i 9 o8 AMERICA'S C.RKATKST IRRIGATK N Si IIF.MK 



259 



small areas of land were brought un- 

 der cultivation, especially !n the val- 

 leys along the many streams, and this 

 fact proved that the country during 

 seasons of sufficient rainfall was well 

 adapted to the growth of grain, vege- 

 tables, and fodder crops. 



A series of dry years, commencing 

 in 1892, with consequent crop failures, 

 turned the attention of the settlers to 

 the possibility of aiding the growth of 

 their crops 1>v irrigation. Such 



marked success followed their efforts 



nine of tlu- \\at( r -upplv available, and 

 the location of the area- \\ 1 xh 



water could be 10 the Ad- 



vantage. 



In o n-idering the pi ^-ibilities of 

 irrigation in northerly latitudes bear 

 in mind the fart that the State of Mon- 

 tana, where the o mditii >i 

 identical with xmthcrn Alberta, ra: 

 more agricultural product> under irri- 

 gation than the Stab ' 'regon. 

 \Yashiiigton and \\"yoming combined; 

 as much as the State of t'tah. and half 



AMERICA'S BIGGEST IRRIGATION SCHEME 

 Reservoir No i. Canadian Pacific Railway's Irrigation Plant, Calgary 



that general attention was directed to 

 this method of extending settlement 

 and insuring crop production. 



The question finally assumed suffi- 

 cient importance to warrant its being 

 taken up by the government, and, after 

 careful consideration, and examination 

 of existing conditions in the irrigated 

 States to the south, a well considered 

 and comprehensive law relating to the 

 use of water for irrigation was passed, 

 a system of general surveys under- 

 taken to determine the source and vol- 



as much as the State of Colorado. 

 Knormous irrigation development is 

 now taking place in northern Mon- 

 tana, by and under the direction of the 

 \ 'nited Stati rnnient. which will 



place that Stale in the fr >nt rank of 

 irri^aiii'U countries In fact, unmis- 

 takable evidence is visible on all >ides 

 to the effect that the largest area of 

 irrigable lands in A- will pre- 



found among the rich agri- 

 cultural land- of northerly latitudes, 

 under --emi-humid climatic conditions. 



