23 6 FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION May 



In this last way was made possible As to the policy of irrigation being 

 the undertaking on the Crow Reserva- one of the greatest factors for education 

 tion in Montana of the largest, best and civilization of the American Indian 

 planned and executed irrigation system there can be no question. The build- 

 that we have among our Indians. The ing of irrigation works on a reservation, 

 last and largest ditch of this system, the bringing land otherwise barren and 

 Big Horn Canal, is now nearing com- profitless under the most favorable con- 

 pletion. It has a bottom width of 30 ditions for agriculture, affords an op- 

 feet at the head, banks to safely carry portunity of inestimable value to the 

 about 7 feet of water, a length of 35 tribe to become independent, an offer 

 miles, and is capable of irrigating about they are quick to take advantage of. 

 35,000 acres of excellent land. Government control and direction of 



There are quite a number of smaller the works cannot, however, be with- 



ditches built during recent years that drawn for years, or until such time as 



are constructed according to modern the Indian is advanced sufficiently to in- 



and approved methods, and which are telligently cooperate for the best devel- 



doing considerable good. Still other opment of communal works, to place 



and larger systems are now under con- reliable and capable members of his own 



sideration. That these are and will be tribe in charge of the canals, and to 



profitable to both the Indians and the subserve personal interest to the good 



government is well proven, for it gives of the whole. 



the Indians' occupation and a source of Indian irrigation is therefore a prob- 

 livelihood during construction that war- lem that is yearly growing to larger pro- 

 rants the abolition of the ration system portions, demanding more money, more 

 for those engaged. By the time the work, and greater care in the inception, 

 ditch is completed they have had a train- construction, and subsequent control of 

 ing that prepares them for the cultiva- the different projects ; and only by its 

 tion cf their little farms, and it is reason- aid, in conjunction with the allotment 

 able now to expect them to labor for of lands, can we hope for our red broth- 

 existence, er's evolution to worthy citizenship. 



CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK. 



A DESCRIPTION OF THE REGION AND OF THE SHEET 

 OF WATER WHICH FORMS ITS CHIEF ATTRACTION. 



BY 



J. MAYNE BALTIMORE. 



THE Crater Lake area, the subject park ; no law was passed, though Pres- 



of this article, records in titanic ident Cleveland set aside by proclama- 



strokes the graphic story of the rise tion ten townships in the region, which 



and fall of a wonderful volcano, leaving were later included in the Cascade 



behind it one of the natural wonders of Range Forest Reserve. From that 



the world. time interest languished except for 



The actual history of Crater Lake as sporadic outbursts of enthusiasm at the 



known to man dates back only a com- accounts of some hardy explorer, until 



paratively few years. Twenty years the Mazamas. the well-known moun- 



ago the general public was unaware of taineering club of Portland, Oregon, 



its existence and the first official rec- took an interest in the lake, and in the 



ognition came in 1885, when it was summer of 1896 held their annual 



proposed as the center of a national meeting on its rim, and named the 



