| Show president deril mclachlan writes of trip to uintah basin Bosin by far the best beat article appearing in the salt lake papers this year co concerning werning vernal and the uintah basin appeared in the deseret news of last saturday concerning the visit of president mclachlan goo geo E burbidge bidge bishop jesse R petitt edwin petitt and alexander buchanan jr to this city last week so homey home y Is this article that the express gladly publisher it in full that puny man Is fast subduing the waste places of eastern utah changing barren stretches of country into golden grain fields find and veritable floret gardens Is the declaration of pros william mclachlan who with others has just completed a tour of the uintah basin going as far east as vernal in the wondel fully productive ashley valley the trip was made in a five passenger kirt kart automobile which covered the milea traveled with but one puncture a record attesting the splendid n of the roada and the careful driving of bishop jelso jease R petitt who acted as chauffeur the outgoing journey was made via spanish fork canyon and the strawberry nal alley to duchesne thence cast and north through myton roosevelt and fort Duch duchesne eBne to vernal a distance front from salt lake of practically miles returning the part headed towards colton through indian canyon bioni duchesne penetrating a long stretch of picturesque country to a height of feet which one of the party declare I 1 wes not excelled in scenic seen grandeur by the famed alps of distant switzerland we took the trip said pres prea mclachlan today for ahe the purpose of securing first hand information concerning the resources of that section As you know ollas has been considerable inquiry of late regarding the reservation and the opportunities afforded settlers in that countey I 1 hart had never been through choie and knew little about it so concluded it would io bo time well spent to make the ti 11 tp every chein v hei 0 wo we went M ent we were cordially molo moio invitations to visit than it was possible for us to fill the people out there seem to have halve partaken partaker par taken of the spirit of the country in which they itne they aie bicad minded and liberal in their views and are hospitable almost to it a fault As an illustration of the wideawake wide awake spoilt exhibited I 1 have to say that no sooner had we reached vernal than we ie were taken lu lit hand by and hatch of the commercial club and diddon to be guests as long as we remained in that locality these gentlemen pointed out to us the resources resource a of the ashley valley alley told us of the dige discovery overy of tho the bones of the wonderful dinosaur of the nast ast beds of gilsonite hidden in nearby hills of coal mines not far removed and of the limitless opportunities con fronting those who become residents lest dents of that section ahn we fell into the hands of that old time salt laker john N davis while lawmaker law maker attached lo 10 the house representatives biorn him we learned that on the morrow members of the commercial club and others beio scheduled for a trip to meeker and steamboat pi ings rigs the local baff baseball club would cross bats ah contesting teams in an afloat to wiest flom them the babe baseball ball championship of abstein utah and western co locado this trip was made in automobiles and was in ill tho the matuie of a sociability run in exchange for a like visit from colorado some two or chloe weeks before we were graciously invited to join them but could not do so GO on account of previous arianne ments pres don B colton of uintah stake and a member of our state senate was waa one of the party on leaving for colorado bishop davis bade us make his comfortable home our headquarters dui ing our sojourn here 0 N o 3 were with the utmost consideration by his charming daughters we also enjoyed the hospitality of the wimmer boys asel and juno who recently left salt lake to become farmers on the reserva ton A side trip greatly enjoyed by members of the party was bilat to will Wit becks ranch on brush creek located about 13 miles northeast of vernal mr witbeck was formerly of salt lake but drifted to ashley valley 25 years ago and has become prosperous the to the r ranch anch was made by automobile the first time such a vehicle had penetrated that section from the ranch mr witbeck took up by wagon to what Is known as creek 12 miles distant where the boys were bro brought fight into close contact with sago sage liens hena and speckled beauties this took us through a gainous country dotted with ran ranches clies showing the possibilities bili ties of even the remotest sections situated as they are far from the maddening crowd hero here sheep raising is extensively engaged in this industry contributing greatly to the material prosperity of tho the ashley valley while at tho ranch the party enjoyed tho the hospitality of mr Wit witbeck beek feasting on ranch products and fresh young mutton and living close to matuie in a way that Is not afforded by city life returning to vernal the party tinned its face home waid stopping at roosevelt where here we came in t with joseph 11 hardy of thu tho presidency of duchovne Duch osne stake birther bi other hardy has been in that country practically all his life and knows pretty much every foot of the ground he told us of the wonderful possibilities ties of the odiay valley located to the east of venial where he said there sue aie al ait stretches of awaiting ing the magic touch of tha thrifty this land can be had at low prices and on very easy terms and will produce anything raised in the ashley valley such as oats barley rye wheat tili toes garden truck and fruits he also commented favorably on the south myton bench which has proved itself unusually productive and ants a beautiful sight aiom the surrounding hills while at roosevelt members of the party were privileged to meet the membris of the chuich sunday evening ilig words of encouragement and counsel to those present wo we also had the pleasure of meeting pros ephraim Lain lambott boit and bishop joseph 11 who have done much to develop the resources of that country roosevelt to is the tors of the duchesne Duclie sno stake which is presided avei by wn wm i 11 II smart it has a splendid elgh school building and a number ot of beautiful homed and prosperous busi houses on tho the to vernal venial wo stopped at fort duchesne and i had a talk with albert ii kneale the indian agent concerning lands of offered f erod tor for sale and lease this gentleman is a veritable ablo live wire fairly sparkling ling witt with energy the moment you monition mention indian lands lie ilo told us of tho the various districts in which these lands are located and said that aheady tills this season something like people had established homes on ehg thc reservation the indian lands landa aro are some distance aiom the main highway hut but can bo be reached comfortably either by wagon or auto and sell irom 10 to 30 per aero acre including a alist class water right which as mr kneale explained pla ined Is not perfect but berf perfectible ec tible it requires ulrea belef beneficial acial use of tho the water to perfect the title the government has haa spent about building canals to convey water to these lands and is exceeding ly anxious to soe see home seekers take advantage of opportunity afforded to buy or lease on very reasonable terms the soil boll throughout the entire country is principally of a sandy loam well adapted to the raising of grain lucern potatoes and farm pio duett generally there is also abundant range for sheep and cattle making it an ideal section fol foi what is known as daily farm ing everywhere BV we went the people were enthusiastic in their praise of tho the uintah country nearly all seemed boomed to bo be fairly prosperous ious cious and quite sanguine that in ill a year or two the dream of the oldest settler would bo be realized in the building of a ral railroad Troad through that section the ashley valley is richly productive and tho surrounding hills are said to abound in mineral products including coal elat crite uranium vanadium gold copper and zinc the lack of railroad facilities however has retarded development of the mining industry but sufficient work has bal been done to demonstrate fhe value of the mineral resources there Is an abundance of water for all purposes and while shile the season has been unusually dry crops were never better than they are sow A rhubarb plant pluck ed cd aiom bishop davis garden showed a leaf measuring two ewt cot across and a stalk one and one half inches thick some of 0 the f inest finest apples in the land are also grown there thoro there is a plentiful supply of timber in the hills and lumber for building purposes can be had for aiom 24 to 32 per 1000 foot feet coal in vernal sells at 4 per ton delivered and can bo be had at the mine for 2 50 town lots measuring feet sell in myton roosevelt and Duc duchesne hoone for from 60 50 to a piece according to location land in vernal is valued lat at pel pei acre in short generally aye are such tufit I 1 ant am strongly convinced ors can f ind find no bolter better place and no more alluring than are to be found in the uintah baton there la Is a feeling among the business people of vernal that salt lakers lahore are neglecting their opportunities in that country they point to the fact that denver la Is getting tho the lions share of the business due to the fact that they have shown such interest in eastern utah as to ish branch houses at grand where people from vernal and vicinity may get the benefit of reduced freight rates this has resulted in it a good deal of the trade going to colorado all share the he views of preal dent mclachlan concerning the country and the hospitality of the people the roads aro are good all the way to vernal and the people en route pro on the tiptoe of expectancy for the visit of the salt lake commercial club the basin Is ia dry throughout with the exception of myton |
