I didn't want to take away from Loyal's post below concerning the boom and bust cycles of mining history, so I thought I would post one of my favorite "general descriptions". After the completion of subdividing a township the GLO surveyor was to provide a general description at the end of the notes to describe the township and any resources it may have. It was a method to inform the government of what was out there on the frontier and to give some kind of inventory of the township. I took the liberty to transcribe the "general description" of a surveyor I have retraced many times and have gained a respect for him over the years. Enjoy...
From the field notes of the subdivision of T.24N., R.108W., 6th P.M., Wyoming, which is about 3 miles south and 2 miles west of Farson, Wyoming.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The land in this township may have, at one time, been covered with a luxuriant growth of grass, but at the present writing, that is the scarcest product of the soil.
Both the noble red man and the magnificent bison doubtless had many an exciting chase over its billowy stretches, owing to the number of arrow heads, used by the form, and the horns of the latter, scattered over it. But there are none here now.
It was doubtless covered with water at one time, as is demonstrated by the vast number of fossils found upon it, but I regret to say; that there is no water here now. Our parched lips and swollen tongues, emphasized this condition too often for our comfort.
There were a large number of trees growing on it, during the grassy, watery days of yore as we found a number of petrified stumps, but there are no trees here now. Our frugal noonday repast could not be partaken of, under the shade of a petrified stump and we were compelled to expos our handsome, bewhiskered, sun browned visages to the scorching rays of the meridian sun.
As we did not find any banana peelings, cocoanut bark, peanut shells or corn husks; it is fair to assume that the soil never was fruitful or productive. In fact, it is not now.
Indications point strongly to the fact, that it was adapted to neither horticulture or floriculture. We found no signs of carnations, roses or honeysuckles. We occasionally stumble over a protruding root but doubt they ever belonged to the grape vine.
This may have been a paradise for birds and bees; not that we found any vestiges of antiquated aviaries or apiaries or any other signs of bird or bee life, but they may have winged their flight across the township. However; there are none here now. A meadowlark did warble his lay on a twig of rabbit brush and then disappeared; that is the lark, the rabbit brush remains as proof of my story. While animal and bird life seem to have become extinct here, we are not entirely devoid of live companionship. Horned toads, scorpions, centipedes and many other like charming bed fellows are quite plentiful.
Nature at the present has been niggardly in distributing shade trees and shrubbery, but while there are no sweet peas, gladiolas or lemon verbena, the beautiful white and sweet sage and the prairie cactus abound. If perchance we failed to notice the latter in perambulating about, and our foot came in contact with it, I have heard other names applied to it, than beautiful. As one pursuing sedentary habits would avoid a tack on a chair, so we, whose habits are of a peripatetic nature are cautious of the sharp needled points of the cactus.
Taking it all and all, however for some unaccountable reason sheep manage to exist here in the winter time and that is all there is of it, excepting a few scattering agates and topaz.
Signed: Edward F. Stahle, U.S. Deputy Surveyor --- 1900
Pablo B-)
That is some pretty sparse country.
Heading up that way next month to see some family in Montana. Routing through Red Lodge. Probably staying a night in Cody. Might see some of that area.
Stable was being awful generous in his praise of that country;-)
Mighty Moe,
That's what I thought too. I think perhaps the rays on the sun burned visages sunk a little into the brain. But once you've been there, you have to search the vocabulary somewhat to really describe the nothingness. Edward's brother (Louis Stahl) was a discussion earlier on this board. I think the nothingness got to him and he was shot and killed in a brothel in South Dakota.
Pablo B-)
