of the northern part (3,500 feet at Sheridan) compensating for the difference in latitude. "A distinctive feature of Wyoming's irrigation is that it outstrips all the States and Territories of the arid region in the number of its streams available for irrigation. The valleys bordering most streams are narrow, ranging in width from one to five miles. The uplands between these valleys are too high to be watered, and must remain for grazing land. This contiguity of large tracts of grazing land to that devoted to farming, affording, as it does, free summer pasturage for the farmer's stock, is a material advantage, and is destined to increase the profits of the farmer and greatly increase the value of the irrigated lands. "The counties of Laramie and Albany furnish the best examples of ditch building, the largest and best constructed ditches being found here. The irrigation works of these two counties also nearly utilize the water of their streams, on a majority of which the aggregate capacity of the ditches, average discharge of the streams during the irrigating season, and the further extension of the irrigating territory can only be accomplished through the construction of reservoirs to store up the surplus water of the spring floods. The fertility of these lands and their nearness to a market for their products makes it extremely desirable that such reservoirs should be built. "The statistics for Carbon and Fremont Counties have not yet been compiled. While the tendency of statements is to exceed the actual facts, the fact that 20 per cent. of the statements failed to give the acreage and about 10 per cent. omitted giving the lenght, will make the totals rather below than above the truth. "The future development of our agricultural interests is certain to be rapid and important. As it is, with our agricultural system scarcely established, we have enough land under ditches and ready for the plow to make 20,000 eighty-acre farms and to engage the efforts of a purely agricultural population of more than twice the number of all the people now in the Territory. Many of these ditches have been built under exceptionally un-, favorable conditions. The best watered and most extensive agricultural districts are in the central and northern portions of the Territory, and until within the past two years all the materials and implements required in the construction of ditches, together with with a large part of the provisions for men and teams, had to be hauled from stations on the Union Pacific, which traverses the southern border. "The transportation by wagon of all this material for distances varying from 100 to 300 miles almost doubled the cost of the work and materially lessened the prospect of profitable returns. So, also, the remoteness of a staple market and the difficulty and expense of obtaining the conveniences of life have been serious drawbacks to many of our pioneer farmers. Where it required a three weeks' journey to secure a plow, as it did until recently, there was not much plowing done. "The Territory still suffers from the lack of adequate railway facilities. There is a surplus of agricultural products in the north for which there is a ready market and good prices in the south. The completion of railways projected to bring these Sections together will result in increased prosperity for both. "In the counties of Johnson and Sheridan alone, the surplus waters of the streams gauged by me this season would irrigate 500,000 acres, and I am reliably informed there is double that extent of land susceptible of being watered. Were it necessary other illustrations of the same character could be given. It is certain that agriculture is destined to be one of the Territory's material interests, and the perfection of the methods and practices on which its success and progress so largely depends should receive the most careful consideration." GRAZING AND LIVE STOCK. Much has been said on the grazing fields of Wyoming. There are no finer on the continent. the Territory estimated that there are at live stock, of which about 1,500,000 are pastured in this Territory. FORESTS. The stock association of least 2,000,000 head of neat cattle, owned and In the mountains and hills there is sufficient growing timber, if cared for, to afford for all time an abundant supply of lumber for all mining and domestic purposes in the Territory. COAL No country could be better supplied with coal. It is found in every county of the Territory. Professor Ricketts, the Territorial Geologist, estimates that the coal area of Wyoming covers more than 19,000,000 acres. This coal is of excellent qualities, suitable for heating, generating steam, and for all domestic purposes. Though only a few mines, comparatively, have been developed, the coal of Wyoming has become important, as an article of internal commerce, as far east as the Missouri River and as far west as the Pacific coast. The mines will produce this year nearly 3,000,000 tons. The demand is three times greater than the facilities at hand for its transportation. PETROLEUM. It is doubtful if the oil fields elsewhere in the United States equal those of Wyoming. This industry has been but little developed, as there is no demand yet for the product. Oil springs are found hundreds of miles apart, showing that the oil country covers much of the Territory. Several oil wells have been bored, which are producing from five to several hundred barrels of oil every twenty-four hours. IRON. The iron deposit of Wyoming is truly wonderful. The quantity may be measured by mountains. The quality of the hematite ores will compare favorably with those discovered elsewhere in the world. SODA. The soda deposits cover hundreds of acres, and are said to be the most extensive discovered on the continent. GOLD AND OTHER MINERALS. Gold, silver, and copper mines are found in the Territory and are being successfully worked. Marble, granite and sandstone of excellent qualities for building purposes are abundant, and salt, sulphur, gypsum, bismuth, graphite, asbestos, and fireclay are found in various portions of the Territory. PUBLIC LANDS. There are three land offices in the Territory. Two of these are maximum offices. The following lands have been disposed of under the land laws. No lands have ever been offered for sale by the Government in this Territory. The following table does not include the lands disposed of under the grant to the Union Pacific Railroad company : One of the surest indications of prosperity in a community is found in the statistics of the postal service. The receipts in Wyoming during 1888 were as follows: The total postal receipts in Wyoming during the last year amounted to $69,378.07. The receipts from the sale of postage stamps, stamped envelopes, and postal cards were $62,378.97; from box rents, $7,012.07; and from the sale of waste paper, $1.25. There was paid to postmasters for compensation $31,254.71, and for clerks in postoffices, fuel and rent, $3,041.61. The letter carriers received $1,569.65, and the railway postal clerks, $477.25. There are six Presidential postoffices in Wyoming, the aggregate receipts of which are $36,744.80. The salaries of the postmasters amount to $9,700 There are one hundred and seventy three postmasters in the Territory, an increase of twenty-five for the year, making 14 per cent. increase for the year. The total number of miles of mail routes is 2,490. Of this the star service takes 1,815 miles. The decrease in length of star routes was 94 miles, and the increase of railroad service 133 miles. RAILROADS. There are nearly 900 miles of operated railroads in the Territory. The principal railroad companies of the Central West are locating lines and securing rights of way in Wyoming. The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Company is building a branch line to the fields of coking coal found in northeastern Wyoming. This company has located a line through the central portion of the Territory from east to west, and also a line from southeastern Wyoming to the central portion of the Territory. This company operates a through line from Cheyenne, the capital of the Territory, to Chicago. The Northwestern Railroad company has built and is operating a line of road in the central portion of the Territory connecting with its eastern system. The Cheyenne and Northern Railroad has completed 125 miles of road. The Union Pacific Railroad traverses the Territory through its entire length from east to west. FINANCIAL STANDING OF THE TERRITORY. The indebtedness of the Territory is $320,000. So high is the credit of the Territory, and so careful has this people been at every step and at every stage in the growth of the Territory that neither the Territory nor any city, county or school district has ever defaulted in the payment of any bond or interest. None of the bonds of the Territory bear over 6 per cent. interest; none have been sold for less than 5 per cent., and some as high as 12 per cent. premium. BANKING INSTITUTIONS. There are nine national and ten private banks in Wyoming. |