, 1912-02-01

On the 18th of June the extension
granted by the old Land Board to the
French Creek Company expired. The
present board granted an extension 10
August 10th, although / believe ac-
cording to The conditions upon which
the old board granted their iast ex-
tension, should a contest be instituted,
the courts would hold that the rights
of the French Creek Company expired
June Is, 1911.
Along in July, owing to the critical
state of business affairs at Encamp-
ment and the desire to do even as
Editor Drury would have me do
some little helpful thing for the com
munity," ! began to consider the ad-
visibility of constructing a canal for
the redemption of about 10000 acres
of land east of Encampment, includ-
ing that proposed to be reclaimed by
the French Creek Company, for ! had
reached the conclusion that the French
Creek Company would, on August
18th, ask for another extension OF
time, even though it was reported that
they nae the ash and the settlers
signed up for all their land. l was
advised by the Land Board that they
would consider a proposition from me-,
provided the French Creek Company
should ask for another extension of
time. ! then secured al option on the
proposed Casteel canal, reservoir and
the water rights incidental thereto,
and on August 18th submitted the fol
lowing proposition to the State Land
Board, which is a matter of record in
the office of the commissioner of pub
lie lands, when, as | had expected, the
French Creek Company did appear
and asked for further time:
ITO the Honorable State Board
of Land Commissioners,
Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Whereas, the extension of time
granted by your honorable board to
the French Creek Irrigation II De
velopment Company will expire on
August 18th, 1911, and
Whereas, the prompt reclamation
of the lands lying cas- of Encampment
between the Encampment river, the
North Platte river and Big creek
means much towards the development
of the stale and. to the minds of a
large majority of the residents of the
North Platte valley of Carbon county.
the only means now in sight for the
very existence and prosperity of the
town of Encampment, and
Whereas, | have secured all the
right, title II interest in and to the
Casteel canal, reservoir and the water
permits, etc, incidental thereto, and
have made arrangements financially to
proceed with the construction of an
irrigation system along the lines here
matter set forth. ! therefore, respect.
fully submit the following proposition
for the consideration of your honor
able board. PROVIDED, THE SAID
FRENCH CREEK COMPANY RE
QUESTS ANY FURTHER EXTEN-
SION OF TIME.
First. If your honorable board will
permit the reclamation of the lands
lying between the Encampment river.
the North Platte river and Big creek.
including that already segregated and
held by the French Greek Co, com
prising all told some forty thousand
acres of land, by water from Big creek,
and upon notification by your board
that this project is OPEN, ] will, with
delay, put up a bond. either cash,
or surety, agreeable to your
board, that ! will put an engineering |
crew in the field, complete the surveys
and segregation maps, etc, at the
possible time.
Second. That l will organize a
corporation for the purpose of secur-
ing the segregation of practically all
the good irrigable land lying between
En%campment river, the North
and Big creek, and for the con
'truction of an irrigation system for
proper reclamation of said lands. I
Third. That upon the segregation
If said lands and the approval of the
of water supply the said cor.
will enter into the required
contract for the construction of
he canal from Big creek, for the
reclamation of all of said lands
md to build a reservoir for the storage
" not to exceed twenty thousand acre
eet of water, provided the same shall