The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-04-11
RECLAMATION CHIEF
DESCRIBES BIG
PROJECT
ROBERT S. STOCKTON, IN CHARGE
OF RAILROADS IRRIGATION,
IN MlSSOULA.

Robert S. Stockton, builder OF the
great Huntley project, former chief
of the lower Yellowstone project and
once in charge of the Flathead irr. :
cation work, has come to Montana
from what he terms the greatest ir-
look after some property interests in
the Treasure state. Mr.. Stockton is
now in charge of the western Sec
ton of the Canadian Pacific's great
irrigation "block" in Alberta, to which
he took the wealth of experience
gained in several years of active work
with the United States reclamation
service. This new work he regards as
his greatest undertaking and his de-
scription of it must make ever engi-
neers wonder.
Our Lady of the Shows is follow
ing in the footsteps of the United
States in developing her great re-
sources n Mr.. Stockton's project is
one of the greatest of h many now
under construction north of Uncle
Sans boundary.
When the Canadian Pacific was
constructed through a wild and I'M
touched country, it was given a SUBJ
sidy in the form of land grants by
the Canadian government. Inc
scheme followed by the dominion was
similar to that adopted by the United
States when the Union Pacific and
Northern Pacific railroads were being
constructed. Alternate sections on
either side of the railroad We're given
to the builders of the line in support
of their enterprise. After the line
had been built the Canadian Pacific
induced the government to concen-
trate the land grant into n i'm
mense block of 5000, 600 acres, stretch
ing between Calgary and Medicine
Hat. The lane is ideal for farming
once put under irrigation, for it is OF
the same semi-arid character as the
Judith basin in Montana. Having Sc
cured their grant, the railroad own
ers prepared to make it fit for set
Element by placing the entire section
under irrigation. The block was di-
vided into three sections, western,
central and eastern. It is the west
ern section which is now under Mr..
Stockton's charge.
& 49, A~oN
ern section, which lies closest to CAL
gary. The condition of the and was
such that a gravity system could be
used throughout; in fact, the size of
the project would have made any
other method out of the question. The
Bow river skirts the western edge of
the block, and it is from that stream
the engineers secure their water. A
great concrete dam, reinforced by a
mile-long dixie, built of the millions
of cubic feet of dirt taken from the
dam site, was built at the upper end
of the block and all the bitches for the
western end of the project are sup
piled from that point. Already the
entire western end has been covered
with a network of bitches and most
of the land has been sold to home
steaders. lFlumes and concrete ST.
phons, which will conduct water to
the less accessible portions of the
section are now being constructed
and another year will see the western
project entirely finished.
The Canadian government disposes
of its lands in much the same nam
ner as that used by the United States
government. Settlers look over the
country, file application for the land
they want and are given a contract,
the payments extending over a period
of 20 years. Most of the land under
Mr.. Stockton's charge has been sold
and work is now under way on the
and eastern sections where
the land is more arid. These lands
soon will be placed on the market.
This is going to be a busy year
in Alberta says Mr.. Stockton. The
Canadian Pacific is double-tracking
and Strengthening its system, the
Grand Trunk is eliminating long bends
and the Canadian Northern is doing
work of the same kind. Both roads
are building INTO Calgary this sum-
mer. 1t will be a busy year"
Mr.. Stockton will be in Missoula
for a day or two and will then go to
the eastern end of the state for a
couple of weeks before returning to
his headquarters at Strathmore, AL
berta.