BRITISH COLUMBIA 19

The main line of the Canadian Pacific passes nearly through the centre of
Yale, from east to west, while the Okanagan branch railway and lake
steamers give access to the southern portions on the eastern side of the
district and the Nicola branch on the west. New branch lines are projected
and some are in course of construction, which will serve to open up a very
large mining and agricultural area. Cattle raising ona large scale has been
one of the chief industries, but many of the ranges are now divided into
small parcels, which are being eagerly bought by fruitgrowers and small
farmers. The district is very rich in minerals and coal, but development has
been delayed by lack of transportation facilities—a drawback which is fast

being removed. “
. OKANAGAN DISTRICT.

An irregular strip of country lying between Shuswap Lake and the
International Boundary includes the Spallumcheen, White and Creighton

Jersey Herd, Champions of British Columbia, owned by A. J. Street, Esq., Chilliwack, B.C.

Valleys, Okanagan Mission Valley, Priest’s Valley, the Commonage, and
Marble, Sugar, Okanagan, Penticton and Trout Lakes. The district is
served from Sicamous, through Vernon by the Shuswap and Okanagan
branch of the Canadian Pacific Railway which connects with Okanagan
Landing, whence C. P. R. Steamers run to Penticton at the southern end
of Okanagan Lake. The railway runs through a first class farming country
with very fertile soil. The rainfall of this section, in which are situated
the towns of Mara, Armstrong, and Enderby, is sufficient without irriga-
tion. From Vernon southward, the climate is dryer and irrigation is neces-
sary on all bench lands, and where this is brought about bare hillsides are
transformed into fruitful fields and orchards. Individual settlers and land
companies are putting in reservoirs and ditches. Good crops of grain and
vegetables are being raised on the Commonage near Vernon where no water
for irrigation is available.

Southern Okanagan. with the Similkameen Country to the West, is
destined to become the great peach and grape producing section of;British