davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-12-29
ASSESSED VALUES
OF LAND ARE LOW

An abstract OF the 1912 assessment of
property In Wyoming presents some In
terestIng information. The assessed val
the Year was stSS. .53i.l2e, slight de-
crease from the total OF 1911.
The assessed value OF an average acre
listed $685. acres averaging that valu-
alton. The total assessed valuation or
lands in the state is si6,o92, il9. on these
lands there are improvements Wh!ch arc
assessed at ss.1s5,S25. bringing the total
assessed valuation OF rural real estate
in the state to S54 2S7.1i4 Town lots
are assessed at Sl2,i53.210 and the Inn
provements thereon at Sls.2I6,S5l which
town real estate TO $2S,l2s,s2l. and OF all
real estate TO ss3,017,356.
There are assessed Ia wyoming for
1872. 1888 acres OF cultivated irrigated
land valued at s13.l0i,9s7 364,s46 acres
of uncultivsted irrigated land. valued AZ
s5.S26,9 ,96s; 5l2.7I2 acres OF dry farming
land, valued al, s2OS$:sS7; 7.S4s.Sis esreH ere.
4Se,e ,eI2 acres OF coal land, valued at ST.
420. $50; i0,S05 acres of timber land, val
ued at sieS.359; and 1870 acres OF min
eral land. valued at SS9a. 954-
The average acre valuation OF cultlTat-
ed irrigate ed land Is s2S.9i: OF uncuitivat-
ed irrigated lands, Sl5.91; OF dry farming
lands: s3.07;. Of grazing lands, Se.ss o9t 3f
coal lands, s3.2S; OF timber LANDS, $io4'
and Of mineral lands. S1s,5e.
The total assessed valuation OF i've
stock in the state in 1sl2 IS va. .AOl ibs;
at s9,O.3.TSs; 3.l0S.i85 sheep, valued at
$40 $50, 42l: 125.925 horses, valued at So
707. ESQ. a033 mules and asses. valued at
$3.50. 10, 1850 swine. valued az S9O67o;
1881 goats, valued at 1924; and 12o dogs,
valued at Si95S.
other Items OF the states assessed val
uation in 1912 are: Capital employed In
S. 5523 3SI: stocks and shares, including
capital and surplus OF banks, s2.s37.so2
capital employed in manufactures. S2,-
lS6s37 telegraph and telephone lines.
81 900. SO7; car companies, s9s9.531: farm
ing utensils and mechanics tools. ssis,-
0S4: vehicles. exclusive OF automobiles.
sS4o.l39. automobiles. Soo6,S5l; house
hoId furniture. SAL, ,999: musical instru-
mests, 1878, $50 moneys and credits. se3s'-
400; jewelry. $73.1l3; law libraries, Sos
oil; private libraries, s2S,6l0. Union Pa
cifc mineral reservation. sc.334,S3a; prop
erty not enumerated, $e,lf0,5lo; railroads,
s.9,5c3.l0S.
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-12-29
STATE HELPS TO
MAKE GOOD ROADS

Wyoming early In 1912 awakened TO the
deslrability Of better roads and during
the remainder of the year there was
constant agitation OF the good roads
problem and many miles OF improved
highways were constructed Especial at
tention was given TO the matter Of pro-
enne TO the Yellowstone park and across
southern Wyoming OH route paralelling
the Union Pacific.
The Wyoming Highways association
was organized In the spring and this has
devoted It's attention To agitstlnE the ne
cessitI5 OF the two cross-state roads men
toned IL Wyoming Is 10 draw proper
share OF the automobile tourist traffic
which will result from the Panama-Pa-
! cidc exposition at San Francisco. The
legislature, which meets in two weeks.
VIII be asked TO make special approprla-
tons for these roads.
Convict labor was used on public roads
In Wyoming for the hrst' time during
1872 and was entirely satisfactory. Ten
miles OF the Chey Y Yellowstone high
way was built by couyicts In Park county
and eighteen miles IN Converse county.
Tho entire highway. $50 miles In length
was surveyed. Convicts also built sew
eral miles in Carbon county OF the auto
mobile highway through southern Wyom-
ms.
Wyoming during 1872 viii be Increased to
twenty on January .. 1913. when Platte
and Goshen counties will be segregated
! from Laramie county. Niobrara county
from Converse county. Lincoln COUNT
! from Cinta county, Washable county
from Big Horn county. Hot Springs coun-
ty from Fremont and Big Horn counties
and Campbell county from Crook and
Weston counties. 1t Is probable that the
incoming legislature will make provision
| for the creation OF at least three more
new counties.
4 majority OF the towns OF Wyoming
have experienced steady increase In popu-
iation during the past year Cheyenne.
which was given little more than 1l.0Oo
population by the census in 1910, now
has a population close TO $4,000; Sheridan.
which had $500 in 1910 now has 1900.
and other towns OF the state have grown
proportionately.
Building improvements have kept pace
during the year with the growth OF popu
lation. The cost of structures erected IN
Wyoming during 1912 was between $e,-
0Qo, 900 and $500, ,000-
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-12-29
IRRIGATION ADDS
TO ARABLE AREA

While 1912 WAS not an auspicious year
for several OF the large concerns engaged
In the reclamation OF wyoming LANDS 9h-
der the Carey act, the year Witnessed 4
gratifying increase In the Irrigated acre,
age and the Inauguration Of an unusual
number Of irrigation enterprises,
During the year more than SO0uoO
acres was brought under new Irrigation
bitches In the state, increasing Lne dnS ono m
rieated acreage 10 more lnan S,oOV' V'uVo'
The total irrigible area in wyoming is IN
irritation projects on winch work was
begun during the year OF Nhlch were
launched IA that period VIII cei Tor the
expenditure OF Si0.00o.0o0. WORK on the
plants of many Of these projects Is ac-
tlvely progressing.
TWO OF the largest private Irrigation
under under the direction OF receivers during
the year. and the property OF one OF
them the Hapovcr Canal company. with
a plant which recllaims 10000 acres IN
sale. The other. the North Platte va. Val
ley Land and Irrigation company, With
a plant which VIII reclaim e3.ooo aenSe nnSo
horseuower from the flow OF the La Prele
and North Platte, is expected 70 be able
10 pay out under the receivershir.
No work OF Importance was done dur
ing the year on the two reclamation serT-
Ice projects IN the state, the North Platte
in central Wyoming aud the shoshoue In
northern Wyoming. An extensive dTaih'
age system for the lands under the latter
has been authorized.
Utilization OF vital Importance 20 hum
dreds OF Wyoming Irrisators who depend
on the Sig Laramie river for their water
supply WAS inetItuted early In the year
and Is now before the United states su-
prenle court 1t Involves the point OF
whether Colorado lrrigatore may divert
from the Big Laramie In Colorado water
appropriated previously under rights is
when decided will establish a precedent
of Importance 90 all states IN which irrt-
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-12-29
STOCK INDUSTRY
WEALTH PRODUCER

While 1912 was highly prosperous
year for a majority of Wyoming growers
of livestock In the point OF profit OBJ
tained from marketed herds. wool and
hides. IL would have been much more so
bad II not been that 1t was preceded by
two bad seasons which caused heavy
decrease Inc the number OF cattle, horses
and sheep on the ranges OF the state, n
great number dying from exposure and
starvation and greater number being
shipped out that the owners might rcaI-
lie on them. Between 1910 and l9l2 there
was a decrease In the assessed valuation
of live stock in the state OF more than
sl3,OO0,000 This assessed decrease proba
bly, representing an actual decrease in ex-
cess Of 100000, 900.
Despite the reverses which It had un-
dergone, however, the livestock industry
$4,000. these figures being the estimate
OF the state board of equalization. OF
this production the board estimates that
the sale of wool and hides produced si,
Woolgrowers' association holds that the
official estimate of the wool crops value
is low. placing the amount at approx
mately 2T,000, 600 pounds, which sold at
an average price OF 1875 cents. Accord
Ing to this latter estimate, the wool crop
alone produced St,995. 900, or Sla5,000 In
excess Of the official estimate of the value
OF wool and hides produced.
An idea or the depreciation of live
stock holdings in Wyoming during the
last few years may be gained from the
TACT lndl WIlle luelp were JsUOu.uUO SQSep
In the state four years ago, the number
now on the Wyoming ranges probably
does not exceed 1000. 600. Since the be-
ginning OF 1912 shipments out OF the
state are estimated 10 have been 1900, 000
head.
There probably is In the state at the
end of 1912 live stock OF the value OF
SOS, 600. 900.
II is an interesting fact that despite
depletion OF the herds of Wyoming. the
excellent prices obtained for shipments
of cattle. sheep and horses and for wool
during 1912 resulted In the estimate OF
the revenue produced by the industry IN
that period Indicating substantial in,
crease over that Of the preceding year.
The past year. fortunately for this in
dustry did not witness a repetition of the
hard winters and droughty summers OF
the preceding two wears. Instead. the
coming Of winter In 1912 found the ranges
of the state In better condition than thev
had been for wears. AS u CONSEQUENCE
there is available a far greater amount
OF feed than is necessary for the live
stock now in the state and the stock
growers as rauldly as possible arc re-
stocking by shipping In from other states,
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-12-29
stlll in progress on the dry farms and

still In progress on the dry farms and
will be for another month.
Meanwhile unthreshed grain is stored
In barns. cellars, residences. tents and
every character OF makcshift protection,
The limited elevator capacity OF the
farming districts Is not nearly equal to
the task OF handling the grain flowing in
steady streams from wagons from the
farms and at every elevator there might
he seen during December long strings of
wagons, left standing by the roadside TO
await an opportunity for their contents
to be transferred 10 the elevator bins.
The yield from irrigated farms was
even more bountitul and the most re-
markabie agricultural production In wy
omlng's history resulted, An immense
new acreage OF both irrigated and unirri-
gated land Is being broken for cropping
for the FIRST time In 1913 and unless con-
ditions during the coming year are un-
favorable. the 1912 record Will be bet
tered
An Interesting fact in connection with
the agricultural industry In Wyoming is
that while heretofore il has been consd-
cred as an entirely separate industry
from livestock raising, changing condi.
tions are resulting In a combination or
the two which eventually will make them
practically one,
During 1912 there was broken and
placed under crop for the first time
10000 acres Of irrigated and "dry" land
in Wyoming.
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-12-29
psys Are Rich.

AhlcT valley lies in the extreme
|+r End oi the basin. The Duchcsne
n eonPeses practically the west
FErlcn OF The basin, and was until
~ part Of tho Uintah and
klver Indian reservation. This
Fr'ion was opened TO settlement
'eiF III the fall Of 1905, by au act
.EHe:.
ees TWO valleys combined form
skuown as the Great Uiutah ba-
inland empire Of vast maeui-
10 quote from authentic statis-
y Ilntah basin comprises an ir-
and richly agricultural area
y oue,thlrd Of the entire agricul-
rea OF Utah.
eore delightful climate can be
laau that OF the Uintah basin,
nsa'!on sesl above sea level varies
N'V 10 65QO feet. In the vast
Ian chains that surround the ba-
aaTdrcdo of lakes, large and
sneh oiler an inexhaustiblc sup
pTe, sparkling mountain water,
y Se GiStributeG over the entire
INC lakes and the streams of
ssu' A. coupled with the advantage
satsi character Of the entire sec.
P'9sloe not only unexcclled re.
ana facilities for agricultural
y,eal, nut only await the hand
~ ~ engineering 10 provide hydro,
"a @ pmer that could he easily de.
saihelcDtly to accommodate the
81. ,'aon' reach far.away parts OF
~ NJ and furnish power for electric
|.lseh Systems Of tbc fn+nrc
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-12-29
ktah Basin Marvellous
| Land of Natural Wealth
.;ne of Railroad Will Develop Enormous
r,de Whose Natural Center Will be Salt
lake if Zion Merchants Are Alert,

projects either now under way or plan,
ned Will mean an immense increase in
this area in the future.
The Dry Gulch Irrigation company,
with headquarters at Roosevelt, niue
miles north Of Myton, has practically
established it's gigantic project to water
more than $4,000 acres by canals and
bitches. In the Ashley valley there arc
three main canals, the Ashley Upper,
tho Ashley Central and the Rocky
Point, which alone carry water enough
for 10000 acres, most of which are
under cultivation. The Myton Canal
IL Irrigation company also has practi-
cally completed big canal near Mytou
that will irrigate forty thousand acres.
Other canals have been completed BY
various promoters, and still newer pro-
Jccts are under way, which together
will mean the cultivation OF at least
l3S.000 additional acres of barren land
in the basin. 1t is also known that
eastern interests are planning TO estab.
llsh as soon as possible a big hydro
electric and irrigation project in the
basin, which will mean new industries
and still moro cultivated land.
There is not better watercd country
In the west than tho Uintah basin,
and the average cost of diverting the
water to apparently barren lands that
arc in fact as fertile as any in the
whole country is but SO an acre, In
parts OF California the cost runs up to
$3.50 an acre, while 500 an acre in
Colorado is nothing unusual The land
of the uiDtah basin will produce al
most anything outside of tropical
fruits, and is sufficient to maintain a.
population many times as large as the
present population of the entire state,
The irrigable area is 125.000 acres
larger than the areas Of Cache. Salt
Lake and Utah counties combined.
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-12-29

grown in any farming district is pro-
duccd in the Uintah basin.
The development Of the basin and
increased population forecast what the
imports and exports will become, and
their value to the basin as well as out
side communities.
What are its exports? During the
present year 1,625,000 pounds Of wool
was clipped and shipped out of
the basin. Approximately 1900
100000 pounds of gilsonite was ship
ped out; $4,000 bead of sheep are
shipped out OF the basin annually and
5000 head of cattle.
Now the fact that the trade from
this basin is divided between Denver
and Salt Lake is due possibly to two
reasons. First; Denver gets part Of
The trade because il bustlcs for it,.
Salt Lake gets part because some of
the larger wholesale houses of the
west arc established iu Salt Lake and
they are able to obtain rates on
materials shipped from eastern points
at less figure than residents Of the
Uintah basin can obtain.
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-12-29
Hydro-Carbon Wealth.

Another resource of vast Importance
is hydro-carbon, which outcrops all
about the basin. II has been very con-
servatively estimated that the value
of hydro -carbons IN the Uintab basin
is $1,000, 100000, figuring on the basis
Of $50 ton. But that rate is prob;
ably too low. for the present price of
elaterite in ST. Louis is 500 u ton, and
of gilsonite $50. 1t Is declared that
the total production of HYDROCARBONS,
with satisfactory freight rates, would
easily amount 10 from $4,000 to $4,000
tons year.
But the Uintah basin offers other
resources and inducements. There arc
sheep, cattle, horses, honey, alfalfa, al
falfa seed, coal and OIL which will all
bring vast wealth as the basin is dc
veloped. The sheep in the basin mum
Der 100000 head, the wool clip amounts
lamb yield is a big item. The horse and
cattle industry flourshes as we'll as
it does anywhere in the west. uintah
basin honey weighs twelve and a half
pounds to the gallon and is OF prlzo
winning quality,
II is declared that active conditions
in the oil fields of the Uintab basin
are being kept quiet, but that the out
put will one day be enormous. Pros
pectinG is being carried on between
Myton and Vernnl and California
money has become interested on a
large scale Tho Rangley fields, near
the Utah Colorado line, have long been
prospected and a large number of wells
have been bored, Splendid results
have followed. The color Of the Rang
ley oil is a clear, bright rcd, with
strong green flourescence, closely re-
sembiing that OF the Pennsylvania oils,
DR.. w. II. Oscbuer of Leland Stanford
university declared that the deposits
were enormous and ranked the oil with
the purest in the country. Here alone
is a great resource with q great pros
pectivc industrial development with its
attendant wealth to the basin and the
state at large.
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-12-29
1912 a GOOD YEAR
FOR AGRICULTURE

The agricultural industry In Wyoming
experienced in 1912 a greater advance in
development than any other, fact due
to n great increase in the irrigated acre
age OF the state and the rapid settle
ment and cropping OF ''dry farm lands,
the season being extraordinarily favor
able for heavy production by the latter.
State Immigra ton Commissioner Schenck
estimates that Wyoming crops for 1919
reached the unprecedented value OF SS5.-
$50, 000. which was an increase of prob
ably $l5,00O.000 over the production OF
1911.
The success OF the dry farming" in
dustry in 1912 was spectacular, iC that
adjective may be applied 10 anything so
Drosaic as farming. In every unirrigated
farming district os the state bumper
crops OF grain were secured. When
threshins time came thero were not In
the state nearly enough machines to
handle the grain crop and threshlnG Is
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-12-29
Salt Lakes Opportunity.

One peculiar feature that is rather
mystlfyiug is the fact that Salt Lake
City does not wake up to the import
auce of this immense territory that is
living at her door. Denver should not
ret any of the trade from this section
OF the country. Whyl Because, Den
yer, lying east OF the Rocky Mountains
cannot offer the rates that Salt Lake
can offer. Besides, the territory is
in Utah and naturally should DO taken
advantage Of by Utah IS capital.
There are three banks in the Uintah
Basin and all do thriving business.
Two, I think, are ffiliated with banks
in Salt Lake while the third is afflllat-
ed with a Denver bank.
The reason why so many Of the
necessaries of life are imported and so
few OF the products of this agricultural
district exported is owing TO the fact
that the country Is practically new,
very few manufacturing concerns have
been established, and the inhabitants
depend entirely on outside markets.
In the second place, the haul to the
railroad point is so long that agricul-
turaI products cannot be put onto out
side markets In competition with other
parts OF the country.
Summing the situation up generally,
the Uintah basin is Que Of the most
favored sections Of the United States.
The soil is the most productive known.
The climate is ideal: the water supply
is sufficient and pure. The inhabit-
ants compose bright intelligent people,
progressive in every respect--religious'
", educationally, commercially aud So
cially.
Tie opportunities for expansion and
growth are not cxcelled anywhere, and
altogether the future business prospects
arc Exceptionally bright. With the ad-
vent OF a railroad, which will undoubt-
edly come within the next two years,
the population will probably increase
| five fold. This will mean an immense
increase in business. This increase IN
business will necessitate a large do
cree of commercial advancement III
order to cope with the situation.
The matter of n purchasing point VIII
be one of important consideration, and
It's selection will be determined largely
! ON which point offers the best induce
ments. Therefore. il certainly bchooves
salt Lake and other points in Utah
to wake up to the fact that vast
empire is gradually growing that VIII
] furnish commercial business not OK
coedcd by any other agricultural dis
trict in the United States.
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-12-29
Enormous Trade.

But il is now understood VIII III, ;ii
degree of certainty that q railroad VII
shortly tap the rich basin, which WIZ ~
then enter rightly into its great era u
remarkable advancement. An enormous
trade will spring up and the population
in that section will be doubled mahy
times. Even at this date n vast Ton
naoe of merchandise, building mate,
riaIs. steel, farm implements, minlnS
machinery and oil rigs Is. being smPpeu
into the basin, and during the last
year there has been a great Influx oi
enterprisiug people. A. as
But we are naturally led TO the CUES
tim: Who is going TO get the, trade 2!
the Uintah basin2 How much does II
amount to7 How great wln u oe'
come2 .t,, we'll
divided between Denver oud salt LaNe:
The freight shipments received over
the Uintnh railway alone and over .
wagon highway from Price, Utan. nas
noereeated e22 100000 pounds during
the last year. Think of such Nss, i,,
tonnage being consumed IN one ioefidtiy
t6at is la0 miles from any MAN rnii. ;n,
roud ljpei This means only, necessary ~
such as cannot be manufnctured lnsiSe ,e
The The basin, Everything that can &c
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-12-29
Fossils of Rarest Kind.

Nor is this all. Near the mouth OF
the Green river gorge, tew miles
above Jensen. Is deposited remains oil
prehistoric animals known to scientists
to have inhabited this section OF the
country at least two and one half NIL
lion wears ago These specimens arc
known scientifically as the Dinosaurs,
q species OF mammoth lZzards. |one
has been exhumed from the solid )u-
rassic sandstone This animal was
shaped somewhat like the aihgator'
was cighty-two feet long and ABOUT
seventeen feet tall, aud the skeleton
when packed ready for shipment
weighed 100000 pounds. The bones OF
tho animal are all intact. IN a state OF
perfect preservation. 1t has pecr
shipped TO the Carnegie museum and IS
| listed as one Of the world 8 wonders
The story of Uintah basin advan,
tages, resources, possibilities, present
and fuiure development, would cover
MANY columns. but the future Of the
basin hinges largely on the construe'
tion of the Moffat road, which is now
practically assured and which IT is eS-
pected will be constructed within Two
years. This railroad and others that
are being projected Will otter lonP
needed and absolutely essential Iactots
whereby the outside world may prollt
bv the trade of this inland empire.
After the Uintah basins vast re-
sources and possibilities for develop
mont with almost inestimabie profit TO
individual aud corporate enteTnrise, 10
say nothing of vast profit 10 the staOe
and outside communities have peeb
Thoroughly recognized, there is sureIY
| No need TO ask what Inducements tneie
are for a railroad
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-12-29
FACTORY OUTPUT
IS WORTH Sc, ,O00,00

Wyoming Is not a "manufacturin
state" a very small! portion OF It's popn-
ieIs the manufactures products Of the
state approMmsted s6.ooo.ooo In value. a
slight Increase over the value OF the out
cbiaf manufactures are flour. OIL prod
ut.te' uets, nil work. broolns, brewery prod
ucts' saddles and other leather products
and lipshcd machine products. The
value OF manufactured products during
iaIo Is estimated as follows:
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-12-29

CATION is practiced along streams flowing
through two or more states.
No progress was made during 1912 to-
ward Strengthening out legal compllca-
tlons caused by grants to the Wyoming
Central Irrigation company, which for
five years have prevented reclamation of
235. 900 acres In Fremont county.
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-12-29
County.

orchardins is rapidly Increasing in I'm
portance in wyoming and made suostan
tial progress in iel9. when 100000 fruit
trees were set out in the lower coun--
ties of the state Fruit Is grown IN all
OF the counties OF the state. but OF the
S., ,oi0, 600 worth produced ip 1917. seven
counties raised sl,ss5.o 900 and the other
seven counties only sIs5.ooQ worth.