meridian easterly, is a broad irregular formation, banks steep to gradual, being cut-banks in some places and grassy slopes in others. The soil is very light sandy gravel with bare rocky patches in places.

Creek banks average, in middle of valley, four to ten feet being chiefly cut-banks. Willow bush abounds along the creek. The grass is poor. Where the creek swings into the valley side the bank is twenty to fifty feet high.

The country rises south along the meridian between ranges 2 and 3, up to B. M. 262 (22 chains south of north-east corner of section 13, township 5, range 3, west of 4th mer.), when the height of land is reached, and then falls to the south. The creek flows easterly until it winds around this height of land, when it flows southerly into Milk river.

Medicine Lodge (or Medicine creek) is known by some people as Willow creek after the junction of Medicine coulée with Willow creek for instance at the point mentioned above. The character of the country traversed by the meridian south of B. M. 262, is rolling open prairie inclined to be hilly; north of B. M. 262, for nine to ten miles, the country along the meridian is one succession of deep dry coulées.

The soil throughout this district is of a very light and sandy character; the grass is of good quality, but grows sparsely on the uplands.

There is no timber of any description, beyond that already mentioned, in this district. Willow bush grows along the creeks.

Turning east at the north-east corner of township 4, range 3, west of 4th mer., the country continues open rolling prairie, draining southerly. Medicine creek is again intersected by the north boundary of section 36, township 4, range 2, west of 4th mer., and at a point 40 chains up stream from this crossing, a gauging was taken with the small electric meter, also a cross section. This creek ceases to flow every summer, water remaining in pools. The same applies to Middle Fork, south of Ten Mile. From Medicine Lodge to Middle Fork (section 5, township 5, range 29, west of 3rd mer.) there is some very rough prairie, consisting of numberless cone-shaped grassy hills; otherwise rolling prairie is met with. Middle Fork is a branch of Battle creek. No gauging was taken of the Fork, as the flow was entirely confined to a stream three inches in depth, between the pools.

The valley of Middle Fork is a succession of gravelly clay cut-banks with grassy slopes here and there. The creek-bed is gravelly and solid. The valley bottom averages ten to fifteen chains in width. A good deal of alkali is seen in the banks, &c. From Middle Fork to Battle creek (section 2, township 5, range 27, west 4th mer.) east along the base line, rolling open prairie is met with, and no topographical features are apparent. The soil is very light and sandy, the grass very thin. Battle creek is a clear slowly running stream with good clayey banks; its fall in a measured mile was only 3.5 feet. A cross-section and gauging was taken of this creek, 8:35 chains down stream from intersection of base line.

From Battle creek to the north east corner of township 4, range 26, west of 3rd mer., the point at which line levels turn north, the country is gently rolling prairie with a few sloughs containing water, on the date we crossed, in July. The soil is light and sandy, the grass thin and scanty. From the north-east corner of township 4, range 26, west of 3rd mer. going north on the meridian between ranges 25 and 26, the country rises through similar prairie for eight miles (north-east corner section 12, township 6, range 26.) From this point many coulées occur, all draining to Cypress lake or Belanger creek. After crossing the valley of Cypress lake the line intersects Belanger creek, of which a cross section and gauging was taken.

This creek is small and clear, averaging about seven feet in width and six inches in depth where a good flow occurs. However, it is on the average deeper (about 1.5 ft.) between vertical banks with a very sluggish flow. Willow bush and a little dry timber in places is found along the valley of this creek. The grass is good, soil being sandy loam.

CYPRESS LAKE.

This lake receives the flow of two creeks, viz., Oxarart creek from the west and Sucker creek from the east. There is a height of land between this lake (at the east

end) and Belanger creek, the valley of the lake being continuous with the valley of Belanger creek. The bed of the valley rises (going east) to a point eighteen feet above the present water level of Cypress lake at the east end. The valley bed then falls easterly to Belanger creek. The height of land is situated on section 24, township 6, range 26, west of 3rd mer.

On the west slope of the height of land, Sucker creek, coming into the valley from the north, flows to Cypress lake; on the east slope a dry channel, shown on maps as head of Frenchman creek, falls to Belanger creek. The water in Cypress lake has receded, at least one mile from east to west at the east end, in the last six years. Hay is now being cut where the water of the lake used to lie. The water stored in the lake could only be diverted to the south.

DIVERSION OF BATTLE CREEK INTO CYPRESS LAKE.

This scheme is perfectly feasible and can be accomplished at small expense owing to the peculiar topographical formation of the country. It seems quite possible that Battle creek has at one time flowed easterly into Oxarart creek and thence into Cypress lake, instead of turning sharply to the south as at present.

The valley of Battle creek in township 6, range 27, west of 3rd mer., continues easterly to Belanger creek in township 6, range 25, west of 3rd mer., by way of Oxarart creek and Cypress lake. There is of course a height of land across this valley, which occurs between the junction of Cottonwood coulée with Battle creek and Oxarart creek, or at a point near the centre (east to west) of township 6, range 27, west of 3rd mer. The difference between the water level of Battle creek at Elbow, where it turns south, and the lowest point on height of land is about thirty feet. Levels were therefore taken up stream for three miles, the result being the location of a point sufficiently high to allow of a canal or ditch being taken out and graded down the valley, across the height of land, to a junction with Oxarart creek, and consequently with Cypress lake. The length of the proposed canal would not exceed four miles at the utmost. A compass traverse was made of this line.

DAM SITE EAST END OF CYPRESS LAKE.

As already mentioned the valley at east end of Cypress lake rises to a height of land about eighteen feet above present water level, it is therefore apparent that the water can be raised at least fifteen feet without any artificial dam being constructed. However, a cross section of the valley has been taken at water line of lake (east end) and also at height of land, so that the cost of a dam can be calculated.

Cross sections were also taken between the elbow of Battle creek and Oxarart creek (west end of lake.)

Belanger creek could be easily diverted into Cypress lake, being 24 feet above lake bed at a point one mile north on the meridian. The valley running through from Battle creek to Belanger creek (townships 6, ranges 25, 26 and 27 west of 3rd meridian) has grassy sloping banks for the most part, and averages 30 to 60 chains in width, except where the lake is met with, here it has a wider basin. The soil is sandy loam and the grass good and luxuriant. The filling of Cypress lake would submerge a great deal of hay land now being used by settlers. Along Battle creek there are cut-banks with grassy slopes alternating. There is no timber to speak of in the above mentioned district.

From the intersection of Belanger creek, section 25, township 6, range 26 west of 3rd mer., the chainmen found no corners marked by mounds or posts until the township corner was reached. As this 1.5 mile of line is exceedingly rough and cut up with coulées, a detour was made with the levels up the valley of Belanger creek to the township corner, at which point our work turned east along the correction line, north-east corner township 6, range 26. Owing to the fact that the north side of correction line alone was surveyed, the line levels were taken on that side of the road. The levels on this portion of the line traverse bench land with light rocky soil, and thin grass crop.

The

Turning north once more at south-east corner of township 7, range 25, the country rises steadily for the next six miles to the north-east corner of township 7, range 25.

grass improves on this six miles, and a large herd of cattle range in the vicinity. All the coulées (generally dry) drain south-east to Fairwell creek.

Turning east from the north-east corner of township 7, range 25, levels were run for twelve miles; B. M. No. 269, being planted at the easternmost point reached, north-east corner township 7, range 23. Two well defined valleys, east and west forks of Fairwell creek, are intersected in range 24, but in neither case was flowing water found in the creek channels when crossed by our party, in the latter part of July.

A compass traverse was made on the east branch, southerly to the forks, but the channel was found to be quite dry at this point also. The electric meter was taken along, but to no effect. The line, after leaving east branch of creek in range 24, ascends to the bench,and the six miles across range 23 is one endless succession of coulées, all dry, draining south and south-east. The soil is light and very stony, the grass very scanty. There are no noteworthy topographical features. Antelope are plentiful in this district.

Returning to the north east corner of township 7, range 25, and levelling west, Davis creek is intersected on section 34, no flow at time of our crossing, and very insignificant channel; the only place where flow was encountered on this creek was near the mouth in township 6, range 25. Evidently the source of supply to Davis creek consists of surface water in the spring time, and local streams scattered along its channel.

The main channel of Belanger creek is intersected by the north boundary of section 36, township 7, range 26, and not as shown on map.

Belanger creek is a small spring creek with a good flow at the above mentioned point; it is fed by numerous springs which all rise on the southern or Milk River watershed.

These springs are scattered along the creek, from the source southerly, and therefore any diversion at the source cannot materially affect the flow further south. An investigation was made of the existing diversion from Belanger creek into Maple creek, and it appears that these creeks are only ten chains apart at the centre of section 21, township 8, range 26, west of 3rd mer. After crossing Belanger Creek valley in section 36, township 7, range 26, and travelling west, the line ascends to the summit of a large plateau, very much broken by coulées and hills and forming part of the Cypress range. The north boundary of township 7, range 27, west of 3rd mer., crosses this plateau entirely on the southern slope, or Milk River watershed. The plateau rises to the east as well as the north, up to a point 22 chains east of north-east corner of section 34, township 7, range 27, where B. M. No. 271, was established (elevation 4126 49). This point is the east edge and top of escarpment of the plateau; a drop of 330 feet takes place here, into a dry valley draining south. From the bed of this valley we again ascend 130 feet and thence the line traverses a broken, rolling, hilly prairie country, falling west and south towards Oxarart Creek valley, which turns easterly at the north-east corner of township 7, range 28.

A fine spring creek is intersected by the north boundary of section 32, township 7, range 27, at 12 + 70 chains going west from north-east corner. The source of the spring is about 6 chains north of intersection. This creek flows south-east into Oxarart creek. The north-east corner of township 7, range 28, brings the levels to Oxarart Creek valley. A dry channel comes in from the east and turns north into the lake in the valley. This channel is crossed four times by the north boundary of section 31, township 7, range 27, and contained water at the first two crossings on August the 9th.

There is no flow along valley at the township corner, but a large grassy lake of standing water exists here. This lake lies in the height of land between watersheds. The valley is continuous through the hills, and falls north about two miles north of the line crossing north boundary of township 7, ranges 27 and 28. It would appear however that the overflow from high water goes from the south end of the lake into Oxarart creek, and thus on into Cypress lake. The basin averages 25 to 35 chains in width, is from one and one half to two miles long and shallow.

A portion of the water lying in this height of land can undoubtedly be diverted into Fish creek which flows southerly, but the supply appears to be limited and probably would not flow in the channel of Fish creek for more than three or four miles before disappearing underground. The diversion of Belanger creek into Maple creek warrants this assumption. From Oxarart Creek valley the country rises steadily for 4 miles and 57.75

chains west, when the east edge of a large valley, known as Six Mile coulée, is encountered. This valley empties into Battle creek in township 6, range 29.

At the intersection of line levels (north boundary of section 31, township 7, range 28) the valley bottom is chiefly muskeg. A spring creek flows southerly through muskeg but disappears before reaching Battle creek. Continuing west the line levels traverse a high plateau draining south to Battle creek. Deep coulées are intersected by the line (north boundary of township 7, range 29) heavily timbered with spruce, cypress pine, poplar and brush.

A detour south was made with levels, which were again connected with the line at the intersection of Battle creek, north boundary of section 36, township 7, range 30.

The north fork only of Battle creek is intersected, and from this point on to northeast corner of township 7, range 2, west of 4th meridian, the line traverses a high plateau and separates the north and south forks. The junction of these forks occurs on section 36, township 7, range 30, west of 3rd meridian.

Across range 30, west of 3rd meridian, and range 1, west of 4th meridian, township 7, the line continually dips into a heavily timbered valley, making detours necessary. The timber in this valley is chiefly cypress pine, and ranges from three to twenty-four inches in diameter. A fire has killed the growth and the valley bed is piled up with dry fallen timber, especially at the point intersected by the 4th meridian. This valley which runs almost east and west contains springs, and a flowing creek is maintained which forms a branch of Battle creek.

With regard to the project of diverting water now flowing south to the northern watershed, it may be said that this is impracticable for the following reasons based on actual investigation:-All the creeks crossed by north boundary of township 7, from the east boundary of range 3, west of 4th meridian to the east boundary of range 23, west of 3rd meridian, were dry at time of line levelling, except: (1), Belanger creek; (2), Sucker Creek, (range 26), and (3), Battle creek.

The three exceptions are quite insignificant at the point of crossing, north boundary of township 7, and even if they could possibly be turned north, would not be sufficient to maintain flowing water for any distance in northerly channels. Why then do they maintain a flow southerly? Because they are fed by innumerable springs, and these springs do not apparently exist on the northern (or Saskatchewan) watershed of the Cypress hills. From this it is obvious that by the time the creeks of the southern or Milk River watershed are of sufficient volume to be of practical utility, the elevation is several hundred feet below that of the divide or point of proposed diversion.

Course north from B. M. 269, north-east corner of township 7, range 23, west of 3rd meridian. A very broken country is encountered for the first twelve miles, being heavily rolling prairie intersected with coulées. The land traversed drains easterly to Frenchman creek.

At the north-east corner of township 9, range 23, the line levels were carried west intersecting Bear creek, east and west forks. Both forks of this creek were flowing when crossed in September.

Owing to heavy spruce timber being encountered five miles west of the township corner, the line levels were turned north for one mile at the north-east corner of section 35, township 9, range 23, and then continued west for seven miles to the east boundary of range 25, from thence south to B. M. 154, established by Mr. Gibbon, D.L.S., in 1896. The country traversed from east to west is entirely on the northern or Saskatchewan watershed. The various creeks crossed are heavily timbered with spruce and poplar. The country is very rough and hilly, the grass good and plentiful.

Course south from B. M. 261 to north-east corner of township 4, range 2, west of 4th meridian. The country is high plateau for the first three miles and then drops rapidly to Medicine valley. The soil is light and sandy, and rocks abound on the surface. The grass is plentiful and good. There is no timber of any description in the district traversed by these levels.

FRENCHMAN CREEK.

The source of this creek, erroneously shown on maps as Cypress lake, is Belanger creek joined by Davis and Fairwell creeks. Cypress lake cannot possibly be the source

of any river flowing easterly, because the water in Cypress lake is at least one mile west of the height of land, at east end of lake. This point is illustrated by Sucker creek which crosses the north boundary of township 6, range 26, in section 35, continues south-east to section 36, township 6, range 26, but on entering the valley of Cypress lake turns west and empties into the lake. This creek is erroneously shown on map as flowing into Belanger creek.

The Frenchman creek is a sluggish stream with soft muddy clay banks and bed. It was more like a chain of pools connected by a small flow, than a flowing creek in September last.

A canal from the Frenchman to Swiftcurrent creek is quite impracticable owing to: (1st) the small fall of creek per mile; (2nd) the large number of cutbanks along creek valley, and (3rd), the topographical features of the Frenchman creek valley, which is intersected by numberless ravines and coulées.

A transit traverse was made, with accompanying levels, from the junction of Fairwell creek with Frenchman creek to the nearest available point on Swiftcurrent, a distance of 26 miles.

I have the honour to be, sir,

Your obedient servant,

R. W. MACINTYRE, C.E.

DIVISION "A," PARTY NO 2.

(0. York, C. E., in charge.)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
SURVEYS AND IRRIGATION,

CALGARY, 6th December, 1897.

J. S. DENNIS, Esq., D.T.S.,
Calgary, Alta.

SIR, --In accordance with your instructions, dated the 10th of June, I proceeded to Moosejaw, and arrived there on the 14th of June, and after a few days occupied in the purchase of the necessary stores and making repairs to wagons, etc., I descended the Moosejaw valley and pitched my first camp near the creek on section 5, township 17, range 25, west of the 2nd meridian, at a spot where the hills on each side of the valley approach each other, and which I judged suitable for the establishment of a dam.

The length of a dam constructed on this site will be about 750 feet, and the height will be 21 feet in the creek bottom. With this height of dam, the water stored up will make a reservoir about 110 chains in length, with an average breadth of 10 chains. The material for the construction of the dam can be obtained from the hills on the south side of the valley, where the soil consists of a sandy loam.. The fall of the creek below the site of the dam is 2.91 feet per mile, and the rise above the site is 2:30 feet per mile.

I left the Moosejaw valley on July the 3rd, and arrived the same day in the Qu'Appelle valley, and made a cross section of the Qu'Appelle river at Lanyon's crossing, section 4, township 19, range 24, west of the 2nd meridian, which I had the honour to forward to you. At the crossing the valley is about three-quarters of a mile wide, and the flats on the south side of the river are overflowed during the flood season. On the north bank the ground is above the level of the floods. The river at this spot is about 30 feet wide, and the water at the time of my visit was eighteen inches in depth, but during the flood season the water rises about 16 feet above the bottom of the river.