264 THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



The Yellowstone, Snake and Green rivers are the other principal 

 streams which drain this water-shed. 



THE BIG HORN RIVER. 



The Big Horn river, having a maximum flow of over 50,000 cubic 

 feet per second, is the largest river in the state that can be utilized 

 for irrigation. This volume of water would cover an area of one 

 square mile 150 feet deep, or nearly 100,000 acres one foot deep, in 

 one day, and if the entire discharge for that time could be utilized 

 it would suffice to irrigate 50,000 acres of land. 



It was gaged at Alamo, near the mouth of No Wood river, on the 

 21st day of August 1897, and discharged then 1,800 cubic feet per 

 second. To show the discharge of streams gaged more definitely 

 than can done by numbers alone, I have quoted the volume flowing in 

 ivell known Colorado and Wyoming streams for the same day. In this 

 way the discharge can be compared and a better idea can be obtained 

 of the volumes the figures indicate. 



On August 21st, 1897: 



The Big Horn river discharged 1,800 cubic feet per second; the 

 Arkansas river, 216 cubic feet per second, the North Platte river 

 717 cubic feet per second; the Laramie river, 100 cubic feet per 

 second; the Poudre river, 265 cubic feet per second. 



This measurement of the Big Horn river was made above its 

 junction with the Grey Bull river which carried on that day 200 

 cubic feet per second, and the Shoshone river which discharged 510 

 cubic feet per second. This added to its discharge at Alamo 

 increases the volume to 2,510 cubic feet per second. 



WIND RIVER. 



On August 29th, 1897, the discharge of Wind river, near Crow- 

 heart Butte on the Shoshone Indian Reservation, was approximately 

 1,600 cubic feet per second. On that day the Arkansas river dis- 

 charged from 200 to 250 cubic feet per second; the North Platte 

 river discharged 575 cubic feet per second; the Laramie river 70 

 cubic feet per second; the Poudre river discharged 258 cubic feet per 

 second. 



The land best suited for agriculture along this stream lies within 

 the Shoshone Indian Reservation. Some of this land has been 

 allotted to Indian settlers and they have not impaired the value of it 

 for grazing purposes to any extent, No ditches have been taken out 

 above Crowheart Butte, no buildings have been erected, no fences 

 have been made. Here is an opportunity for a thriving community 

 when the natural resources are intelligently dealt with. The water, 

 the land, the timber and the power all demand to be employed in 

 improving the natural conditions; but under present control the slow 

 geological changes, only, will alter its appearance or value, 



