The Gateway to the North Tract.
The land known as the North Tract lays north and west of the Sevier River and
east of the Abraham Canal. This is the area covered by the present communities
of Sutherland, Woodrow, and Sugarville. During the year 1908 the Oasis Land
and Water Company (later known as the Western Land and Development Company,
then still later, the Delta Land and Water Company) had given to them 43,000
acres under the Carey Homestead Act. The opening day for filings was September
28, 1908. On the first day only two buyers made application. A Mr. Stevens and
his daughter. On November 18th E. L. Abbott, Perry Abbott, C. T. Bunker, W.
E. Bunker and Tom Reid went out to examine land to file on.
The Burtner dam was built in 1908 about 6 miles up the river to divert water
to the farms in the area. A flume was constructed about a mile up the river
from here to get the canal water across the river to the west side. Over a 140
miles of canals were dug to supply water to the farms. After the Burtner dam
washed out twice a new dam was built about 7 or 8 miles upstream. A bridge was
built in 1910-11 to provide access to Delta across the river. It was built on
log pilings and was only about 5-7 feet above the river. The bridge washed out
in the flood of 1983 and was rebuilt to the present bridge latter that year.
Times were tough for the settlers on the North Tract in those early years.
Many lived in tents and shack the first few years. The land had to be cleared
of greasewood. With the dam washing out in 1909 and 1910 many people just packed
up and left. In 1915 sections of the land started to show signs of being water
logged bringing alkali to surface. A drainage district was organized to put
in tile drains and open drains to drain off the sub-surface water. In the 1920's
& 1930's the depression and taxes on drainage district cause many people
to give up and leave the area.
Farming has always been the main activity for people of the North Tract In
the early years alfalfa seed, sugar beets, barley, and alfalfa hay were the
main crops. The last sugar beets were grown in the 1960's. Today the Sutherland,
Woodrow, Sugarville, and Abraham areas grow alfalfa seed, barley, corn and some
of the best alfalfa hay in the world. There are several modern dairies, feed
yards, an alfalfa cubing plant, and other agricultural related industries.
In the early 1980's with the construction of the Intermountain Power Plant
in Sugarville area made some changes. Today many of the citizens of the North
Tract work at the power plant.
At this geocache you are at the gateway to the North Tract. After you find
this cache, take a while and drive around and visit the North Tract.