3°4 



[Proc. B.N.F.C, 



To the west of the Archaean Plateau lie the great plains, 

 consisting of sedimentary rocks, ranging in age from Silurian to 

 Cretaceous, and covered in part by the deposits formed in the 

 great temporary lakes of the Ice-Age ; deposits which are more 

 important to Canada than all her vast mineral wealth, since they 

 form the fertile soils of the great wheat-growing provinces of 

 Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. The enormous recent 

 growth of the towns on the Wheat belt is shown by the following 

 figures : — 





Inhabitants. 





1900. 



1908. 



Regina 



3,000. 



10,500. 



Moose Jaw 



1,700. 



10,000. 



Calgary- 



6,000. 



22,500. 



Edmonton 



3,500. 



21,000. 



14,200. 64,000. 



A very wide area of magnificent wheat land is at present 

 being rendered available for cultivation by the gigantic irrigation 

 scheme of the Canadian Pacific Railway in the neighbourhood of 

 Calgary. Here a great system of canals is in course of con- 

 struction to convey the waters of the Bow River over some three 

 million acres of land, which will thus be rendered fertile. 



On leaving Calgary and travelling westward the deep narrow 

 valleys and gorges of the Rocky Mountains are soon entered. 

 Here the rocks are, for the most part, of Devonian age, and form 

 majestic peaks and terraces which, in the brilliant light of the 

 Canadian Summer, form a picture not easily forgotten. Second 

 only in interest to the scenery of such beauty spots as Banff, 

 Laggan, and Field are the mighty engineering triumphs of the 

 railway, which have made it possible to visit these regions in 

 comfort and luxury, and for the trade of a continent to be carried 

 on from ocean to ocean. 



