming, whereas
only 100 acres may be entered where any
part of the tract homesteaded is subject t.
irrigation.
New Tracts Under Water.
Irrigation statistics for the year are MOI
available, official reports in this field beinl
compiled biennially and this being the in,
termediate year. Several hu1Idred Thousand
acres of land were brought under waite
for the first time during the year, included
in the larger tracts being 11,OOO acre!
watered by the Wyoming Development
company, 10000 by the Shoshone govern
ment project, 10000 by the Pathfinder gov
eminent project. 10000 by the Platte valley
project and Il, 900 by the Eden project. TIL,
greatest reclamation, however, was repre-
scented by the many scores of smaller cor
p~oration or community projects and III,
hundreds of individual projects. On tn,
basis OF the development in irrigation dur
ing the preceding two years, it is probabl
that 1000 miles Of irrigating canals, grea
and small, were constructed or begun dur
ing the year. The cost OF irrigation work
completed or begun during the year is be
tween So 10000 and $15,O 600, 900.
Notable irrigation developments durin,
the year were the completion of the Path
finder dam, the source of the water storag
as the result Of which $50, 900 acres will bea
crops, the completion Of the Shoshone dan
creating a reservoir for the reclamation O
10000 acres, and the highest dam in tn
world, rising s16 feet above the bed of tn
Shoshone river, the reorganization of tn
Big Horn Basin Development COMPANY
owner of the Oregon basin project, whicI
will reclaim 10000 acres, the idleness O
the Wyoming Central Irrigation company
which controls water rights sufficient 70
$4,000 acres, but which is DELAYING th
development of a fertile section of tn
state through its failure to construct work
or the utilization Of the water 1t control,
the rapid progress made on the James LAX
system, which will reclaim 1000 acre,
the beginning of work on the Saratog
Valley system, under which Sc, 900 acres wi
/ be reclaimed, the reorganization OF tn
: La Pre.e Canal and Ditch company and III
enlargement of the scope Of it's systeI
r from 10000 acres to 110, 900 acres, and III
completion Of the Wyoming Developmer
: company's supplementary system. unde
: "HiOh AA'VV acres VIII De cultivated.
1 Eight Million Dollars in Wool.
While the wool production of the sta
during 1909 increased to 5000. 624 pound
OF the approximate value of $3.50 la Nh
production placed this state well abea
J or Its nearest competitor for first plac
! In the American wool growing colum,
Montana, the second state, being sever,
I million pounds behind. The Wyoming mr.,
! duction of the present year was an r.
: crease Of about 100000 pounds over Tn,
E of 1908. The sheep OF the state in 10
= sheared heavier fleeces than in the mr.
ceding year because of severer clImat
conditions. 1t is not probable that n
1910 wool production will nearly approa,
that OF 1903, as the number of sheep in n
! state has been greatly reduced since II
last shearing season, by heavy shipmen
. to market and storms, disease and pred,
e tory Wild animals are decimating II
= flocks.
" During 1909 approximately 1.SOO.O 900 he,
r Of sheep and lambs were exported from II
state, returning to the flockmasters s
9 0Oe,075. The total received by flockmaste
: from sheep and wool sold during the We,
r was about SIS, bs4, 20s.
o An interesting feature of the year
connection with the wool growing indust
was the arrest and prosecution for Ii
first time since range rivalry between ca