ENULicK.] SWEETWATER DISTRICT SETTLEMENTS, ETC. 57 



Sandy Creelc, in tlie Seniinole Mountains, the beautiful valley of that 

 stream is utilized, in part, for farming' purjjoses. Ilay is cut at a num- 

 ber of localities for supplying^ the demand created by the existence of 

 the military posts, and for shipment to the railroad. In the small valleys 

 of the foot-hills near the southern termination of the Wind liiver Itange 

 {?ood hay is found, more especially on the Sweetwater drainage. In some 

 of the valleys on the northern slope of the Sweetwater Hills, west of 

 Whisky Gap, hay is obtained, and also in the meadows of Sandy Creek 

 Valley. Near the lakes mthin the sand-hills south of the Seminole Hills 

 grass grows in great abundance, and is cut. The short distance from 

 there to Eawlings, about 42 miles, renders that region very ehgible for 

 such puq)oses. Much more could be obtained, if the demand warranted 

 the transportation, along the Sweetwater Eiver. On the Wind Iviver 

 drainage it is cut to supi)ly the stock of the settlers and Camp BroAvn. 

 Timber is obtained in good quality and large (luantities fiomthe foot-hills 

 of the Wind Eiver Eange. From convenient points there it is either 

 floated down in the streams or carried by axle. If the i^opulation of 

 this section of country should increase, the region of the Poi)o-Agie and 

 of its tributaries would be able to supply the demand of forming-i)roducts 

 for a long time. Climate and soil are both favorable, and it requires but 

 the industrious hand of man to prejoare the latter in such a way as to 

 yield him its tribute. 



Stage stations. — ^Along the Sweetwater we find the ruins of the old over- 

 land stage-route. At x>resent the road is almost entirely deserted, and 

 nothing nov/ remains but a few walls, stumps of telegraph-poles, and 

 some wire. The only mail-route now in active daily operation within 

 our district is that from Brj^au Station, on the Union Pacific Eaikoad, 

 to Camp Brown. On the Big Sandy there is the first station, on the Dry 

 Sandy the second, and the third at Pacific Springs. From there the 

 stage-road passes through South Pass and Atlantic cities. Camp Stam- 

 baugh, and IMiner's Delight. Beyond that town the next stage station 

 is at Murphy's ranch on the Little Popo-Agie, and the last oue before 

 reaching Camp Browai is at the Laiiders City settlement. Stages leave 

 Bryan daily. Between Eawlings Springs and the settlement on Sandy 

 Creek a riding mail has been established, making the trip, over 50 miles, 

 in one day. 



Huntin(i camps. — ^Permanent hunting camps for the season are found 

 mainly on the uoi-thern slope of the Seminole Hills. They are but few 

 in number, however. Fishing and hunting is professionally followed on 

 the western sloiie of the Wind Eiver Eange diu-ing certain seasons of 

 the year. 



MEANS OP C030IUNICATION. 



Wagon-roads. 



North and south. — The most prominent wagon-road in our district is 

 that running from Bryan Station to Camp Stambaugh. It is used daily 

 by the stage, and all freight for the settlements i)asses over it. Emi- 

 grants to the Bighorn Mountains utilize this road as the easiest and 

 shortest from certain regions. Passing all the towns of the mining and 

 agTicultm-pJ regions, it is a road of great imi)ortance. Grades are easy 

 and the road-bed is in good condition. A branch separates a short dis- 

 tance north of the Big Sandy Station, and followuig a southwesterly 

 direction leads to Fort Bridger. 



From Cami) Stambaugh an old wagon-road, scarcely ever used at 



