Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1911-08-05
WYcMING'S NEW LAKE
Scenic Beauty Spot Created by Huge
Dam.


The engineers of the Reclamation
Service have added a beautiful lake
to Wyoming'S numerous scenic at
fractions By closing the entrance
to narrow canyon in the Shoshone
river with the highest dam in the
world, broad mountain meadow has
been changed to a turquoise lake.
covering an area of ten square miles
more than 100 feet deep. The lake
is trimmed by lofty mountains which
in places slope to the waters edge,
and there are numerous bays where
the cliffs rise vertically two thousand
feet in height As the lake is located
in the regioh of the Yellowstone
National Park, the same wonderful
and varied colorings are found on the
rocks which make our National Park
so interesting and attractive.
In early geologic times, the site of
the new lake was occupied by a SINH
lar body of water. During countless
centuries its waters, finding cracks
and crevices in the mountain barrier,
gradually carved canyon through
which the lake was finally emptied
The old lake bed then became wide
grassy meadow over which grazed
the herds of buffalo, elk and deer,
and later the cattle and sheep of the
Stockmen. When the ShoShone dam,
concrete wedge 328 feet high, was
placed in the gorge, the meadow
was submerged, and an enormous
reservoir was created. Today
this vast quantity of water is a per-
petual guarantee to several hundred
farmers that bountiful crops will an
nually reward their labors. Twenty
miles down the river is broad level
plain embracing $50, 900 acres dotted
with homes of new settlers. Waving
fields of grain, broad vistas of alfalfa
and sugar beets have replaced de-
sert waste. Located at favorable
points on the railroad which crosses
the irrigated lands are three thriving
towns, whose substantial buildings
and large stocks of goods reflect the
prosperity and success which has at
tended the efforts of the farmers
From sheep pasture of but little
value, this broad fat has become
rich agricultural region which in
scenic attractions, in delightful cli-
mate, and in crop possibilities is al
ready taking first rank among the
prosperous farm communities of the
northwest.
The settlers here are cosmopolitan
and up-to-date. They come from al
most every part of tile Union and a
UOOdIv p11n,bar aro citv broJ Tho
subdivision of the lands into farms of
40 and so acres each has made the
settlement compact. Along the main
highways there are from 16 to 32
homes to the mile, giving the coun-
try a suburban appearance. This
grouping of farm homes has numer-
Gus advantages. 1t eliminates the
loneliness and isolation so common
to country life. With neighbors all
about, social conditions are improved.
The monotony which has always been
the bane of the farmers wife is un-
known in these well irrigated valleys.
The rural telephone, circulating Ii
brary and woman's clubs all combine
to furnish variety and relaxation In
the Shoshone country the mountains
all about are inspiring in their
beauty and grandeur. During the
period when the harvestS are ripen-
ing or after the crops are gathered,
the campers flock to them. The
streams TEEN with trout and the ma
tional forests abound with big and
little game.
Today there are opportunities for
I4l families to obtain homes on this
project, and the Reclamation Service
at Washington is sanguine that every
one of these farms will be occupied
before the end of the present year.