The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1907-09-06
CALGARY AND VICINITY A
GARDEN SPOT TO SETTLER

CALGARY, n. W. T. Aug. 27.-
come of vital importance through
out the United States, western Can
ada and Mexico, any experiment
tending to solve the problem will
naturally interest the farmer, the
broker and the consumer.
Recent study has developed the
fact that Egypt, at one time the
worlds granary, depended upon ar
tificial irrigation, and although on
this continent remains of irrigation
canals and bitches, the work of a
prehistoric people, may be still found
any attempt to reclaim large areas
of land for the homeseeker is still
of comparatively recent date.
The small percentage of rainfall
in old Mexico, in conjunction with
the absence of any large bodies of
water, has made the task of the agri-
culturist in this otherwise rich land
an almost impossible task. There
fore any irrigation project tending to
a permanent supply of water, for use
at the crucible periods of planting,
growing and harvesting, would mean
more To Mexico than other country
on this continent.
That the United States is alive to
the value of requisite moisture to the
crops, Just when needed is testi-
fed to by the millions of dollars eX-
pended by corporate and private in
terests in an endeayor to irrigate the
arid and semi-arid west. The federal
government, under the authority of
the reclamation act, is at present I'M
dertaking the construction of irriga-
ton works, which will ultimately
cost 100000.
Coincident with the development
along irrigation lines in the United
States, farming by irrigation has been
gradually introduced into southern
Alberta. Alberta is one of the new
provinces of western Canada, and is
bounded on the west by British Co.
lumbia, on the east by the provinces
of Saskatchewan, and on the south
by the state of Montana.
Alberta has already acquired fame
both as a ranching and farming coun-
try. This fame has been gained
largely without the aid of irrigation.
But portions of southern Alberta are
capable of irrigation The water is
at hand, and the topography of the
land is such that the water can be
distributed at a comparatively small
cost an acre. Furthermore, the soil
and climate are admirably adapted
to irrigation. These facts have all
been thoroughly demonstrated by
the most critical examination made
by the best experts on irrigation and
by experiment.; and, approaching
these facts, the Canadian Pacific
Railway company is now engaged in
the construction of an irrigation sys-
TEN which in point of acreage is
probably the largest undertaking of
its kind in the worlds history.
The tract included in this irriga-
ton project was one of the greatest
ranching districts of Alberta. A lux
uriant growth of natural grass with
wonderful qualities of nutrition COW
ers this entire stretch of country. 1t
is the farthest removed from sand
and sagebrush, which are the usual
natural conditions of land brought
under irrigation, and is ready for the
pillow Immediately upon occupancy.
On this great tract cattle, horses
and sheep have thrived the year
around, without grain or shelter.
Here are, also, occasional farmers,
who this year have raised wheat
yielding as high as so bushels to the
acre, and oats yielding as high as
115 bushels, without irrigation.
| When these canals and laterals are
| all completed there will be about
| one-half of this tract that is still,
and will remain forever, unirrigated.
| Here, then, are farms part of which
are irrigated and part unirrigated
/ The non-irrigated land is ideal graz
| ing land, and in years of average
rainfall is first-class farming land
! On the irrigated sections alfalfa is
destined to be a great money maker.
| The block of land contained in
this undertaking comprises an area
of 100000 acres in southern Alder
ia, lying on either side of the main
line of the Canadian Pacific railway
between Calgary on the west and
Medicine Hat on the east This COM
pany has undertaken the construc.
ton of system which will ultimate
ly bring under ditch" the vast area
| of 100000 acres of land. A part
OF the first or western section of this
great undertaking, comprising about
| iOspOo al 10 IiON ana
for the first time portion of these
lands is offered for sale by the Can
adam Pacific Irrigation Colonization
Co., Limited, at prices ranging from
| $12 to SIS for non-irrigable, and SIS
to $25 an acre for irrigable areas.
Doctor Elwood Mead, irrigation
expert of the American department
! of Agriculture, acknowledged to be
the best authority on this continent
regarding irrigation, gave out the
| following as the result of an investi-
cation of the Canadian Pacific Irri-
cation Colonizing Co.'S plant at Cal
gary, Alberta:
in all of the states irrigated, land
and water rights have reached a
value which makes it a great in
ducement for those owning them to
sell out and begin over again in a
| new country. Many of the farmers
in Colorado have seen their water
rights rise in value from $40 to $25
an acre, and the land from the gov
eminent rise from price of $1.25
an acre to $50 or 5000 an acre"
Under the provisions of the North
west irrigation act, the duty of wa
ter is fixed by law 1t is required to