Casper Daily Tribune Newspaper, January 22, 1922, Page 26

Riverton is located on the Chi- cago & Northwestern railway about 25¢miles from its western terminus, in the center of a tri angular valley fcrmed by the Wind River mountains on the west, the Owl Creek range on the north and east and the Sweetwater divide on the south. This triangle is approximately a hundred miles on each 5 hus forming an im- mense area, the natural drainage of which from all sides is toward “Riverton as a center. The basin “tus formed is, perhaps, as rich a istrict in natural resources as any of equal size in the entire country, containing as it does thousands of acres of irrigated and irrigable land, vast grazing ranges, enormous deposits of coal, nine proven oil and gas fields, vast forests of merchintable timber and untold millions cf minerals of different kinds. Riverton, the center of this em- pire of wealth and opportunity, is a new town in point of years but is ndvanced in matters of devel- opment and conveniences. Previous to August 15, 1906, Riverton was unheard of. It was not different from many other por- tions of Wyoming where the howl ing coyote makes his home and where sage brush is the principle product of the soil. But the op- portunities were there even at that time and in the few short years of its existence, it has made most remarkable progress in all Teton Hotel, lines. Now it is a city in every meaning of the word, except legal terminology, with a population of progressive people gathered from nearly every part cf the United States numbering well over two thousand and every convenience which is needed to make life both effective and pleasant. But no city can become great in and of itself. It must have a “communty,” a district from which to draw trade and support. In this feature, Riverton is rich, per haps the richest city in the ‘state, for the territory surrounding and tributary to Riverton is unsur- passed in wealth and opportunity. Much has been done, but more is yet to be accomplished. The object of this article is not so much to sing praises for what Riverton bas, as to point out op- portunities here for those people who are looking for some place in which to locate and become a part and parcel of the life and activ- ities of a growing community," making a competence for them- selves and giving others the bene- fit of their assistance. The pro- gressive spirit of Riverton’s peo- ple which has won admiration among all who have had the good fortune to come into contast with it, assures a positive frture for Riverton Valley. Thuy are alive to the possibilities and, so far as they can, are taking advantage of them personally, They are not selfish, however, and are doing all they can to invite the world to é share thetr good fortunes. Tt has been said that there is more prog- ress and pop to the square inch in Riverton than can be found in any other portion of this unequal- ed nation of ours. Here are to be found people who do things— they do not sit idly by and wait for the benevolent philafthropist to come to their aid. Nor is Riv- erton and vicinity trying to make progress by attempting to tear down any other, community or to take from it natural enterprises or businesses which it has and to which it is economically entitled. The spirit of its people is one of construction rather than “of de- struction. If a new road is need- ed.to benefit the farmers of this community or the oi] operators in the many fields surrounding it, the. progressive spirit of the peo- ple will not submit to “‘wire-pull- ing” to attain the desired result, but the people go ahead and build the road or dig down into their pockets and produce sufficient money to have it done. Riverton has been brought up as a sturdy youngster and early learned its lesson of self-reliance. Being located at the most ad- vantageous point in all the vast area surrounding it, it early felt the oppression of older settle- ments in whose jealous eye vis- ions of Riverton’s future loomed as a personal menace. With thé impediments that were thrown around its early settlement and Riverton. development, no town could have prospered except for its need and unless {ts growth was the natu- ral result of community necessity. That Riverton has become in some 15 years the leading commercinl center of this great territory, rati- fies the good judgment of its founders and speaks volumes of praise for its sturdy and prog- ressive citizenship. It is the home of people who “‘do things,” wheth- er that thing be the building of a road-to make travel of tourists and neighbors more inviting ofthe building of a $200,000 hotel build- ing to improve the town and make the travelling public feel at home with all modern .conveniences at their disposal. At a'time when Uncle Sam was taking his regu- lar fees from a free-giving public to conduct a world war, the mag- nificert’ Teton hotel was “com- menced by popular subscription and with local money and on the day of its opening some 120 local people owned stock in the enter- prise which has proved to be a necessity as well as an ornament to town and country surrounding it, No community can succeed without a progressive commercial organization and in this particu- Jar, Riverton boasts the best, The- Riverton Chamber of Commerce is composed of almost every prog- ressive businessman and citizen of the town and community, It annually elects a bvard of direc- tors of ten men, each of whom ig made chairman of some commit- tee having,to do with. some prac-, tical side of community welfare. Each committee is composed of that chairman and two additional members, not directors, and thus at ledst thirty men are actively engaged in the work of upbuild- ing the town and community. This working organization is in addi- tion to thé’ regular membership’ composed of over a hundred busi- nessmen and regular dinners are given at the Teton hotel which are largely attonded and at which community problems are present- ed and fully discussed. This sys- tem of organization has proved most beneficial as well as econom- ical and splendid results have been obtained by a division of the work of this organization to such an extent that men of business can afford to devote a part of their time to the efficient handling of the matters coming within their respective departments. While it is the intention of this article to give a general view of Riverton and its advantages, rather than to catalog its busi- nesses and activities, it seems de- sirable to give particular mention to some of its resources, improve- ments and opportunities, Riverton prides herself upon her public school system, The full course of twelve grades is Provided and universities of note recognize “the Riverton high school as_an accredited school.. Riverton at one time paid more to educate each individual scholar than any other district in Wyoming—this nigh degree of efficiency has not beén lost. but the ever-increasing rumber of attendants at its schools brought down the cost per scholar, Twenty well qualified teachers comprise the-+ teaching staff; the school board {is com- posed of prominent men and wom- en of the community, each of whom is actively interested in edu- cational work and each of whom devotes much of his time to the efficient management of school affairs, A new high school cost- ing nearly $100,000 for*the first unit has just been completed and will be occupied commencing the first of 1922. This building ia complete in every partioular and furnishes gymnasium facilities as well as « beautiful assembly hail and class-rooms. No one need hesitate locating in Riverton for fear their children might be de-~ prived of adequate school farili- ties, In fact. many people aro yearly seeking the advantages of Riverton's schools by. establishing themselves in a winter home in Riverton, ‘ The business section of River- ton presents the appearance of ‘be- ing a part of a city many times larger than Riverton, Although young in yvars, the progressive business interests of the town have enrly learned the advantages ef commodioug quarters as a @ New High School, Riverton. stimulus to trade and Riverton boasts .as fine a ‘business section as any town of its size in the whole country, The Teton hotel is the largest of these fine build- ings, covering ground 50 by 140 feet to’2 ‘height of four stories and being modernly equipped in every particular with automatic electric elevator, baths and run- ning hot and cold water and tele- phone in every room, spacious dining room and a comfortable and well-lighted lobby furnished in leather chairs and davenports and made cheerful by a large fireplace. Large and well lighted sample rooms offer every inducement to tho commercial traveler to display his goods, thus enabling the local merchants to have prv-ented a large assortment for their inspection. A private ice plant is maintained in the base- ment of the hotel where ice is, staging of any production that, made daily for the convenience of guests and the use of the hotel and the refrigerating plant in ¢on- nection assures all of the fresh- ness of perishable goods. The Masonic Temple and Acme Theater building are close . can- tenders for second place among Riverton’s better buildings, The Masonic Temple is a beauti- ful three-story building of light colored pressed brick and trimmed with white terra cotta, It has full basement well fitted to accommo- date the purposes for which in- tended, among the number of which is Riverton’s Community enter. This department is main- tained at the expense of the com- munity and furnished reading rooms where all the latest papers and magazines are kept with rooms for games for children, comfortable chairs for rest. This room also serves as’a public com- fort staticn and is in charge of a matron. On other. floors of this. building are the lodge rooms of the Masonic orders and the sec- ond floor is devoted to offices, in one suite of which is housed the offices of the United States “Riy- erton Project” Reclamation Sery- ing and all are conveniently: ar- ranged to be used either singly or en suite, The Acmo Theater building fs a suitably . most imposing structure, being two. stories in height, with scen- ery loft in the rear rising for two additional stories. In the Acme, Riverton boasts the most comfort- able and convenient as well as the best ventilated and most beautiful motiori picture theater in the state. ‘A few afte larger but none more , complete ‘and ornamental. The theater bas a seating capacity of eight hyndred and is equipped with the most complete operating room in the state as well as a ten thousand dollar pipe organ. Be- sides the theater, this, building houses several of the important businesses of the town and has a number..of modern living apart- ments on a portion of the second floor. The highest class of attrac- tions are shown, both in pictures and road shows. A large stage furnishes ample room for the comes this way. The Lawer building is another two-story brick building furnish- ing modern store rooms on the ground floor and offices and lodge rooms on the second floor, The building code of the city prohibits the construction of any- thing but brick or otherwise fire- proof buildings within the busi- ness'section and this has been largely responsible for the small fire losses that have occurred here as well as for the extremely high class of. building. One of the newest of Riverton’s beautiful buildings is the banking home of the Riverton State Bank which occupies a prominent cor- ner and is| built on the monu- mental style of architecture and is devoted entirely to the use of this bank, . Riverton’s splendid banking fa- cilities have ever been a strong encouragement to its upbuilding, Besides the bank above mentioned are the First State bank and the Farmers’ State bank, The home of the last named is directly across ‘the street from the Riverton State bank, in the: Masonic Temple, ‘ice, Each office has’outside light-. These two banks are unsurpassed for fixtures and accommodations by any bank in a town of this sizo 4n the country, The First State banks to bulld during the com- Masonic Temple, Riverton. ing year on the corner opposite both of the other banks and plans 50 by 140 feet, at-least in height and wili use rooms for its banking Riverton and whose camp is in the government forest reserve northwest from here. This com- pany is under contract with the Chicago & Northwestern railroad to cut 400,000 ties for the com- ing season. The plant has been in continuous operation for eight ‘years. . Riverton _is particularly fortu- nate in its public utilities, Abun- dant electric current for sii pur poses is supplied from the Boysen dam at the entrance of Big Horn canon, This current is conducted , for 2 distance of thirty miles and is distributed locally by the Popo. Agie Light aud Power Company. It has been said that Riverton has a greater percentage of electrical ‘house equipment than any other town of its size in the entire coun- try. This is due both to the ac- tivities and good ‘menagement of the light company and the highly progressive spirit of its people who are not content to ‘be behind in anything worth while. 3 ‘The water supply of the town is an added xttraction ‘and mith benefit is being experieaced in tle health of the commuhity as well as in its increased upbuilding on account of it. Riverton gets its water from two ertesisn wells in the City Park, the water from which is soft and practically 100 per cent pure. These wells are 490 feet deep and tap a water sand 160 feet thick. The results - of drilling in the territory sur- rounding the town have shown ‘that the sand is very extensive, ex- tending at least eleven miles, so the water supply for this town is assured. The water is pumped into the city mains by a new triple-expansion pump just in- stalled in a modern and ‘fireproof pump-house. No account of Riverton would be complete without special men- tion of its wonderful supply of natural gas. This is one of its latest acquisitions ani is one of -which the entire community is justly proud., The gas is supplied for domestia and manufacturing purposes by the Fremont Gas com- pany, a local company getting its supply from the Producers’ and Refiners’ Corporation at thelr Big Sand Draw field and is piped a distance of twenty miles into Riv- erton. This field is hardly scratch- ed so far as drilling is concerned and the fact that with three pro- ducing wells there now over 50,- 000,000 cubic feet are produced daily, insures a sufficient supply until Riverton ‘increases many times its present size, Some idea of the amount of gas produced is gleaned from the statement that these three wells could supply the city of Denver, This gas has just been put into service within the last sixty days and already many inquifles are coming in from manufacturing concerns who ara seeking Riverton as a point of lo- cation, Jts many natural advan- tages coupled with its now abun- dant supply of cheap and ecov homical fuel insures a wonderful gtowth in this line within the next year, surrounds this little city te cause all this rapid growth and prosper- ity. - Fortunate, indeed, is the man with sufficient vision to perceive The reader will wonder what’ the natural storehcuse of treasure: ting point and here thy govern- that surrounds this city On him who avails himself of any spbstan- tial portion of the present oppor- tunities, fortune will surely smile in the years to come. The greatest asset of any com- munity as a substantial founda- tion upon which to build for all time, is agricultural Jand. In this Riverton is again abundantly blessed. Wide and level valleys and broad and long benches etretch in every direction. No less than half a million acres of such land within easy reach of River- ton are perfectly designed for re- clamation by irrigation, and for the production of the most profit- able farm products of the nation. At the present time, immediately surrounding this city are 40,000 acres of wonderfully productive land under splendidly constructed ditches, This land is wonderful- ly productive and will be made much more so. by the construc- tion of drainage ditches which are now under way. It is the history of irrigated lands, that after about 80 many years of use, they need ment has already constructed beautiful homes for its staff em- ployes. Nearly two hundred men are engaged in this enterprise. No system of irrigation how- ‘ever complete would be an ade- drainage. Riverton and vicinity . have taken time by the forelock and have provided adequate drain- age before this beautiful land goes to seep.” Over a hundred thousand dollars is now in bank awaiting only the opening of spring to com- mence this work. This present ir- rigated district’ extends in cres- cent shape both up and down the Bie Wind river, while just across quate assurance of continuous good crops unless the water sup- ply for that system were con- stant. In this particular, the sys- tems surrounding Riverton are unique. The mighty Wind river furnishes an abundance of water at all times and low water fa the ditches is something that has nev- er been experienced here. If this river should run low on account of light snowfall in the moun- tains, there are the in le glaciers above Dinwoody lake from which to-draw. Water sup- ply is assured. - 3} Before the advent of the farm- er upon irrigated lends, this com- munity was rich in stock and sheep-raising. Not only has farm- ing not driven these stock-raisers out of the country, but it has heen a drawing card for them. It insures an inexhaustible supply of food, should the ranges fafl or should the winter be long or se- vere. »Vast herds of cattie and in- numerable bands of sheep now range, the benches surrounding this “irrigeted section and it has now been proved profitable to feed both sheep and cattls before ship- ping, thus making a local market for much of the farm products end furnishing » hetter grade of Street Scene in Riverton. Teton Hotel in Foreground. the river on the Shoshoni reserva- tion and extending for many miles “to the west lie some: sixty thou- sand acres under various govern- ment ditches, ‘These lands add to the material prosperity of Rivex ton in no small degree as this is the trading center for all of these farmers and provides markets, handy ‘and accessibie, for all the products from ‘the farm. Hay, small grain of all kinds and sngar beets are the principal products of the soil, while potatoes and garden truck are all raised abun- dantly. Lying just north of Riv. erton in a triangle the southern point of which rests at Riverton and whose base line’ extends from the Wind river at about the mouth of Bull Lake creek, east to # point a few miles south ‘from the town of Shoshoni, is the’ United States Riverton Reclamation Project, Thig project will cover nearly 150,- 000 acres of Jand and already well over a million of dollars has been spent in development, So large js this undertaking, however, that it _will be a'year> before water is turned through this government ditch, This project Is an empire in {itself and will add to the pro.” ductiveness of the entire country. wher. it is all under ditch, The class of work that is being dene on this project is indicative of the permanence of the project, The best of every material is used in this work, Riverton is its outfit- stock which invariably tops any market to which it is shipped. For fifty years the presence of. oil in this” territory has been known and for some fifteen years or more there has been produc- tion upon a commercial scale, and yet, the resources of this vicinity have not heen developed. Just tiow the first intensive develop- ment is taking place in the activ- ities of the Union Oil company in the Maverick Springs field, 45 miles northwest from Riverton. This company is putting on 4 drilling program which has already - proven the field and has brought in five wells, each lucing at the thousand barrel per day mark. The coming season will. witness still more activity in this field. ‘This is only one of the many fields that’ Hie adjacent to this city which, being the lowest point in most of the surrounding territory is the natural outlet of all-of this production to the railroad, No sketch of this community would be complete without men- lon of the cordial atmosphere that exists, There are no such things an strangers at Riverton. Riverton likes neweomers and bids them welcome; it offers every in- ducemient in the way of assist- ance and co-operation; it invites inspection and is willing to. let its advantages, rather than its adver tising, recommend it xs a loce- ton, + :