THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



203 



enables an association of farmers to secure irrigable 

 lands in tracts of not more than 160 acres to each en- 

 tryman, for fifty cents per acre and the actual cost 

 of building the irrigation works, providing this is done 

 by those intending to settle the tract covered by the 



THE SIDON CANAL, WYOMING. VIEW 3, LOOKING UPSTREAM, 

 TWO AND A HALF MILES BELOW HEADGATE. 



canal line. This feature alone is sufficient argument 

 for maintaining the act in force. 



The Sidon canal is located fifteen miles from the 

 northern boundary of Wyoming and seventy-five miles 

 due east of the Yellowstone Park. It is supplied from 

 the Shoshone River, a stream nearly as large as the 

 North Platte River at flood, and furnishing more water 

 than the Platte during the summer season. The canal 

 was undertaken in 1901 by a colony of Mormons, who, 

 coming from Utah, were acquainted with some of the 

 best canal systems in the West. They entered the Sho- 

 shone valley supplied only with their wagons, domestic 



A considerable portion of the line was finished by 1902 

 and some land was irrigated that season. By the sum- 

 mer of 1903 much more had been accomplished. Two 

 enterprising towns had sprung up on the sage brusX 

 plains and these were surrounded by green fields of 

 alfalfa, oats and other crops. 



The entire tract is located on the north side of 

 Shoshone River. The canal is twenty-five feet wide 

 on top, fifteen feet wide on the bottom and five feet 

 deep at the headgate. Its grade is two feet per mile. 

 The area of the lands included in the application for 

 segregation is 20,000 acres. The canal is now thirty 

 miles long and is said to have cost about $100,000. 

 Flumes have not been employed except where they have 

 been absolutely necessary. Wherever possible dams have 

 been thrown across ravines and wastegates have been 

 put in the bank of the canal to carry off such flood 

 water as might otherwise injure the work. Some three 

 miles below the headgate the canal skirts the base of 

 a sandstone cliff where it was necessary to build up 

 the lower bank by washing sand and such other mate- 



SIDON CANAL, WYOMING. VIEW 4, TUNNEL. 



animals, household furniture and, instead of money, 

 they possessed energy and courage. At about the same 

 time the Burlington railroad began a spur running 

 from Tuluca Junction in Montana to Cody along the 

 Shohone above the proposed Sidon canal. The people 

 secured contracts on this work and earned enough in, 

 this way to complete the canal by the spring of 1903. 



SIDON CANAL, WYOMING. VIEW UPSTREAM FROM POINT 

 ONE-HALF MILE BELOW HEADGATE. 



rial as could be obtained a few hundred feet further up 

 the canal. Water was turned in the canal for this 

 purpose and the banks at this section are apparently 

 as safe and satisfactory as could be desired. Where the 

 canal first touches the irrigable bench lands a cut 

 through cobble stones was necessary and this proved 

 to be one of the most serious obstacles with which the 

 people had to contend. Further on a tunnel 900 feet 

 long carries the water through a standstone ridge, and 

 before Sage Creek is reached considerable rock was 

 encountered. The map and photographs illustrate some 

 of the features of the canal. 



The lands were formerly covered by a salt sage. 

 During 1903 much of the area was not plowed before 

 crops were planted. A disc harrow was employed and 

 the grain sowed broadcast and harrowed in. Fields of 

 from fifty to seventy-five bushels of oats per acre were 

 reported during the fall. Garden products thrive in 

 an astonishing manner. It is only a question of a few 

 years when beet sugar factories will flourish along the 

 Shoshone. The great Government project lies imme- 

 diately to the west. This promises to reclaim over 100.- 

 000 acres of land which lies in one body. 



The results accomplished under the Sidon canal 



