, 1922-01-22


general view of the state tn,
across Wyoming by train wou
Eion- The true fact Is. however. that
Wyoming II q state Of large and VI
risd natural resources. and is rapid
~ developing along many lines.
Wyoming IL stfn a leader In the
production OF sheep and beef cattle.
and despite adverse conditions OF thu
last two years the stock industry will
continue TO be OF prime Importance
e this state. The development of
our great oil la steadily
progressed until Wyoming is now
among the leaders In petroleum prod
ucts. The production OF coal. iron ore
and other minerals has continued IN
large proportions. The state. as a
along all these iinea In the last dec
ada
Importance of Irrigation
The development OF the agrscui-
iural OF Wyoming has
steadily progressed dong with other
activities. In the state are folnd
great areas OF nne farm lands sirat
win compare fsvorabiy fer the ,ais-
ing Of many crops with any ngriiNul-
tural section In the United Sta ,cs.
The promotion OF agriculture VIII
only add to and increase our other
enterprises. and IN the last analysis
nnords for Wyoming the best basis
for permanent prosperity.
In tho eastern part of b state we
nnd large areas of land that. by rea-
son OF climatic conditions and n COM
paratively ample precipitation. can be
successfully farmed without irrigs-
ton. Tho development of large OK
tensions TO present acreage can be
expected by the use OF modern dry
farming methods. Our greatest agri-
cultural development. however, will
como through farming under irriga-
lion. An abundant water supply is
one OF our greatest natural resources.
The application OF water 10 naturally
fertile lands has reclaimed millions of
acres OF practically worthless land.
Further developments that are now
proposed viii add greatly to h areas
already reclaimed
At the higher attitudes the harder
grain and DOT crops. and native nay
timothy. clover and other forage
crops can be successfully raised n
are wen adapted to the portions OF
the states where h natural n
range conditions are favorable for
stock raising INT the dairy indus
try.
In sections of lower attitudes. such
M the Big Horn basin. the Sheridan,
wheatiand and Riverton countries,
and the North Platte valley below
Pathfinder reservoir. practically all
tho crops adapted to tho temperate
zone can be raised IN abundance Tne
culture of sugar beets, potatoes n
other root crops. and OF alfalfa and
an varieties Of small grains. has been
very successful Apples and other
fruits are successfully produced In
certain sheltered sections
Between the lower and higher ait-
tudes Of the state crops produced are
adapted TO the various climatic con-
ditiors that apply. With but little
exception wherever winter a be
practically applied TO the land sue
cessful farming can be carried on. and
II Is only necessary to select those
crops that are adapted to the condi-
tons which apply in Gao locality.
History Of Irrigation in Wyoming.
Irrigation was p~racticed In Wyo-
ming as early as 1854. and we have
vested rights of record Of 1862 prior
ity. Development to any particular
extent, however, did not start until
the SOS. From 1855 to 1900 thou
sands of projects ranging from less
than an acre to several thousand
acres In extent were Developed. Water
for these undertakings was ensy OF
diversion from the treams and he
irrigation works comparatively sim-
pie TO construct. AS the less difficult
enterprises were gradually exhausted
the number OF projects undertaken
~decreased. but h area OF lands COW
ered became greater. ard during tho
period from 1900 to 1910 many large
projects were undertaken.
Practically all of the larger private
projects operated under the Carey
act. which provided q competent
means for the control Of title and
sale Of water rights for the lands ir-
risated. Several failures occurred In
connection with the larger projects
during his period. principally by rea-
son of the fact that many problems
connected with large irrigation prof.
ects were not understood The re-
suit OF the several failures was a loss
Of confidence IN development of large
projects by private means This con-
diticn has made It very difficult to
properly finance ouch projects. and
during the last decade but little prog
ress IN new construction has been
made.
With the experience gained by the
past. and the knowledge Of the sue
cess Of developments that have been
properly undertaken. there is no ques-
ton oue that the development OF
many OF the large projects proposed
IN the state can be successfully ac-
compliahed. It seems apparent. how
ever that the state itself should take
a part n the work. and the neces-
sity fo- state aid is set forth IN some
dotal IN the last Biennial report o,
the state engineer. n Wyoming Is
TO take proper advantage of its watar
sup3ly tbs state itself must evolve a