16 



anything to retard the rush of the water into the streams and low 

 phices, immense quantities of water are entirely lost. Again, the raiu 

 often comes in such sudden and violent storms that but a small propor- 

 tion of it has time to soak into the soil, the rest rushes into the water- 

 courses, and is speedily carried away. Thus many localities suffer from 

 lack of water, although the annual precipitation, could it be preserved, 

 would, perhaps, be amply sufficient for present needs. 



The Belle Fourche Eiver drains a considerable territory in north- 

 eastern Wyoming, and during the spring it becomes a raging torrent, 

 carrying off immense quantities of water, while it is often so low dur- 

 ing the dry season that no water runs through it in the upper part of 

 its course. The construction of reservoirs to catch and retain the water 

 from the rains and melting snow would undoubtedly go a long way 

 toward the solution of the forage question in many localities on the 

 open ranges. In many i)laces there are natural basins which could be 

 made into reservoirs at a very small expeuse compared with the great 

 good to the farmers and stockmen which this conservation of water 

 would accomplish. 



The excessive trampling of the stock and consecpient packing of the 

 soil and the destruction of vegetation in the immediate vicinity of the 

 springs and small streams are no doubt largely responsible for the fact 

 that many of them are now dry for some time during the summer and 

 autumn, though in former years they furnished water throughout the 

 season. Very naturally the stock eats the forage nearest to the water- 

 ing places first. Soon the vegetation becomes closely cropped, and as 

 the animals visit the watering places daily, the plants are allowed no 

 opportunity to recuperate, and as a result the ground is soon almost 

 or quite destitute of vegetation. 



PRESENT ASPECT OF THE FOKAGE PROBLEM. 



The as])ect of the forage question has changed very materially 

 throughout the eastern Kocky Mountain region in the past ten or 

 fifteen years. Formerly comparatively little general agriculture was 

 I)racticed, except in a few localities near the larger cities and towns. 

 Lack of moisture or of facilities for irrigation made itdiflicult to secure 

 good crops. Many of the early settlers were engaged in mining, and 

 in the eager search for gold and silver found little time or inclination 

 to engage in agricultural i)ursuits unless forced to do so by the faihire 

 of tlieir mining ventures; others, noticing the great abundance of nutri- 

 tious forage, bent their energies toward getting together as much stock 

 as possible in order that they might take full advantage of this great 

 natural resoun^e. This course soon resulted in the establishment of 

 numerous large ranches, each controlling a wide stretch of territory, 

 and Tiatnrally discouraged the taking up of tillable lands for general 

 agiicultnral i)uri)oses. Hence, farming was largely confined to small 

 inclosed areas on the ranches and to the more protected localities 



