THE IEEIOATION AGE. 



275 



THE IRRIGATION PROBLEM. 



Of Wind River or Shoshone Indian Reservation, Wyom- 

 ing. 



BY C. C. CARLISLE. 



Just west of the center of the State of Wyoming 

 lies a large tract of land known as Wind Kiver or 

 Shoshone Indian Eeservation. The reason that this 



Clarence T. Johnston, State Engineer, Wyoming. 



large area of land is of especial interest at this time 

 is the fact that on the 8th of August the greater portion 

 of this reservation is to be thrown open to settlement. 

 The land to be settled lies north of Big Wind 

 Eiver and east of Popoagie Eiver. The country is well 

 protected from severe storms, being almost surrounded 

 with mountains and entirely protected by these barriers 

 on the side from which the prevailing winds of the 



the opening of the reservation so that development can 

 begin on the gold, the copper and the other valuable 

 mineral mines, the extensive coal beds, the large soda 

 deposits, the great oil reservoirs, the unlimited amount 

 of cement and brick materials, and the large quantity of 

 iron ore. One needs only to glance at the history of 

 the iron industry of the United States to see what 

 opportunities await where such immense quantities of 

 iron ore and such unlimited coal beds are situated so 

 close together. 



The country has a gentle slope to the southeast, 

 and the amount of irrigable land is limited only by the 

 water supply which means that several hundred thou- 

 sand acres of land are to be reclaimed. Nearly the 

 entire tract of tillable lands lies in an ideal position 

 and slope for irrigation. There are some townships 

 every acre of which can be easily watered. Most of the 

 soil is loose sandy loam, free from alkali and other in- 

 jurious chemicals. Greasewood and rabbit brush flats 

 are not to be found, but most of the land is covered with 

 black sage brush, salt sage and cactus, giving positive 

 proof of the fertility of the soil. 



The surrounding country is one of the greatest 

 stock countries in the West, and near Lander, just south 

 of the reservation, are some of the finest apple orchards 

 in the State. This section has been retarded in the de- 

 velopment of its resources and its industries by the lack 

 of railroad facilities. With the Wyoming & North- 

 western railroad completed to Shoshone and continuing 

 through the reservation, and with the Burlington & 

 Missouri Eiver railroad rushing construction as rapidly 

 as possible, endeavoring to reach the boundary at Ther- 

 mopolis in time for the reservation opening, this draw- 

 back will be eliminated and leave nothing in the way 

 to retard the rapid development which must inevitably 

 follow. 



History shows that the first settlers of nearly every 

 colony on arid lands are from localities where irrigation 



Lower Yellowstone, Irrigated Project Picture Taken Near Sidney, Twenty Miles South of Mondak, Mont., 

 Great Norihern Railway Oats Yielding Seventy-five Bushels per Acre. 



State come. On the west and extending onto the 

 reservation is the majestic range of the Wind Eiver 

 mountians, which form part of the continental divide, 

 while on the north edge of the reservation, towering 

 toward the sky, are the Owl Creek mountains. The 

 snow-capped peaks and the timber are the best kinds 

 of reservoirs, holding the streams up through the greater 

 part of the irrigation season. 



The amount of wealth stored away in these ranges 

 can hardly be estimated. Capital is anxiously awaiting 



is not carried on. These people know nothing about 

 constructing practical irrigation ditches, and as a rule 

 have insufficient capital to form companies to build the 

 necessary canals. ,For this reason they are often unable 

 to make a living until their lands are reclaimed, or 

 else they become discouraged and leave the country. 



Prof. Clarence T. Johnston, the State engineer, 

 being one of the best authorities on irrigation matters 

 of all kinds, realized the importance to the State, but 

 more especially to the new settlers themselves, of making 



