GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE TERRITORIES. 261 



Lodge Tole Creek is an isolated stream rising near Cheyenne. Pass 

 and flowing with a moderate fall eastward through a narrow valley, 

 bordered each side. by broad, rounded ridges. The amount of bottom 

 land is limited, but as much, perhaps, as the water in the stream will 

 supply. It is probable that by commencing a canal near the mountain 

 a much larger and more constant supply could be obtained ; and the 

 upper lands and broad ridges can easily be reached if water can be 

 obtained.. 



Crow Creek rises in the Black Hills west of Cheyenne, and, running 

 east for a short distance beyond this city, bends south and jmsses into 

 Colorado. Although the valley is narrow and the stream small, its sit- 

 uation renders it important, and efforts are now in j3rogress which will 

 probably develop the entire capability of the stream. If the supply of 

 w'ater was sufficient the entire plains around the city could be irrigated 

 and the land made to produce useful crops. 



I have been informed that the Union Pacific Eailroad Company intend 

 shortly to take steps to irrigate some of their lands in the southeast 

 part of Wyoming by canals, but as they neglected to furnish any infor- 

 mation on this point, I can state nothing positively in regard to it. 



I am of the opinion that the rain-fall is on the increase in the imme- 

 diate vicinity of this city, and that as the land is irrigated and brought 

 under cultivation, this increase will become more rapid. And the import- 

 ance of the subject and locality will be sufficient excuse for my giving 

 my reasons for this opinion. 



While remaining in camp at Fort D. A. Russell for several days in 

 1869, and also in 1870, 1 noticed that the rains would generally commence 

 several miles to the west, and moving north for some distance would 

 wheel around eastward and then ttear down upon us from the north. I 

 think nine out of every ten followed this course during the time I no- 

 ticed them, which was in the months of July and August. As Cheyenne 

 Pass, which lies north of the fort a few miles, affords a depression 

 through which the air from the west rushes down, we may conclude that 

 a, large eddy in the surface currents exists here. I know nothing in 

 regard to the course of the winter rains and storms. If I am right, 

 then the influx of population into the southern rim of this eddy will, by 

 increasing the evaporating surface of the water, increase the amount of 

 rain in this circuit. These remarks, as a matter of course, only apply 

 to the limited rains of the spring and summer. 



This section has a milder climate than any other portion of the dis- 

 trict, yet its parts differ considerably in temperature, corresponding 

 somewhat to the elevation and freedom from prevailing winds. As the 

 population is confined almost exclusively to Cheyenne and vicinity, we 

 have no means of comparing records of the seasons. 



All the agricultural products which can be grown in the other sections 

 of the district can be raised here; and' in addition to these it is very 

 probable that corn can be raised in the lower valleys. 



Fine grazing fields are to be found throughout the section, in the val- 

 leys and along the slopes of the mountains, and even where there are 

 no running streams wells may be dug and water found at moderate 

 depths, which can easily be raised by wind-mills in sufficient quantity 

 to supply stock and possibly assist in irrigation. 



Timber in abundance can be obtained along the mountains and on 

 some of the streams from Chugwater north. I believe some saw-mills 

 have already been erected on the upper portions of the last-named stream. 



The soil and face of the country is very similar to the South PJatte 



