re 


































3 
ea 
Wyoming is within the “arid belt,” and irrigation is depended upon 
for the raising of crops. The tillable area of the Territory is estimated 
at 12,000 square miles. The land is easily broken and cultivated, being 
generally free from stones and other obstructions. In exceptional sea- 
sons the natural rain-fall is sufficient to produce a growth of grain and 
vegetables, but irrigation ditches and a reliable supply of water are 
necessary to insure the success of farming operations. During the last 
few years many companies have been incorporated in the Territory for 
the purpose of constructing irrigating canals and ditches. Many of 
these enterprises are now in successful operation. In a period of four 
months during the year 1886, within the district comprising the south- 
eastern portion of Laramie County, there were recorded the articles of 
incorporation of over five hundred canals and ditches, extending over 
1,000 miles in length and covering at least 100,000 acres of land. The 
works of the Wyoming Development Company, in the same county, 
include two canals, 29 and 37 miles long, respectively, and from 20 to 
25 feet wide; 19 miles of lateral ditches, from 6 to 12 feet wide, and a 
rock tunnel three-fourths of a mile long, with a flow of 1,500 cubic 
feet per second. This system, built at a cost of $500,000, reclaims 
60,000 acres of desert land. 
ALBANY COUNTY. 
(Total area, 6,922 square miles; estimated forest area, 840 square miles.) 
This is a long and narrow county, in the southeastern part of the 
Territory. The Laramie and Medicine Bow ranges occupy large areas 
in the north central, eastern, and southern portions. 
The North Platte and Big Laramie Rivers are the principal water- 
courses. These, together with numerous tributary streams having their 
sources in the snowy mountains of the region, furnish an abundance 
of water for irrigating purposes. 
The forest growth consists mainly of Yellow and White Pine, Tam- 
arack or Lodge-pole Pine, Red Cedar, and Aspen. It is mostly con- 
fined to the mountain slopes and foot-hills. The heaviest bodies of 
timber are found in the central and southwestern parts of the county. 
Between Fort Fetterman and Laramie Peak on the La Bonte and Horseshoe Creeks, 
and on the Caspar Mountain, 50 miles west of Fort Fetterman, are large tracts of 
good saw timber. Along the North Platte and its tributary creeks are fine growths 
of Cottonwood and Box Elder. 
Lodge-pole Pine (Pinus Murrayana) is the predominant forest tree 
along the range east of Laramie. Yellow Pine is common along the 
lower mountains, but does not have a dense growth. It is the largest 
and most valuable of the pines. White Pine (Pinus flexilis) grows near 
the timber line. A scattering growth of Red Cedar is found on the 
foot-hills. Of the two varieties of Cottonwood native to this region 
(Populus monilifera and Populus angustifolia) the latter is the most 
prevalent. It is estimated that one-quarter of the entire forest area is 

