Casper Daily Tribune Newspaper, January 22, 1922, Page 32

Farmers Brought to State by Reclamation Work and Greatest Plans Are Reserved for the Future BY F. BH. BARROW. Wyoming may rightly be termed the mother of irrigation, not alone because she gives birth to so many of the great rivers of the west whose waters are today making fruitful desert areas in no less than twelve states, but because it was at a meeting held in Cheyenne in the fall of 1901, arranged largely through the efforts of Congressman Mondell, that an agreement was reached to form an alliance of western members for ‘the promotion of extensive irrigation de- velopment througa federal ald. Of this meeting was later born the na- tional reclamation law, and the Wyo- ming congressman waa one of the 17 senators and congressmen who drew up and agreed upon the draft of this important act. Although not a mem- ber of the committee on arid lands to which the bill was referred. Mr. Mon- Gell because of his knowledge of the subject and his activity In arranging the preliminaries was specially named as a member of this committee, and had the honor cf reporting the bill in the house as well as charge of the measure through that body. In recog- nition of his zeal for reclamation, he was presented with the pen used by President Roosevelt in signing the bill. The pen is now one of the treas- ures in the state historical museum. Tho strategic position of Wyoming in the galaxy of our arid. stater is recognized by all, but she has by no means made full utilization of the gifts which nature so bountifully has be- stowed upon her. Signs are not lack- ing, however, of increased appreciation of her magnificent resources of land and water, and of the many opportun!: ties, in various parts of the state, for ® tremendous expansion of trrigation evelopment within her borders. Hun- dreds of thousands of acres of fertile land still wait upon the genlus of en- gineers to harness the streams, and for increased demand and lower con- struction cost to make feasible many additional proj The future Invest ment of mil 's in these projects will industries and create pro’ regions now vacant has an abundance of w. mation, with practical projectn already proven in many sections of thr state. Best Rovord For National Projects. Wyoming's two older national pro} ects, although only partly completed already have brought to the statu sev- Intelligent and practical eral projects tn the state will require @ further investment of many times this amount. There are in the state 6,449 irrigated farms, embracing 1,207,982 acres, an average of 188 acres per farm —mon than double the acreage for the Unite states. The tendency, however, is to smaller acres, so that the present acre age will ultimately support almost twice as many. When Mr. Mondell first came to congress he visioned the Possibilities of irrigation in the won“erful region now covered by the Shoshone project. Ax that time the valley of the “Stinking water’—later christened the “Bho shone”—lay desola’ and remote; the scant ranges supported a few sheep. but the waters of the gallant stream plunged unchecked through the gorges. It is less 14 years eince the first 2 User established his home on the Powell Od—at that time one of the most deso- late spots in the state, Today there ere more than 1,000 farm homes on his project, and it is difficult to believe that a little more than a decade ago this region was practically worthless for sheep range. The well-tilled fields modern and attractive farm homes S.yriad stacks of alfalfa, thriving towns en replaced the desert waste tell only in part the wonder: 8 reclamation. dee Wyoming has shared generously in the reclamation fund—so generously im fact, as to lead to complaints that our congressiunal Selegation has been able to ha apportioned for the state far mre than its share as one of 14 states cot @ Within the’ sec pe of the reclamation act. A fair sample of just how well the state is being taken éare of in this resnect is shown in the esti- mates, from the bureau of the budget, recently submitted to congress recom mending reclamation expenditures for the next fi year. Of the total moun stimated fer the 26 federal brojeets—a total $15.600,000—Wyoming ets mare than one-fourth. ‘The North Platte project is awarded the largest ‘mount of any federal project—$1,690 - auccess has been of such a character as to arouse wide epread interest, and to cause Wyc- ming to be pointed out as the state having the two most successful nas tional projects. Indicating this in- terest is the fact that during the last two years, when openings of iand have occurred on these two projects, with 350 farm units available, more than 7,000 applications were received. It {s but little more than 12 years since the first shoyelfull of dirt was moved on these projects. Construe- tion during the early period was re- tarded by lack of funds flowing into the reclamation fund, yet notwith- standing these delays more than 7,800 have been added to the state's popu- lation and more than 100.000 acres to her productive area, since that time. The taxable wealth of the state has increased enormously as a result, and new towns and enterprises have sprung up to add to Wyoming’s sub. stantial wealth. The soll {s the soundest and surest source of our national wealth. Latent in Wyoming's rich soll are stores of in exhaustible riches awaiting the com ing of the industrious plowman. On her capacious breast still countle: thousands of citizens will bufld and perfect the home of their dreams. where patriotism will be fostered and loyal contented Americans will be reared. For generations to come these broed plains and mountain valleys will continue to offer opportunity to the land hungry. Her rich reservoirs of oil and vast measures of coal may be exhausted, but under wise tillage her fertile soll, blessed by the sunshine of the desert and moistened by the diverged waters of her singing streams will never cease to make a contented and prosperous people. Wyoming’s Remarkable Increases. Wyoming's forward march 1s eri- @enc2 by the census returns for the last decade. From 1910 to 1820 the number of Wyoming farms increased 60 or 43 per cent, and the acreage in farms 3,266,344 or 38 per cent. In the game period the increase in {mproved land was 845,845 acres or 67 per cent. The total investment in irrigation works increased from $17,700,980 in 1810 to $24,826,328 in 1920 or 93 per cent._The completion of present fed 000; the Riverton \project $1,078,000, and the Shoshone $975,000. Eighteen Million in Projects. On June 30, 1920, the net investment n Wyoming's three federal projects mis $18,244,917, apportioned as fol- 0 North Platte $11,27 6,649.595, Riverton $225,47 Tt wl require over $20,000,000 to complete these three projects. On the Shoshone ~ project, including Oregon Basin, there are 227,000 acres of irrl- sable land; on the Fort Laramie unit f the North Platte project 65,150 acres, on the Riverton project 100,000 acres— a total of 382,150 acres. Water has! been made available for these lands as follows: Fort Laramie 44,000 acres; Shoshone! 45,000 acres—n total of 89,650, leaving! 292,000 acres still to be covered by the opening of additional units. In addition to the immediate bene fits to the state flowing out of the spending of the enormous sums ap- préprited from the federal treasury, the greater benefit to the state comes from the development of fruitful acres, rosperous homes and thriving towns| -the placing on the tax books lands| eretofore yielding no return which, “shen put under irrigation, represent a ‘sxable value averaging $150 per acre, 4 addition to the average taxable value f $2,000 pes farm home. The open- ng of the additional available lands in the three big siate projects will add proximately $10,000,000 to the state's, taxable wealth—a sum to be ultimately ery greatly increased. | A Hundred Million in Wealth. Here {s a brief summary of results which may be anticipated when the three projects above referred to are cempleted and in full operation. : Government investment _ Value of improved lands. Annual crop . value. farm tmprove- 9,084,000, 4,500,000 1,000,000 $97,234,000 _—____. An Englishman claims to have dis- covered @ metal possessing the trans- parent properties of glass by which airplanes could be made invisible, facture everything a Blue Ribbon Apiaries WM. MOSTELLER, Prop. Box 1105, Casper, Wyo, In addition to bees and honey I manu- bee man uses that is | by. hills to supply the demands of the | People, with some additional popula- 1h ST Ber ced er are Find Additional Growth and Per- manent in Irrigation . Oil and water won’t mix, but they make a wonderful team. Take the case of Casper. Because of oil it has come up in a few years from a cattle and she-;p trading point of a few thousands to a city of 20,000, the biggest little city one can find anywhere. t It has become the most important consuming: center in Wyoming and therefore a natural market for the’ products of agriculture. This being so, {t is now ready to make use of the water that flows from the near market created and made possible by oil, Ol and water won't mix, but each in its proper place adds to the usefulness of the. other. Jt would be difficult to find an- other {frrigation project supported by more logical argument for its devel- opment than the Casper-Alcova proj- ect. An industrial center of 20,000 ton in surrounding territory, is, so to speak, a market ready-made. Ac} cessibility to rail transportation does away with any problem of finding a. means of Aisposing of surplus pro-! duction, ‘The_Casper-Alcova, or the Casper, Project,'as it !s more frequently: termed, provides for the irrigation of some 100,000 to 125,000 acres of land in the valley of the North Platte riv- er both above and below Casper. It, extends for a distance of approxi- mately 40 miles along the river, hav- ing its greatest width—18 or 20 miles at the,lower end of the district! north of Casper, and tapering to aj few miles In width as the valley nar) rows as ‘It approaches Alcova, some 25 mfles south of Casper. Joint Survey Made. A survey of the land proposed to N., R. 81 °W.; T. 88 °N., R. 80 Wi; Ti 34.N., R. 81 W.; T. 34.N., R. 80 W.. T. 34 N., R. 79 Wi; T. 34 N., Ri 78 W.; Ts 85 N., R. 81 Wy T. 35 Ni, R. 80 WT. 35 N., R. 79 W.; T. 35 N., R. 78 W., and in T, 86 N.. R. 81 W., all in Natrona county. The widest ‘}part of the project is in townships 34, ranges 78, 79, 80 and 81. The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy and the Chicago & Northwestern raflroads pass through the widest part of the district it is proposed to irrigate. It ie planned to build a diversion dam-at what is known as the Gap at Alcova. ‘The purpose of this {s not so much to store water as to raise the level of the river so as to divert water from the river into the canal that will lead to the distribution sys- ‘em ‘forming the {rrigation district. Water for the district will therefore come: originally from the Pathfinder dam, be diverted at Alcova, and re- turn to the fiver through natural drainage clong the 40-mile stretch of territory Included fn the’ trrigation district. ~ The Casper project has an aGvan- tage enjoyed by few such projects at their. inception. It not only has the advantage of an established market hand, but also of an organization of business men prepared to direct their energies toward the application of business principles to the develop- be watered was made a year ago un-' ment of the land brought under frri- Ger the direction of the state eng!-| gation. The Casper ehamber of com- neer of Wyoming. A resurvey has; merce bas been studying. the possi- recently been made jointly by the) bilittés of the project and by work- state and the United States Reclama-|ing out a plan of development, ever. tion service. though only along general _ lines, The map reproduced « herewith| should be able to relieve the district shows the project tonclude land bor-| from going through the hit-and-miss 1 125,000 acres, sur- Platte River, , on both sides of Casper; two rail- | MARKETS—Advantages of established de- ©] mand for products in city. of Casper with its “tons of sugar, Beet tops ana! 16,000 ray iw ‘of '| saving can bé affected for ers by having at hand an abundance of feed at comparatively low cost. As a further adjunct to the livestock in- dustry {t is estimated that 4,000 acres TET } of form will: produce encuagh: material tmated that the acreage can be de- for ensilage to feed pee Leny oe: ‘voted to production by putting 60,000 tle and 13,000 beef cai acres in alfalfa; 11.000 in sugar beets, “In connection with the production 15,000 in small grains, 5,000 in pota- from 5,000 acres of potatoes it ts be- toos, 4,000 in earn, 10,000 in pasturage Meved that not only can the Casper and 6,000 in home grounds, stock. cor-| market be suppiled, but that tals, green vegetables and garden. Yield. wil} be/sufficlent to make. pos- truck, ete. ; Converting to agricultural photon] the idle land now. surrounding Cas-| per is designed not) only. to supply Is expected, will produce 250,000 bush- food products to supply the demands cla of wheat, 41,000 bushels of oats, ‘of a growing clty, but also to make 15,000 bushels 6? ry7 and 37,000. bush- possible several new industries and cls of barley. A four. mill to, supply to bring about a higher development. ° be gt ck’ industry, which for years has tion stones of the trona county. E ‘ Hleven thousand acres of sugar: will experience e : beets will make possible a sugar re- population for a number of years to finery haying an annual “output of .come—a which means the suc- Assures Permanent Future. ‘The 15,000 acres of small grains, it ¢ ‘Tribune Building was started and a big Mee shace was built out in the street? Well, — we were behind that fence and. kinda hard to find. ; “Do you recollect when the high board fence was -$ buiit out into Second street so that the Midwest Build-— “ ing could be erected? Well, sorta shut us off, nen the Zuttermeister Building was started and — noe fence was built, and everybody had to hunt . behind that fence to find us. ’ mya ~ You have noticed the big high fence around, the _ hole: that is the basement of the new: : Building. -Well, that makes it mighty inconvenient E HAVE GROCERIES, MEATS, FRUITS, VEGE- yAaree DAIRY PRODUCTS AND WE DELIVER. - Peay a | ae LANDER REGIOR NOT BEHINO 1 RH RESOURCES Territory Embraced in counties as follows: Fremont, 1 $29,- 168; Hot Springs, 435; Park, 1 During the fiscal yeer ended June’ 30, 1921, 901 apriications for 170,267 « acres were fwd in this office. Dur- ing the same period patents were ts- sued for 38,922 acres. There are 20 producing off fields within the district and of these the Grass Creek and Elk Basin fields are known, pany, Gebo, Wyo.; the Big Horn Col- Uerles company, Crosby, Wyo., and the Poposia Coal company, Hudson, Wyo. The district has tero large govern: ment reclamation projects, one of ~ which, the Shoshone, has been oring water to thousands ands close to the towns Deaver, Frannie and Cowley, eral years and the Riv now under constru3tion and ably not deliver water section of the state in particular. ——— (OCH PROLECTS. sible the operation of starch factary od. PROSPERITY AND DRAW GENEROUS PROPRIATIONS. Congress has granted to Wyoming | ~ made ‘the largest single ap} propriation any | omen project during ensuing year. Funds appropriated for reclamation work in this state dur- ing the year exceed by $500,000 the total amount voted for reclamation in. all the ‘states, A total of 26 reclamation projects receive an appropriation of $15,000 000 for th ects receive a total of 3,740,000, an_ average of $1,243,000 per project. _~ Appropriations for reclamation work Pe) es are: : Platte $1,690,000, of which $435,000 goes to the Guernsey dam. Bhoshone $976,000. Riverton $1,075,- 000. s _ PERMANENCY proved farm lands —. - For more than a quarter century the Missouri State Life has invested its millions in first mortgages on im- — _ Without the Loss of a Dollar Safe State Like other large company... This very large plus Skill equals Prosperity. The Missouri . enjoys a higher rate of interest than any © margin of profit is reflected in un- usual liberality toward the policy-holder and bene- ~All the more improved and | eles as wellas Accident and Heal! |} ance are written by this company. pe eecate Life Poli- and Group Insur- * ¢ We offer a Special Educational Endowment Policy it. - that-should appeal to.every parent © © Over $375,000,000 of Insurance in Force. Missouri State Life M. E. SINGLETON, Insurance Co, ©. L. KING. General State Agent Suite 9, Smith Block, Casper, Wyo. Postoffice Kox 697° din our prosperity, The Natrona Butter Shop made of wood. Write for prices. 4 244 E. Second St. _ Phone 631 and 159 ll Telephone 1721 P If interested, see them or trrite us. Participate |north, range 82 west, which {= the|rule of {rrigation districts that just! | territory just below Al<ova, and in| grow up, on the order of Topsy.) "| | the following townships: ‘T. 21 N., R.| ° Make Possible New Industries. | 82 W.; T. 31 N., R. 81 W.: T. a2 N. Figuring the area to be irrigated at R 82 W. T. 32 N, R81 Wy T. 83'@ minimum of 100,000 acres, it Je es- 9999040909 0409000000000000000000004. ) @ering on the river in township 30| stages of development which is the