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Show Resources of Great Inland Empire Scarcely Touched . • Roosevelt's Ambition Is to Make Basin Leader; Results of Effort Shown Vernal, Although Far From Railroad, Is Most Modern Inland Town Best Irrigated Section of Utah Remains in Experimental Stage Through Want of Railroad Facilities; Transportation Will Make the Basin Utah's Most Valuable Area; Rare Hydrocarbons Found Here in Abundance Paved Streets, Electric Lights and Conveniences of Modern City Astound the Tourist; Located in Fertile Ashley Valley; Is Large Trading Center; Will Develop Into Metropolis When Railroad Enters Large and Fertile Basin Roosevelt, like the famous Teddy, is quite different, and it is ambitious. Like Roosevelt, this town feels the force of power which position and wealth afford when a fair measure of success has been achieved. Of course this wealth is agricultural, essentially, no big factories not even a railroad, but nature's bounties are varied and abundant and insure vigorous growth for a long time. Nothing may stop this development because the surrounding country will produce more each year for a generation. Much new land is to be reclaimed, for which there is ample water, and we have enough plowed and producing to support more than twice as many people as we have. Here ii; the best large area of cheap farm land left in the west, where climate, soil, timber, coal, drainage, and water are plentiful, convenient and proved to be true wealth. Some Good Backing Within a radius of twenty miles of Roosevelt there are 200,000 acres of land reclaimed and provided with water, most of the water free of debt and nearly all the land has been plowed and cropped. Water is better because it costs less to get it and the annual maintenance is much less than the average. Many mountain lakes assure storage water, (already partly used) for late irrigation in dry seasons. Natural drainage is almost ideal. Sheep and cattle, especially sheep, are producing and helping many a man. But the dairy cow is the general asset and is producing $500,000. per annum cash. Alfalfa seed is furnishing from a half million to a million dollars per year, and this seed is nearly all grown in the twenty-mile radius. It is practically all cleaned and marketed at Roosevelt and within ten miles of our town while here is the largest cleaning and marketing center .• Hogs, poultry, and honey, produce possibly as much cash as the cow. In this area we have cash products, aside from Gilsonite, of over two million dollars per annum, and this is increasing as rapidly as additional home makers take hold. While over 10,000 people are making success and independence, and where resources are ample to the increase this to 40,000, is a warranty that others will come. Two Gilsonite veins, seven miles east, are shipping this famous product and employing miners and trucks and making a payroll that is needed, and the business is rapidly increasing. But what land we have reclaimed is only a part of that which is needing only more people and organization There are 387,000 acres of reclaimed land in the two counties, and this is approximately half of that which is first class land and for which there is water. These projects which must soon be financed will cost less per acre than any other reclamation in the intermountain district, in fact only about half as much as the Provo-Weber project or Snake river reclamation at American Falls, and much less than any Boulder Dam cost per acre. With this vast area of farm land there is timber, two-thirds of Utah's supply, on our mountains. Coal is abundant eighteen to twenty miles away. Water power is ample for all present and future purposes, and power close at hand. Advantages That Are Real Assets • Roosevelt is a thriving community of 1600 people, and it does as much business as the average Utah town, having four times the population, because it is the business center for such a large population and so much wealth. Altitude is 5050 on main street, and the town is on a mesa overlooking a beautiful valley and surrounding farming area, \Ve have the only high school, standard four year work, in this twenty mile radius. We have added a new eight room modern grade school building to provide for the large school attendance which is increased by truck service and by many people moving here for the school term. Eighteen teachers for common school work are employed. Our water system is from artesian wells, and this may be increased when needed by using water from mountain streams on the mesa north of town. Our climate is just right for homes, for a homeland. Here we seldom have snow in winter that gives us a sleigh ride. Winds come irregularly during spring and summer months, but during the cold weather, from November until March, we scarcely have a good breeze. Utah's highest range, the Uintah mountains, act as a wall to keep out cold winds known in Wyoming, and the Wasatch range on the west completes the enclosure that protects us from wintry blasts. From Roosevelt in all directions roads lead into this farming district to about twenty thriving communities that have postoffices, schools, and churches, while many have from one to several stores, and for this area and population Roosevelt is the business and educational center. Justified Ambition Roosevelt should soon be the county seat for a new county. \Ve are virtually on the county line, and us we are equi-distant from two county seats, thirty three miles, we have right to this ambition. Business, saving of time, demand a new county, and Roosevelt is the natural and logical county seat. Roosevelt has ample wealth surrounding it and within its city limits to make a city of 5,000 people, whether railroad or no railroad. The Victory highway passes through our town. \Vesterly from Roosevelt we have 22 miles of federal highway completed, and eastward towards Vernal about the same distance is provided with first class highway. Roosevelt is the natural center of a vast area, and advantages are more and more indicating that Roosevelt is the future hub for development and prosperity. Wonderland Near at Hand In the Uintah mountains are Utah's highest peaks, nearly 14,000 ft. elevation .. The average ridge for more than 100 miles is 12,000 ft. Among these nountains are hundreds of lakes, great forests which man has never touched and glaciers which never all melt. In this range is Utah's summer play ground, unequaled by any other natural wonders in our state. Primeval grandeur is here a wonderful display. Fishing, hunting, scenery and inspirricher, bigger and better than may be found in any other part of Utah. These advantages are aside from miniature Grand canyons a little farther away, cutting the northern and southern rims, and Dinosaur quarry and other attractions. Evidence of Prosperity Roosevelt has the following business as proof of growth and development, viz: Two large implement stores, four hardware stores, two groceries and meat markets, four general stores, one good drug store, lumber yard and planing mill, several auto shops and garages, one good creamery and two or three cream stations, the only bank in the radius noted, two hotels and a new modern hotel now to be built, ice cream and soda water plant, a good flour mill, a cold storage and commission company, the largest seed plant in eastern Utah, a $50,000 high school, two churches, the best commercial club in Utah and free of debt and owning its own building and equipment, office and storage for eastern Utah Transportation company, two good blacksmith and machine shops, a leather and harness shop, several first class gas stations, two barber shops, two dentists, a hospital two to three doctors, two lawyers, a first class picture house, office for the Light and Power company that furnishes lig-ht and power to five towns, one good confectionery store, a bakery and two real estate companies, etc. Residences are rapidly increasing and of better style and finish. This year the total new homes built should be not less than fifty, according to present indications. Shortage of houses to rent for the school term is quite acute, showing a big demand, and this has been constant for five years. Bank deposits are gro\ving. More acreage each year is · producing cash crops. Every year more farmers decide to make Roosevelt home for advantages they need. Our growth and development has been sound secure, permanent, and present outlook is for a continuation of this. We don't want any boom, but we want more homes here to care for the growing population, and we need more farmers to make our wealth increaee. The Victory highway is well marked through our town. City government is efficient. A good news- • • Threshing Alfalfa Seed Near Roosevelt. • ........... One of the 1\Iany Lakes in the Uintah Reservation. Four Tribes of Indians People U.S. Reservation; Are Industrious Citizens Indian Competition With White Farmers Proves That the Red Men Are Agriculturists of Ability; Have Helped Develop Basin and Are Looked Upon as Real Assets in Basin Towns; 1\'Iany Annual Tribal Festivities Observed There are 1141 Indians on the Ouray Indian Reservation. They are divided nto three tribes, namely, Uintahs, Uncompahgres and White Rivers, and lend a colorful and picturesque spilit to the heart of the Uintah Basin. About half of these Indians live on their farms during the cropping season. They have made great advancement in the last five years. Many of them farm like white men, run dairies, sell eggs, raise hogs and turkeys, and do well in many lines of agricultural achievement. Many have herds of cattle on the Indian grazing reserve. Some have extensive herds of sheep and goats. They send their children to the public schools, twelve dN;tricts participating in the education of the Indian. Some students find their way to schools of national repute. The Indian, as a rule, takes a great interest in all public celebrations. They generally are a great attraction at fairs. They have factions among them. Some are eager for the 'Sun Danee," others are not interested. Many never attend the spring festival called the "Bear Dance," yet this occasion calls for good crowds. Many of the Indians are affiliated with different churches of the Basin and attend and participate in the various devotional and social activities thereof. The towns and villages, such as Radlett, Lapoint, Whiterocks, Leeton, Bennett, Hayden, Neola, Cedarview, Myton, Roosevelt, Tabiona, Altonah, Mt. Emmons, Fort Duchesne, and Ouray, all are surrounded by allotments, and the Indians thereon are in close touch with progress, and cannot remain long in a backward state. In fact, the reservation is no longer a reservation, but is part of two populated counties, and tne vartous neighborhoods are the civilizers. Good farms can be bought from Indians who have patents. The government holds from one to two land sales per year, land selling from five to fifty dollars per acre. Sales may be made on deferred payments, one-fourth cash, balance in three equal annual installments of twenty-five per cent per annum. Many thousand acres of improved Indian lands are leased to whites at very reasonable rentals, the amount of these rentals depending upon the locations and condition of the land in question, but usually averpaper is indicative, a monitor of our aging from $1.00 to $5.00 per acre per progress. year. Roosevelt is a town that must grow. The Indians of the Uintah reserva\Vealth surrounding it assures prog- tion generally are industrious and the ress for many years. Advantages are goven1ment has found ample reward too numerous and vital to be longer in the expenditure of hundreds of neglected, and a -vigorous growth is thousands of dollars in giving r.hem imperative. Roosevelt has just "grow- fine irrigation systems. ed" until today it demands attention. The Indian lands are scattered Even our best boosters are astonished among homesteads. School and churchwhen they check up on the progress es are handy, good roads run everyof one year. There has been little where. Electric lines permeate the noise about it-just a quiet develop- reserv::>,tion, and the irrigation dit<:hes men~, all the better because it \yas are beautiful to see running down the on f11·!ll ground ~nd never over-?omg long benches, or crisscrossing them. a.n~thmg. Our city government Is ef- Blue grass is in evidence everywhere. fu:Ient. Ro;o.sevelt ~as a good wa~~r ~l\I~ny oth~r grasses and clovers are system, a f.re department and eqmp- umt of whiCh hqs been completed some ment. eighteen months. Three trucks are Come to Roosevelt employed to transport children tribRoosevelt needs more hustlers. We utary to Duchesne. One of these need a few more live citizens to take comes fourteen miles and delivers a adv:antage of profits and ind~pendence load of fifty-fi_ve pupils. The present whiCh ~re ~e.re for. the wi?e-awake school pOJ1~lat10n, which has a steady man. New citizens w1th new Ideas and growth, will soon command an addienergy will be welcomed. Roosevelt tional eleventh and then a twelfth does not want a boom, but a continu- grade. The courses offered are those ation of the vigorous growth which the prescribed by the state board of edlast four years has produced. We know ucation. Utah is recognized as havthere is ample wealth for 5,000 peo- ing one of the most pretentious school ple when we now have less than 2,000. working into the pastures. Coal is Because surrounding us is the large abundant. The Indians have spent their acreage of excellent farm land that is money generously in developing the just beginning to take on new life and reservation. Hundreds of thousands prove its real value. Roosevelt is here of dollars have been spent by them to to serve this growing population ideal- make the desert a garden. ly located and firmly established. The Indians have helped to build Towns like this may not be moved by bridges over the rivers. They erected any commercial forces; but they con- a splendid school plant of the latest tinue to grow until all the wealth model at Whiterocks at the cost of around them is developed. many thousands of dollars. The InRoosevelt knows it will grow, be- dians have purchased several new cause it is growing now, and the for- threshing outfits. They have tracces that impcll this growth are grow- tors for road building, together with ing too. Our big irrigation company e:c~e~Ien~ graders. A high state of (only o!le of many) has more than CIVIIJzation is everywhere in the Ba:-,o,OOO acres of water rights spread sin. Wbere one least expects it he out over the land. Thi,; is only one finds well tilled Indian farms. Indians of many measures of utilization of nut- sell their strawberries side by side ural resources, but it is a reliable with the white f .. rmer, and receive gauge. On such stability Roosevelt their weekly milk and cream check feels justified in telling 0thers about with the white dairyman. the wealth and prosperity here. The annual farm exhibit of Indians Come to Rocsevelt for a home, for at the State Fair and the U. B. 1. c. progress and for success. (Continued on Page Four.) Vernal, the county seat of Uintah county, located on the Victory highway, the main street of America, lays its claim to distinction not because of its unique setting in the productive Ashley valley, but rather to being the most moderu and up-to-date inland city in the United States. Vernal is known •from coast to coast, wherever tourists, travelers and men of business gather. With an approximate population of 1400, Vernal's peculiar location makes it serve a population of fully 12,000, an analysis of the volume of business transacted showing this to be a fact. Within the Ashley valley, surrounding Vernal, there are 10 public schools \vith 60 teachers and over 1600 pupils. This includes the $115,000 new Senior Uintah and the $50,000 Junior Uintah high schools located on the same campus. The capacity of these two schools 1s over 900 pupils, the Vernal Central grade school housing over 500 pupils. '!he remainder of the schools have two to eight rooms each. The L. D. S. church also maintains a seminary. In Vernal there are Episcopal, Catholic and Congregational church buildings, \vith two L. D. S. churches and a large L. D. S. tabernacle with a seating capacity of 2500, also a large Congregational community h o us e. There are several .fraternal orders, clubs and societies, with a strong Lions club organization. Added to Vernal's substantial business blocks, two of which are of pressed brick shipped in by parcel post, there have been added three modern garage buildings, costing from $12,0UO to $30,000, the new Senior high school, and the new Federal building, site and building costing $50,000, and two store and office buildings under contract. At least 20 modern bungalows, costing from $2000 to $6000 each, have been completed. The commodious Commercial hotel was opened last fall to the public and is modern in every respect. The Gibson hotel has undergone many changes this summer. The Victory highway from the center of town west is paved with native asphaltum, and it is expected the entire business section will be paved within the next year. Nearly all of the business blocks, court house, schools and many dwellings are of brick. The native gypsum plaster is nearly as hard as cement and finishes a beautiful gray cream color. Coal in abundance IS mined in the nearby mountains. For some fifteen years Vernal bore the distinction of being a city without taxation. Yet blocks of asphaltum sidewalks and street paving were accomplished. Today its streets are well graded and maintained, sprinkled and lighted with 100 electric lights. The climate of the Ashley valley makes this a most desirable place to live. There is practically no wind except in the spring. The change of seasons is gradual, not being subject to sudden chall.ges of heat and cold. Nights are cool and refreshing. The altitude of the valley varies from 4,725 to 5,500 feet. The water supply is owned by the city, and is from the high mountains and is sparkling clear and cold on the hottest summer day. Vernal has been chosen by the Denver and Rio Grande Western as the terminus of the 131.8-mlie branch from Soldier Summit and also will be the terminus of the 55-mile extension of the Uintah railway when built from Watson. Both lines have applied to the Interstate Commerce commission for a certificate of convenience and necessity. The Denver and Salt Lake survey through the Uintah basin from Springville, Utah, to Craig, Colo., connecting with the Moffat road, is also near Vernal. The 1·esources of the Ashley valley are so varied and extensive it is a difficult matter to tell of any one and its future possibilities without making it seem as though one, in the telling, was over-stepping the bounds of truthfulness. Because of the great deposits of almost pure phosphate in the surrounding hills and the deep soil, the ground is one of the most productive in the entire west, raising any crop to perfection that can be grown in a tern- perate climate and where intensive and careful cultivation has been practiced making a.linost incredible yields. Because of inadequate transportation facilities, no great development hao been made in the crops which brirt the richest returns from the soil a:n only sufficient is raised to meet tlJ local consumption. Rich alfalfa fields make returns l hay for the livestock industry whiC.. has been the principal one and very lucrative, too. The sheep industry brings over one-quarter of a million dollars annually in this valley alone. Cattle is second only in importance. With the Uintah basin coming forward as an alfalfa seed producing section, second to none in the United States, the Ashley valley is making long strides in this field-so much so it was necessary for the J. G. Peppard Seed company to build a large seed cleaning plant to handle the1r contracted acreage. There is also a smaller seed cleaning plant owned by the Vernal Milling and Light company. Some of the greatest alfalfa seed yields recorded have been in the Ashley valley. The new industry, one of easy and cheap transportation, ranks now \vith the sheep industry and bids fair to surpass it. As soon as rail transportation ia assured, a sugar refinery will be built in the valley, the Amalgamated Sugar company is having a test made t'lf the sugar beets this year. Adequate water for iiTigation will bring this and other intensive agricultural crops to high perfection as soon the the railroad is built. Bees do remarkably well here, the alfalfa bloom for seed creating a tremendous flow. The excellence of Vernal honey is known all over the United States and has been shipped to Europe because of its especially pleasing fla• vor. Within the last few years the rais• ing of turkeys and capons has come to the front and Uintah basin turkey for Thanksgiving and Christmas tips the New York market with several car loads. The same with the Los Angeles market. Dairy farming has become the all year 'round industry, bringing in several thousands of dollars each month to the industrious fanner. A concerted effort is being made to bring the various dairy herds to the highest perfection, by the importations of pure-bred sires and dairy calves. Sweet cream has been shipped as far as Denver. Oil is a possibility in the valley and prepa1·ations are being made for development along this line at seV!:!ral fields. The Utah Oil and Refining company, early in 1925, struck a tremendous flow of gas, estimated at. 40,000,000 cubic feet per day at their oil well 11 miles from Vernal. Application has been made to supply Vernal City and Salt Lake City with natural gas from this well. Among the natural resources are the ranges of the Ashley National forest and the immense timber supply, the greatest in Utah, the high water sheds keep a supply of irrigation water throughout the year. The recrea tiona! value in some of the most sub lime scenery to be found in Amerie~ \vith its myriad of lakes and stream stocked with the speckled trout; t~ large game preserve for the proteo. tion of the deer and game fowl. The immense deposits of phosphate which will provide immediate to"n nage for the railroad. Wonderful sites for electric power and many other resources the value yet undetermined and scarcely dreamed about, go to make the Ashley valley one of the places where a living is easily made and where one can live in as modern homes as any place in the land with the best of schools for their children and entertainment of the highest order at all times. The Imperial Dansante and amusement hall, with its hardwood spring balanced floor, would be a matter of p-ride to a city many times larger. The Vogue theatre and motion picture house is modern in every way and cost $40,000, contributed by local capital. T~e Vern:'ll Li~ht and Telephone compames, which give such splendid (Continued on Page Four.) r-:c:::-------- - - Colony of Bees • rear Vernal. |