, 1923-02-11

uNsSAAo 1890
thentic data concerning projects, and
,s a result plans may be worked out
for any developments that are found
fazsIble. Comprehensive studies have
Seen made of four proposed large
projects; the Saratoga and Casper
Projects upon the North Platte river;
tho Encampment project. proposing
TO divert water from Big Creek n trib-
utary Of the North Platte; and the
Bonneville project, proposing to &c
Give water supply from the Green
river and t,:bLtaIies. Exten s!v field
surveys were carried on during the
seasons Of 1921 and 1929 and were
followed by office work in Designing
nroiect structures, collecting data
and preparing comprehensive reports
to cover each project.
Casper Project.
The city of Casper has continued
its rapid growth during the past W.
years, until today we find this me
tropolis in central Wyoming with a
population of over 10000 people
with the spirit OF progress that Is
ever evident in this city. and which
rivals any city big or little In h
west today, Casper may well be ex-
pected to nave a population Of forty
or fifty thousand within a score OF
years. The great petroleum inter
ests centering in Casper will con
ttnue to develop and expand for many
years to come. The one great IN
NSustry which Is more or less essen
thu to the lasting prosperity OF any
community is at present lacking
however, to q large degree. The his
tory OF the world has proven that
agriculture Is the best basis for per
manent prosperity. As wonderful as
the development Of the oil industry
has been in Natrona county, and as
encouraging as possibilities in this
line appear for the future, the time
will como when the oil supply VIII de
crease and the great pools of this a
liable product win gradually become
exhausted. In the meantime there is
no question but that a great city
will have been built at Casper. and II
ia very proper thai foresight be ex-
ercIsed in supplying some means 10
compensate for n losses in n
community welfare hat may be due
IN decrease in the petroleum industry.
fortunately we find extensive pos
abilities at tho very door of Casper
in the line OF the basic industry OF
agriculture, that may well cause US
to look to the future with promise
of considerable development along
TIPS line.
? Flowing through Casper Is the
great North Platte river with an an
nual discharge of over one and a hai
million feet of water. The embargo
that formerly existed against furth'
err yelopme In Wyoming from
this stream has been removed by the
work and the report OF h or
ravtew upon North Platte co-opera'
tive investigations. Through this re
port, and the approval OF same oy
the United states Reclamation serv-
ice. the way has been cleared for any
reclamation development in Wyo-
ming that may be found feasible. IL
has therefore been determined that
there Is a sufficient water supply IN
the North Platte river for h devel-
ooment of any areas Of land near
Casper that may be feasibly reached
by distributing works from the river,
Starting at the very edge of Casper
and stretching out for great distances
north and west OF the city are large
areas Of fine farm lands that only
need the application of water to make
them productive. with water supply
assured, and land of good value avail
able, 1t is only a question of the con-
struction of irrigation works to bring
tho water from the river to h lands
that viii need to be accomplished In
order to bring about extensive ngri'
cultural Developments adjacent TO the
city.
The state engineer has been much
impressed with the situation at Cas-
per, n with the value of irrigation
development In the vicinity. For the
past three years the matter has mad
the continued attention OF this otfice'
During the field season of 1886 COM
prehensive surveys were MADE py
this office under tho direction OF
Robert c.. Duthie. Many different TO-
cations Of canal lines from the North
Plato river were investigated After
studying all the possibilities II was
finally determined tina the most prac-
teal line for a gravity canal would
reduire a diversion ut the river can
on Just above the town of AlcoVa
about thirty miles southwest OF Cas-
per. By reason of the small amount
OF fall in the river a diversion dam
Of heIgh sufficient to raise water
about lis feet above the normal wa
tee level OF the stream will be re-
duired. A canal line at this elevation
was located by the state party for a
distance of over 100 miles. and found
10 cover a gross area Of over l4O''
900 acres. with an irrigable area that
was then estimated as $4,000 acres
A filing TO cover the gross area was
made in his office December /. 1870.
U. s. and State Cooperate.
Under date OF June 20. 1921. n con-
tract was entered into between the
United States and the State Of wyo-
ming providing for n further investi'
cation Of tho Casper project under a
cooperative plan. Agreeable TO tho
terms Of this contract further field
surveys and Investigations were car.