Good Profits from a Little Patch of Irrigated Land

Reprint of this story from the April 4, 1902 issue of The Grand Encampment Herald brought to you courtesy of Grandma’s Cabin, Encampment, Wyoming. Preserving History - Serving the Community.

Good Profits from a Little Patch of Irrigated Land

J. J. Wombaker came into this country with his family four years ago last September, and settled on placer ground at the junction of the north and south forks of the Encampment River. There were but three log cabins on the Grand Encampment townsite at that time, and two of these were occupied by men only, there being but one family here.

The trip into the country was made with a two-horse overland prairie schooner. Mr. Wombaker took up a good piece of land and with irrigation has made it bloom and blossom with abundance, realizing each year a snug sum of money for his labor.

He is known far and wide as the “vegetable man,” and during the season makes trips to Saratoga, Walcott, Rawlins, Battle and Rudefeha, besides supplying the people of Encampment with vegetables as choice and palatable as those raised under circumstances apparently much more favorable.

During last season Mr. Wombaker raised from six acres of ground 35,000 pounds of vegetables, which brought him the handsome price of $1,700. Mr. Wombaker’s experience with land under irrigation should appeal as an object lesson to the many thousands of farmers in the East who are laboring away year after year on a big farm and realizing only enough to make “both ends meet.” The West is full of opportunities such as Mr. Wombaker has undertaken, not only in the line of vegetable cultivation but in every line of agriculture and its ally, stock raising.

The stories of the mineral wealth of the hills in this vicinity furnished the inspiration which brought Mr. Wombaker here, and while he has devoted the greater portion of his time to gardening, he has not failed to secure some choice mining claims on which he is doing the assessment work each year. His experience is the same as that of all the pioneers of the camp; the longer he is here the better the camp looks to him and with each succeeding year his confidence in the district increases.

Minor Notes:

A movement is being talked of among the local merchants to close the stores at six or seven o’clock in the evening and to do away with Sunday trade altogether. This plan is commendable from every standpoint, and should be adopted at once. The merchant owes himself a few hours at least each week to lie at home with his family, and the clerk needs the rest as well.

Trade will not be diminished by the adoption of this plan of closing, and if all the merchants concur the scheme may be carried out to the satisfaction of all parties concerned. Mr. T. K. Smith, of the Mercantile Company, is much in favor of this plan, and it is understood that an expression from the other merchants will be solicited at once.

The rebuilding of the bridge across the Encampment River below Riverside should be considered at once by the county commissioners. The bridge was built in 1897 and constant traffic has brought it to a very dilapidated condition. It is not a substantial structure today, is twisted out of shape, andwithout doubt will go out with the spring waters of the river after the thaw in the hills. The county commissioners should build a new and substantial bridge at once, and avoid the damage to traffic which will result in case the structure floats downstream some May or June morning. Now is the time to build, while the water is low.

B.M. Martin moved his stock of goods into his new store on Freeman Avenue the first of the week. The location is a very desirable one, and will no doubt have much to do toward increasing the business of this firm. Mr. Martin has very fine line of clothing, boots and shoes, ladies and gents’ furnishings, hats and caps, etc., and the stock presents a tidy and inviting appearance. He has been in Encampment six months and enjoys liberal patronage.