COLONIZATION. 571 
colonists at a reduction in rates of about one-third, and early in May they 
began to arrive. The weather was cold, there were no houses, and, al- 
though a contract had been made for 70,000 feet of lumber, it was not 
fulfilled, and there was considerable suffering. The first relief was 
obtained in buying houses at a town five miles distant, and in hauling 
them to the ground with ox-teams; anda large building was bought at 
Cheyenne, and transported in sections on the cars. It was several weeks 
before any considerable quantity of lumber could be obtained, but finally 
there were large arrivals from Chicago and other points. For some time 
there was considerable dissatisfaction. All were strangers to each other, 
some were suspicious, and the officers were charged with inefficiency, 
neglect, and even with dishonesty. Much of the discontent was bred by 
those who expected to get a better chance than others, and much by the 
forbidding appearance of the country. Where irrigation is a necessity 
the grass has a brown appearance at all seasons of the year; and, as the 
ditch contracted for was not completed, many thought it doubtful 
whether life could be sustained. A visit to several ranches, a few miles 
distant, always dispelled the illusion. Water came into the town about 
the 1st of June, gardens and small fields were planted, and by the ist 
of July vegetation grew with remarkable rapidity. Experience has 
demonstrated that the soil is remarkably fertile, and that if there should 
be any difficulty it will be in disposing of surplus crops; but of this 
there need be little fear, as the hundreds of mines and mining towns 
near by will always afford a good market. . 
The working of the official machinery of the colony has been reason- 
ably harmonious. There have been jealousies, unkind remarks, ungrate- 
ful expressions, and some aspirations for position, but, in the main, mat- 
ters have been kept wellin hand. The locating committee received fair 
wages for their services; the superintendent was paid $7 a day until the 
middle of July. The president refused to receive any reward after the 
first week in May, and the only office to which any salary is now 
attached is that of secretary. The property is held in trust by a board 
_of trustees, who grant deeds to members in fee whenever they make im- 
provements on the land they have selected, either within the town or 
on their outlying land, and the charter for the irrigating ditches is held 
by them in trust. When members receive their deeds they are entirely 
independent of the eolony, although they are members, inasmuch as each 
holds a certificate which entitles him to the use of water for all time; 
and in the election of officers he has one vote. No member can hold 
more than one share, and he can buy of the colony no more than one 
hundred and sixty acres of land; but few have boughtso much. The — 
sons and daughters of a member, if of age, can hold shares. The plan 
under which this colony was organized has worked extremely well, and 
in the formation of other colonies which are about to join it, without 
any charge above cost of land or charter privileges, only a few unimport- 
ant changes have been thought desirable. At the close of the year, 
that is, when the town was nine months old, there were nearly four hun- 
dred and fifty houses, many of them large and well finished; about twenty 
stores of all kinds, some of them first-class, both in regard to appear- 
ance of buildings and stock of goods; mechanics of all kinds, a weekly 
newspaper, three schools, and a population of at least one thousand souls. 
No liquor is sold in the place, nor is there a gambling establishment of any 
kind. Perhaps three-fourths of the members belong to some religious 
denomination. The navigation of the river on which the town is situ- 
ated is to be improved for the purpose of floating timber from the moun- 
tains, and extensive saw-mills, as well as other mills are to be erected. 
