Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 100, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 August 1908 — A Good Letter from Wyoming. [ARTICLE]

A Good Letter from Wyoming.

Worland, Wyo., Aug. 20, 1908. Editor Republican: We have been here since April 2d. Have seen quite a bit of the surrounding country. There is quite a scope of level country about Worland. All farming operations are done by irrigation. This is usually a dry climate, but this season there has been an unusual amount of rainfall. A part of May and June the frequent and copious showers would remind one of conditions back in old Jasper. People living in the corn belt are apt to think of the advantages to be found in an irrigated country where the land may be watered ad needed, where drouth is unknown, crop failures unheard of, etc. It is easy to get hold of literature supporting such ideas. The common wages paid here for ranch work is S4O per month and board. A good irrigator gets more. An irrigator msst learn in the school of experience. There are different kinds of soil here which require different kinds of, treatment There are good opportunities here for men who will hustle. There are quite a number of people here who live comfortably with little effort apparently. There are others who are living as strenuous lives as any I have ever known.

The people generally are of a good class. Some are from our old Indiana, perhaps more from lowa than any other state. Nebraska, Missouri and Kentucky are well reprsented, also Ohio, Michigan and Canada. The Big Horn river and its tributaries furnish the water for the Basin country. To the north and east are the Big Horn mountains in plain view, the highest point, Cloud’s Peak, being 13,800 feet high and said to be 76 miles distant It with several other peaks wear their snow caps the year around. Farther away to the west and northwest are the Shoshone mountains which seem higher and carry more snow than the Big Horn. Now, as to the clmiate here, there is no doubt that it is usually dry and healthful, with cool nights. It is a great place for sleep. Nearly every ranch has one or more tents for sleeping apartments which are used both summer and winter. Our experience here has been similar to that of Bill Nye, who in his search for a pleasant climate, found disagreeble conditions, was alwayß assured by the natives that such conditions were very unusual. While it has been hot here as well as wet at and wet at one time as is the case in the corn belt It 6eems to be a common thing here for the people to be rather dissatisfied at first, but after a few years here they say they would not go back where rains are common if given a good farm and required to live on it The climate here has not benefited my family any, and they will likely be back to Rensselaer at the home coming. Should like to be there myself, but cannot conveniently do so at present. Yours truly.

O. C. HALSTEAD.