THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



33? 



SARATOGA, WYOMING 



Notes and Comment on One of Wyoming's Thriving 

 Cities About Which There is a Peculiar Interest 



Throughout the entire West there are few points that 

 can boast of more wondrous scenery, interlaced with the 

 wierd and superstitious Indian legend and tradition, than 

 can the district surrounding Saratoga, Wyo., and the north 

 end of the Medicine Bow range of mountains. Nor is it 

 strange, even to visitors of the white race, that this sec- 

 tion inspired the red men with awe. Elk mountain, known 

 to the Indians as "Mystery" mountain, and the hot springs 

 bubbling from the ground at Saratoga, coupled with, the 

 marvelous scenery of the entire district, were sufficient to 

 awaken the religious sentiment of the savage and convince 

 his spirit that the Gods were in both earth and air. 



The North Platte River, which has its rise in Colorado, 

 some place in the vicinity of Steamboat Springs, flows through 

 as beautiful a country as, perhaps, any stream in the world. 



Taking a slightly northwesterly course over the line be- 

 tween Wyoming and Colorado, it flows on in that direction for 

 many miles, through Wyoming, then makes a broad sweep 

 up around Casper, then down through other delightful scenery 

 to Alliance, from whence it turns in a southerly direction to 

 its junction with the South Platte, at the town of North 

 Platte, on the Union Pacific Railway. 



Along the greater part of this distance may be found 

 rugged mountain scenery, great sweeps of land suitable for 



learned that remarkable cures, indeed, were performed by 

 these waters. 



A number of mountain streams empty into the North 

 Platte near the site of the town of Saratoga. These streams 

 were famed as giving the best trout fishing in the west. In- 

 deed, fishing at that time, was as rmich of a necessity as a 

 pastime, and before restrictive laws were put in force, was 

 highly profitable to those engaging in it. These streams still 

 abound in trout, both "rainbow" and the "speckled beauty," 

 and the writer, who has tried many of the streams through- 

 out the west, found the North Platte river, near Saratoga, to 

 be one of the best and cleanest streams for fly or bait cast- 

 ing he has ever visited. 



During the early days of Saratoga, great bath houses were 

 erected, and were used by invalids, who came from various 

 points of the country to test the waters. Finally families 

 located in the town because of the natural attractiveness and 

 healthfulness of the place. The beginning of mining for cop- 

 per in the mountains surrounding the town did much to help 

 Saratoga in its early days. 



The hotels and homes of Saratoga were filled, in those 

 days, with investors, prospectors, mining operators, stock- 

 men and sportsmen, as well as invalids seeking health. 



Those who have visited Wyoming, and traversed its 

 length from east to west, have, no doubt, had their atten- 

 tion attracted to the famous Elk mountain, which may be 

 seen for a distance of sixty miles, as one travels in either 

 direction along the Union Pacific Railway. This is a moun- 

 tain of marvelous beauty, backed by fine sky effects, and its 

 nearness to the town of Saratoga adds to its picturesqueness. 

 In the early days "Elk Mountain" was known to the Indians 

 as a mountain of mystery. It is the last high point on the 

 northerly end of the Medicine Bow range, and stands out 



A Typical Ranch in the Saratoga Valley, Wyoming. 



agriculture and grazing, banked on either side by mountains, 

 in which valuable minerals are to be found. 



While in search of health, recently, the editor of this 

 journal, who has traversed the low reaches of this wonderful 

 stream, from North Platte tQ. its southerly sweep, near Cas- 

 per, decided to view it from its southern Wyoming reaches, 

 and a visit was made to Saratoga, a city about thirty miles 

 south of the main line of the Union Pacific Railroad, in 

 Carbon county. In the early days, this twenty-five or thirty 

 miles was traversed by stage, but recently a line of railroad, 

 known as the Saratoga-Encampment line, was constructed, 

 offering a much easier and quicker means of travel to Sara- 

 toga, and to the upper reaches of the stream. 



About twenty-five or thirty years ago the town of Sara- 

 toga was started in one of the most delightful spots along this 

 entire stream. 



Numerous springs of hot water bubble from the ground 

 at this point and these were formerly used by the Indians, and 

 known as "Big Medicine Waters," long before the white 

 men invaded this section. It was the favorite camping place 

 for many of the tribes, both from the mountains and the 

 plains, and stories of wonderful cures were brought to the 

 settlements bv the Indians, who annually visited this sec- 

 tion. After the whites had reached the country it was 



distinctly from Saratoga, which is within a little over half a 

 day's drive from its base. Legend tells us that the Indians 

 considered Elk Mountain "Bad Medicine," or a haunted 

 mountain, and it is said, by some of the old settlers, that 

 they were not inclined to live upon, or too close to the base 

 of the mountain. Of this, we have no verification, but 

 narrations now being prepared by Mr. Crawford, editor of 

 the Saratoga Sun, for the use of THE AGE, will throw addi- 

 tional light upon this interesting subject. 



In connection herewith is shown numerous views in and 

 near Saratoga, including this famous mountain. It is a 

 peculiar fact that mountains, such as this, do not show stroncr 

 in photographs, when they are taken on the mesas near the 

 foot-hills. In fact, the writer has never seen a good photo- 

 graph of Elk Mountain. Of a necessity the extreme beauty 

 of the view cannot be fully portrayed in the pictures here- 

 with presented. 



It is our intention to prepare, through the assistance of 

 some of the citizens of the North Platte Valley, a series of 

 articles covering all of the principal features of that section. 

 We will attempt, also, to describe from time to time, stock 

 and agricultural ranches, which have been or are at present 

 being developed along the North Platte River. 

 (Continued on page 371.) 



