Both northern and southern Wyoming is still in large measure devoted to stock raising, though beef cattle are shipped from every county in the State. In 1917 there were on the ranches 825,000 had as compared with 750,000 in 1916. Sheep grazing has become a very im portant industry. Only the best breeds of sheep are kept, and the wool is of superior quality and its yield above the average. The following table indicates the extent of sheep grazing: The Agricultural College and Experiment Station located at Laramie, the seat of the State University, have done much, through ex perimentation and extension instruction, to en courage types of agriculture and stock raising suited to the conditions of the State. At the present time (1919) county agricultural agents are maintained in 17 out of the 22 counties.
In 1909 the State had 768 manufacturing establishments (169 in 1904) giving employment to 3,J93 persons of whom 2.867 were wage-earners. principal con cerns are railroad shops, lumber camps and factories, flour and grist mills, printing and publishing establishments, dairies, sugar fac tories and oil refineries. The total value of manufactured goods was estimated at $6,249,000. Eight per cent of the factories were in C32e ennc. Electric power is only used.rn 1909, 93.3 per cent of the primary power was derived from steam.
Transportation and Roads.— The oldest railroad in the State is the Union Pacific, cross ing the southern tier of counties. From Gran ger in Sweetwater County the Oregon Short Line runs northwest through Lincoln County into Idaho. A number of subsidiary lines con nect with the Union Pacific, chief among them being the Colorado, Wyoming and Eastern and the Saratoga and Encampment. From Chey enne the Union Pacific has a line to Denver. The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy enters the southeast corner of the State to Cheyenne. Its main line, however, runs diagonally across the State from Nebraska to Montana through Goshen, Platte, Converse, Natrona, Fremont, Hot Springs, Washakie and Big Horn coun ties. A branch line runs to Cody in Park County. The Burlington also runs across the northeast corner of the State from South Da kota to Montana through Weston, Crook, Campbell and Sheridan counties. A branch runs to Buffalo in Johnson County. The Chi cago and Northwestern, crossing the eastern boundary of the State in Niobrara County, par allels the main line of the Burlington through Converse and Natrona counties and terminates at Lander in Fremont County. The Colorado
and Southern, running north from Denver through Cheyenne, connects with the Burlington at Wendover and the Northwestern at Orin Junction. There is a lack of north and south lines. Most of the railroads run in general east and west, tending thereby to divide the economic interests of the State into horizontal belts or zones.
Wyoming is rapidly developing a system of excellent highways. The Lincoln Highway par allels the Union Pacific and the Oregon Trail the Oregon Short Line. In general these roads are kept in good condition. An improved high way runs north from Cheyenne through Lara mie, Platte, Converse, Natrona, Johnson and Sheridan counties into Montana, serving as one of the approaches to the Yellowstone National Park. Other roads leading into the northeast ern counties, and from Rawlins and Green River and Lander into Jackson's Hole and the Yellowstone National Park are available for au tomobile traffic. In 1917 the legislature created a State Highway Commission to co-operate with the Federalvernment under the act of Con gress of 11 July 1916, entitled 'An Act to pro vide that the United States shall aid the States in the construction of rural post roads, etch State funds for the construction of highways are provided for by a tax of one-fourth mill on the dollar of valuation.
Wealth and Taxation.— In 1913 Wyoming's total receipts of income amounted to $1,529, 474. Of this $849277 for strictly governmental costs and the for other purposes. The principal sources of reve nue are the general property, business and li cense taxes and amounts derived from interest, leases and rents, and from grants and earnings of general departments. The total value of State property in 1913 was estimated at U97,500.
Charitable and Penal Institutions and Public Health.— There is a State Board of Charities and Reform, comprising five ex of ficio members This hoard has general over sight over all State supported charitable, re formatory and penal institutions. including the State Hospital at Rock Springs, the branch hos pitals at Sheridan and Casper, the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home at Buffalo, the School for De fectives at Lander, the Wyoming Industrial In stitute at Worland, the Insane Asylum at Evans ton, the State Penitentiary at Rawlins. At Laramie is located the Cathedral Home for Children, maintained by the Protestant Epis copal Church.