556 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 
tle creek, though very narrow, being confined to a little ditch-like chan- 
nel cut through the compact soil, is deep in proportion to its width, and 
would furnish sufficient water to irrigate a considerable area. The soil 
is very fine-grained, with a marly appearanee. 
On the north side of the river, for most of this distance the elevated 
plateau approaches quite close to the stream, and, descending suddenly, 
forms a line of bluffs 100 to 150 feet high. For some distance above 
Fort Fetterman there is a very pretty and quite broad valley, partly 
bottom and partly a low second level, which ean be irrigated from the 
river at a very moderate expense, and would make good farms. There 
are also some very fine grazing fields here. 
West of the Fort Deer and Box Elder Creeks flow into the Platte 
from the south. Taking their rise in the Black Hills, they run constantly, 
and afford sufficient water to irrigate the narrow valleys through which 
they pass. Here, also, are some fields of excellent pasturage, the prin- 
cipal supply of hay for the fort being cut from the valley of Deer Creek. 
La Perle Creek, which joins the Platte near the fort, is bordered chiefly 
by boulder hilis, and presents but little attraction for the agriculturist. 
. Between Fort Fetterman and Laramie River a number of streams, ris- 
ing in the Black Hills, run east and empty into the Platte, the most 
important of which are the La Bonté, Hikhorn, Horseshoe, and Bitter 
Cottonweod. The valley of the La Bonté, which is two to three miles 
in width, is very fertile, the bottoms easily irrigated, and the supply of 
timber ample. Not only are the hills clothed with pines, but the valley 
at points is covered with tolerably heavy groves of cottonwood, willow, 
&e. Here is a very good point for a smali colony. Horseshoe and Elk- 
horn Creeks traverse small valleys, but as the supply of water is not 
congtant they cannot be depended upon for irrigating purposes unless 
the water is brought down in ditches from the point where they leave 
the mountain. 
The immediate bottom of the Bitter Cottonwood is rather narrow, but 
is flanked by a low second ievel of considerable breadth, so that the 
amount of land within reach of irrigation is fully equal to the supply of 
water from the creek. 
The valleys of the Laramie and Chugwater present the most desira- 
ble points for agricultural purposes along the east flank ef the Black 
Hills. The short valley of the Laramie River, between the mountains 
and the Platte, will furnish an arable area of perhaps seventy-five to 
eighty square miles. With an elevation of abeut 1,500 feet less than 
Cheyenne, and 2,600 feet lower than Laramie City, and shielded from 
the winds by its elevated surroundings, it has a climate several degrees 
warmer than most of the section; and, with a rich soil and ample sup- 
ply of timber, it is destined to be soon filled up when the tide of emi- 
gration turns toward this section of the Territory. 
The Chugwater runs northeast for thirty-five or forty miles along the 
base of the Black Hills, watering a beautiful valley which averages 
about two miles in width. This valley, for the.greater part of its length, 
is berdered by high, rocky walls or steep bluffs; the bottoms are fertile, 
and, being quite low and level, can be easily irrigated. The supply of 
water is sufficient during the season when needed, but it sinks at some 
points in the latter part of the summer and autumn. 
There is a considerable amount of valley land and level bottoms along 
Horse Creek and its affluents, but the supply of water is limited, and 
therefore it is not probable that any great area will ever be rendered 
available for tillage. It is possible, however, that by making reservoirs 
along the little ravines, which at certain seasons of the year are filled 
